Oil down more than 2% on demand concerns and a stronger dollar

Crude oil storage tanks are seen in an aerial view of the Cushing Oil Center in Cushing, Oklahoma, US, April 21, 2020. Reuters/UAV Base

LONDON (Reuters) – Oil fell more than 2% on Monday, weighed by expectations of weak global demand and a stronger US dollar ahead of potential big interest rate hikes, although supply concerns limited the decline.

Central banks around the world are sure to increase borrowing costs to tame high inflation this week and there is some risk of a 1 percentage point rise by the US Federal Reserve.

“The next meeting of the Fed and a strong dollar are keeping a lid on prices,” said Tamas Varga of BVM oil brokerage.

Brent crude for November delivery fell $1.90, or 2.1 percent, to $89.45 a barrel by 1338 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for October fell $2.57, or 3%, to $82.54.

A British public holiday for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral is limited trade volume during London hours on Monday. Read more

Oil has also come under pressure from hopes of easing the gas supply crisis in Europe. German buyers retained the ability to receive Russian gas via the closed Nord Stream 1 pipeline, but this was later modified and there was no gas flow. Read more

Crude has soared this year, with benchmark Brent crude nearing a record high of $147 in March after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine exacerbated supply concerns. Since then, concerns about weak economic growth and demand have driven prices down.

The dollar remained near a two-decade high ahead of this week’s decisions by the Federal Reserve and other central banks. A strong dollar makes dollar-denominated commodities more expensive for holders of other currencies and tends to affect oil and other risky assets.

The market has also been pressured by weak demand expectations, such as last week’s prediction by the International Energy Agency that there will be zero demand growth in the fourth quarter. Read more

Despite these demand concerns, supply concerns kept the decline in check.

“The market still has European sanctions on Russian oil hanging on it. With supply disruptions in early December, the market is unlikely to see any quick response from US producers,” ANZ analysts said.

Analysts said the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in China, which has dampened demand expectations in the world’s second-largest energy consumer, could provide some optimism. Read more

Additional reporting by Florence Tan and Jeslyn Lear; Editing by David Goodman and David Evans

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