Tag: Oil

Global Stocks Close Near Record Highs Ahead of New Year, Dollar, and Oil Dip

WASHINGTON/LONDON—Equities around the globe traded little changed on Thursday as oil prices fell and the U.S. dollar dipped against most major currencies although it has had its best year since 2015 with a 6.7 percent rise. With several markets in Asia and Europe closed on Friday, trading volumes were thin and most markets directionless. The…


Oil Prices Slip After China Cuts Import Quotas

LONDON—Oil prices eased on Thursday after the world’s top importer China cut the first batch of crude import allocations for 2022, offsetting the impact of U.S. data showing fuel demand had held up despite soaring Omicron coronavirus infections. Brent crude futures fell 52 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $78.71 a barrel at 1022 GMT. U.S….


From Bitcoin to Gold: A Peek at Real Assets in 2022 

Many assets, from Bitcoin to gold to wheat, enjoyed a tremendous rally in 2021. Can these assets repeat their strong performances in 2022? This past spring, there was a lot of chatter about a commodities supercycle, a prolonged period of sky-high prices amid immense global demand. But some of these components, such as soybeans and…


Oil Prices Hold Near $80 on Tight Supply and Stocks Drop

LONDON—Oil prices held close to $80 a barrel on Wednesday as global supply outages and declining U.S. inventories offset worries that rising coronavirus cases might reduce demand. Brent crude rose to as much as $79.20 a barrel before retreating to trade 24 cents down on the day at $78.70 by 1427 GMT. U.S. West Texas…


Brent Near $80 as Market Shrugs Off Omicron

LONDON—Oil prices extended gains on Tuesday, with Brent crude trading near $80 a barrel despite the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, supported by supply outages and expectations that U.S. inventories fell last week. Brent crude rose by $1.04, or 1.3 percent, to $79.64 a barrel by 1119 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI)…


Oil Slips in US as COVID-19 Surge Halts Flights

LONDON—U.S. oil fell on Monday after airlines called off thousands of flights over the Christmas holidays amid surging COVID-19 cases, though Brent crude gained support from hopes that the Omicron variant will have a limited impact on global demand. More than 1,300 flights were canceled by U.S. airlines on Sunday as COVID-19 reduced the number…


Oil Prices Ease, Focus Shifts to Next OPEC+ Move

LONDON—Brent crude futures snapped a three-day rally on Friday in light trading before the Christmas holidays but the benchmark was still headed for a weekly gain, with the market focusing on next steps by OPEC+ and the impact of the Omicron variant. Brent crude futures fell 75 cents, or 1 percent, to $76.10 a barrel…


Oil Prices Extend Rise on Reduced Fears of Omicron-Induced Demand Slump

NEW YORK—Oil prices bounced in a light-volume session on Thursday, on signs that the worst effects of the Omicron variant might be more containable than previously feared, even as countries imposed travel restrictions on surging infection levels. The oil market has wavered in recent days over how seriously to take the threat of another slump…


Oil Prices Steady as Omicron Caution Lingers

LONDON—Oil prices were steady on Wednesday as fears of tight supply were offset by COVID-19 concerns after Singapore suspended quarantine-free travel and Australia renewed its vaccination push due to a surge in Omicron variant cases. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were unchanged at $71.12 a barrel at 1250 GMT after jumping 3.7 percent…


Oil Prices Rise but Omicron Worries Linger

LONDON—Oil prices rebounded on Tuesday after a sharp fall in the previous session as investors’ appetite for risk improved, although they remained cautious amid the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant across the globe. Brent crude was up 84 cents, or 1.2 percent, at $72.36 a barrel by 1117 GMT, and U.S. West Texas…