Oil ticks higher after two-day swing as OPEC+ countdown begins

Oil edged higher after a two-day swing as investors looked ahead to an OPEC+ meeting on supply policy that will shape market balances into 2024, and a weaker US dollar made commodities more attractive.

Benchmark Brent rose above $81 a barrel after rallying more than 4% on Friday following a plunge of a similar magnitude the day before. West Texas Intermediate traded over $76 after also having a volatile ride.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies are scheduled to meet over the weekend to review the global crude market and decide on priorities heading into the new year. With prices lower year-to-date after a run of four weekly losses, there’s speculation supply curbs will be extended.

“We continue to expect that Saudi Arabia and Russia will roll over their additional voluntary cuts into early 2024,” said Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy for ING Groep NV. “However, what is less clear is whether the broader OPEC+ group will make further cuts.”

Crude has faced headwinds over the past month as the war-risk premium generated by the Israel-Hamas war largely faded away, and concerns escalated over robust supplies, including from non-OPEC+ nations. With inventories swelling in the US and timespreads signaling weaker conditions, hedge funds have slashed their bets on oil to the least bullish in 20 weeks.

Crude got an additional tailwind from a weaker US dollar. A Bloomberg gauge of the greenback declined by 0.3%, heading for its lowest close since late August. That makes commodities more attractive for most overseas buyers.

In the Middle East, meanwhile, shipping risks were in focus after a Japanese-chartered vessel was seized in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Tokyo-based Nippon Yusen KK said the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier, was taken in the southern part of the waterway on Sunday.

Terminal users can click here for more on the Israel-Hamas War.

Prices:
Brent for January settlement rose 0.7% to $81.19 a barrel at 1:15 p.m. in Singapore. WTI for December delivery, which expires Monday, gained 0.7% to $76.45 a barrel. The more-active January contract was 0.8% higher at $76.61 a barrel.

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