Oil stable below $100 as market balances Chinese data

Oil prices were stable on Monday, hovering close to $100 a barrel as support from a weaker dollar and recovering Chinese crude imports met renewed demand concerns linked to China’s stringent Covid containment approach.

Brent crude futures rose by 6 cents, or 0.06 per cent to $98.63 a barrel at 1026GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $92.60 a barrel, down 1 cent, or 0.01 per cent.

Both contracts dropped by over $1 per barrel earlier in the session as Chinese health officials on the weekend reiterated their commitment to a stringent Covid containment approach, dashing hopes of a rebound in oil demand from the world’s top crude importer.

Brent and WTI rose last week, climbing 2.9 per cent and 5.4 per cent, respectively, on speculation of a possible end to Covid-19 lockdowns despite the lack of any announced changes.

But prices pared losses in early European trading following stronger risk sentiment, news of recovering Chinese crude imports and as the U.S. dollar weakened against other currencies, UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

The US dollar sank on Monday against the euro and sterling was supported by a risk on sentiment and a rally in European stock markets.

While China’s imports and exports unexpectedly contracted in October, its crude oil imports rebounded to the highest level since May.

Oil prices have been underpinned by expectations of tighter supplies as the European Union’s embargo on Russia’s seaborne crude exports will start on December 5 even though refineries worldwide are ramping up output.

US oil refiners this quarter will run their plants at breakneck rates, near or above 90 per cent of capacity. China’s largest private refiner Zhejiang Petroleum and Chemical Co (ZPC) is raising diesel output.

Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Co (KIPIC) said on Sunday the first phase of the Al-Zour refinery has started commercial operations, according to a state news agency. — Reutres