SINGAPORE- Oil prices rebounded on Tuesday on reports that production at the world’s largest oil producers fell during the third quarter, although a resumption in Saudi supply and demand concerns continued to keep a lid on prices.
December Brent crude futures rose 51 cents, or 0.86 percent to $59.76 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude for November was up 52 cents, or 0.96 percent, at $54.59 a barrel.
Front-month prices for both contracts posted their largest quarterly falls this year on Monday, hurt by a slowdown in global economic growth amid the US-China trade war.
“Asia has seen some profit-taking from short-term money and other bargain hunters,” Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst for Asia Pacific at OANDA in Singapore, said.
“Any rallies though are likely to be met with plenty of sellers as a slowing global economy and the recovery of Saudi production outweigh any Middle East risk factors for now.”
Oil prices are likely to remain steady, with Brent averaging $65.19 a barrel and WTI $57.96 in 2019, as flagging demand outweighs supply shocks, a Reuters survey showed.
Brent has averaged $64.72 a barrel so far this year, while WTI has averaged $58.13.
Saudi Aramco has restored full oil production and capacity to the levels they were at before attacks on its facilities on Sept. 14, the head of its trading arm said on Monday. Saudi Arabia pumped about 9.78 million barrels per day (bpd) in August. – Reuters
