Brent Crude Set for Longest-Ever Rally on OPEC, Economic Outlook
By Sharon Cho
and Grant Smith
January 11, 2019, 9:46 AM GMT+9:30Updated on January 11, 2019, 7:35 PM GMT+9:30
Oil rose for a 10th consecutive day in London, heading for its longest run of gains on record, as OPEC cutbacks reined in supply while reassurance from the Federal Reserve buoyed the outlook for demand.
Futures returned to a bull market this week after recovering more than 20 percent from the lows reached in December. Saudi Arabia gave assurances on Wednesday that the production cuts by OPEC and its partners that came into effect this month will be deep enough to prevent any surplus. Meanwhile, promises of patience in raising interest rates from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell soothed anxiety about growth in the U.S., the biggest oil consumer.
“Sentiment in the oil market has turned around this week,” said Jens Naervig Pedersen, senior analyst at Danske Bank A/S in Copenhagen. The reversal “is on the back of a combination of OPEC+ production cuts taking effect, a stabilization in risk sentiment in equity markets and a weaker dollar. In addition, the oil market will be monitoring trade talks, which seem to progress slowly.”
SXY Price at posting:
30.5¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held