AFP, Hong Kong :
Energy firms sank in Asian trade on Tuesday as oil prices extended the previous day’s sharp losses on profit-taking and fresh worries about a global oversupply.
Even a fall in the dollar, which usually makes crude cheaper, was unable to stop the slide in the commodity after Iraq flagged a pick-up in output and rebels in key producer Nigeria announced a ceasefire.
Investors were also treading water as they awaited a key speech from Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen, hoping for some insight into the state of the US economy and the bank’s plans for its next interest rate hike.
After a seven-day rally that put oil into a bull market — a 20 percent jump from recent lows — the commodity has taken a hiding since the start of this week.
In afternoon trade on Tuesday, West Texas Intermediate fell 0.9 percent to $47.00 and Brent lost 0.7 percent to $48.84.
On Monday, WTI shed 2.9 percent and Brent 3.4 percent after Iraq signalled a likely increase in output from Kirkuk’s oil fields under a deal between the region and the country’s new oil minister.
At the weekend the Niger Delta Avengers announced a conditional ceasefire and agreed to hold talks with the government following months of attacks on key oil and gas facilities.
The two developments follow a surge that helped Brent last week break above $50 for the first time since early July and analysts warned of further drops.
“We’re seeing a bit of profit-taking,” Ric Spooner, chief analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney, told Bloomberg News.
“It’s about how far the price had climbed in relation to the current underlying fundamental situation. There is still plenty of supply around. It wouldn’t be surprising to see this downtrend continue and it’s possible we could see some sort of basing around $44-$45.”
Among energy firms, Japan’s Inpex and JX Holdings each fell more than two percent, while in Hong Kong afternoon trade CNOOC shed 1.5 percent and PetroChina 1.1 percent. Sydney-listed Woodside Petroleum eased 0.4 percent.
