Oil prices drop

Oil fell yesterday, on course for its fourth consecutive week of decline, as rising crude supply met the bearish combination of concern over global growth and weak equity markets.

Russia is pumping oil at a post-Soviet high, US crude output has topped 11 million barrels a day and a Reuters survey of OPEC production shows the group more than made up for any declines in Iranian shipments in October.

“Given these (output) numbers, with Russia pumping hard and the United States and OPEC as well, and we are not really seeing a pickup in demand for another month … it could indicate we’re back to the good old $70-80 range that persisted through April and August,” Saxo Bank senior manager Ole Hansen said.

Brent crude futures were down 32 cents at $74,72 a barrel by 9:55 a.m. ET (1355 GMT), while US futures fell 13 cents to $65,18 a barrel.

Brent and US crude posted their biggest monthly percentage decline since July 2016 in October, with Brent down 8,8 percent for the month and US crude losing nearly 11 percent.

A Reuters survey on Wednesday showed the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries raised oil production last month to its highest since 2016, led with gains by the United Arab Emirates and Libya.

Adding to the negative impact of the OPEC output figures, the US Energy Information Administration on Wednesday reported a sixth straight week of builds in US crude inventories.

Brent has declined from a 2018 high of $86,74 in early October amid growing concern over a possible slowdown in global growth as the US-China trade dispute heats up and hits emerging market economies in particular.

“Oil investors are now betting on the potential of a global slowdown,” said Bruce Xue, an analyst with Huatai Great Wall Capital Management. — Reuters.

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