MARKETS

Oil Soars as Saudi Arabia Issues Stark Warning to Speculators

PUBLISHED TUESDAY, MAY 24 2023 – 01:30 AM EDT

In a stunning turn of events, oil prices experienced a substantial surge on Tuesday, driven by two significant factors: projections of a tighter gasoline market and a cautionary statement delivered by the Saudi energy minister, striking fear into the hearts of speculators and igniting discussions about potential further output reductions within the OPEC+ alliance.

 

Brent crude futures exhibited a robust climb of 85 cents, or 1.1%, reaching a settlement price of $76.84 per barrel. Simultaneously, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled at $72.91 per barrel, marking an increase of 86 cents, or 1.2%.

 

The preceding day had already witnessed a 1% surge in prices, fueled by an upswing in U.S. gasoline futures. The positive momentum carried over to Tuesday, as gasoline futures experienced a 1.2% rise. Industry analysts eagerly anticipate a third consecutive weekly decline in inventories, especially with the approaching peak summer travel season commencing on the U.S. Memorial Day holiday, scheduled for May 29.

 

Investors eagerly await the release of the American Petroleum Institute’s U.S. inventory report at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT), while the official data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration is scheduled for release on Wednesday.

 

It is worth noting that production cuts by select OPEC+ members took effect this month, heightening concerns about potential supply shortages. These concerns were further amplified when the energy minister of Saudi Arabia, in a stark warning, made it clear that short sellers, who bet on price declines, would face painful consequences. This statement has triggered speculation that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, including Russia, might seriously consider implementing additional output cuts during the meeting slated for June 4, as suggested by Craig Erlam, an analyst from OANDA.

 

Erlam additionally highlighted that Brent crude prices must surpass the $77.50 per barrel threshold to indicate a significant shift in market sentiment. However, he astutely acknowledged that traders have not been easily deterred by mere words, considering that the OPEC+ alliance had previously announced two substantial cuts in the past year, albeit momentarily shaking the markets.

 

Despite the optimistic outlook for oil, concerns loom on the horizon in the form of U.S. debt ceiling discussions. The most recent round of talks ended on Tuesday without any discernible progress, raising fears as the deadline to raise the government’s borrowing limit of $31.4 trillion approaches, risking the possibility of default.

 

Rob Haworth, a senior investment strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management, cautioned that the current rally in oil prices may encounter limitations due to the prevailing unease surrounding the U.S. debt ceiling. Furthermore, he emphasized that economic deceleration, the replenishment of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and OPEC’s efforts to balance prices in accordance with global demand would likely keep oil prices within their year-to-date trading range.

 

In conclusion, the recent surge in oil prices, propelled by both market dynamics and the Saudi energy minister’s warning, has left industry experts and investors alike grappling with the implications of potential OPEC+ output cuts. As the energy landscape continues to evolve, the world eagerly awaits the outcomes of upcoming meetings and the subsequent actions that will undoubtedly shape the future of the oil market.

 

Want to post on mondayfounder.com?

MondayFounder

Business

Investing

Markets

Politics

Tech

MondayFounder Newsletter

Sign up for free newsletters and get more MondayFounder delivered to your inbox

Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell My Personal Information | Terms Of Service