AFP, Singapore :
Oil prices rose to fresh 2016 highs in Asia Monday as a slowdown in US drilling and increase in Chinese crude refinery processing bolstered hopes a supply glut would ease sooner than expected.
US oilfield services firm Baker Hughes said the number of US drilling rigs fell to its lowest level since October 2009, which is good news for prices as US production is a key contributor to the oversupply.
Chinese refineries also processed crude at record rates in April while production dipped to a 14-month low, Bloomberg News reported, citing government data released at the weekend.
At about 0715 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in June was up 63 cents, or 1.36 percent, at $46.84 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for July was up 64 cents, or 1.34 percent, at $48.47. WTI gained 3.5 percent and Brent advanced more than five percent last week after the International Energy Agency said the glut could ease in the second half of this year and OPEC oil producers said the oversupply “may be easing” on reduced output by its members.
“There is evidence that the market is moving back toward balance,” Michael McCarthy, chief strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney, told Bloomberg News.
“Given the proximity to the top of the broader trading range between $48 and $50 a barrel, it seems less likely that oil can push significantly higher.”
Oil prices rose to fresh 2016 highs in Asia Monday as a slowdown in US drilling and increase in Chinese crude refinery processing bolstered hopes a supply glut would ease sooner than expected.
US oilfield services firm Baker Hughes said the number of US drilling rigs fell to its lowest level since October 2009, which is good news for prices as US production is a key contributor to the oversupply.
Chinese refineries also processed crude at record rates in April while production dipped to a 14-month low, Bloomberg News reported, citing government data released at the weekend.
At about 0715 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in June was up 63 cents, or 1.36 percent, at $46.84 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for July was up 64 cents, or 1.34 percent, at $48.47. WTI gained 3.5 percent and Brent advanced more than five percent last week after the International Energy Agency said the glut could ease in the second half of this year and OPEC oil producers said the oversupply “may be easing” on reduced output by its members.
“There is evidence that the market is moving back toward balance,” Michael McCarthy, chief strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney, told Bloomberg News.
“Given the proximity to the top of the broader trading range between $48 and $50 a barrel, it seems less likely that oil can push significantly higher.”
