Singapore, Dec 9: Oil prices crept higher in Asia today but remained near multi-year lows ahead of a report on US crude inventories in a market weighed down by oversupply.
Analysts expect another build-up in US commercial crude stockpiles in the week ending December 4 when the data is released later in the day, adding to the supply glut.
A decision by the OPEC oil producers group during their meeting last week not to slash output levels continues to haunt the market, with the group deferring any further action to their next meeting in June.
US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in January was trading 58 cents higher at USD 38.09 and Brent crude for January was up 48 cents at USD 40.74 at around 0250 GMT as dealers hunted for bargains after prices fell to their lowest in nearly seven years this week.
On Tuesday, Brent dropped briefly below USD 40 a barrel for the first time since February 2009. Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries are currently producing an estimated 32 million barrels per day, above the group’s prior 30 million bpd target.
OPEC did not set a new production ceiling at Friday’s meeting in Vienna. Traders are also waiting for the US Department of Energy report on US commercial crude stockpiles to gauge demand in the world’s top oil consumer. Next week’s meeting of the US central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee will determine sentiment amid anticipation the Fed will raise US interest rates.
An interest rate hike would typically support the dollar, making dollar-priced oil more expensive for those holding weaker currencies. This would usually lead to lower demand and softer prices.
