Oil steady as OPEC+ considers extension in output cuts

OPEC, Russia discussing to roll over curbs by one to two months

LONDON: Oil prices were steady on Monday, helped by reports that the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia were closer to a deal on extending output cuts but held back by renewed tension between the United States and China.

Benchmark Brent crude LCOc1 was up $0.03, or 0.1%, at $37.87 a barrel at 1031 GMT. US crude CLc1 dipped $0.27, or 0.8%, at $35.22 a barrel.

OPEC and Russia, part of a group known as OPEC+, are moving closer to a compromise on the duration for extending oil output cuts and were discussing rolling over the curbs by one to two months, two OPEC+ sources said.

Algeria, which holds the rotating OPEC presidency, has proposed that OPEC+ hold a meeting on June 4 rather than the previously planned June 9-10. Russia has said it has no objection to meeting sooner.

“The fact that crude ... prices have not reacted much to the news of the potential cut extension can be seen as a sign that the market has already priced in a lot of optimism,” JBC Energy analysts said in a note.

Tension between China and the United States was also encouraging some caution after Beijing warned it will retaliate on US moves over Hong Kong.

China has ordered major state-run firms to pause some purchases of US farm goods, including soybeans, Bloomberg News reported.

“The possibility of heightened tensions does pose a risk to the recent rally in oil prices,” said Harry Tchilinguirian, Head of Commodity Research at BNP Paribas.

US President Donald Trump’s directive to begin the process of eliminating special treatment for Hong Kong is likely to create a new driver of volatility in global markets as tensions between Washington and Beijing climb again.

Manufacturing data has also showed that Asian and European factories were struggling as lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic kept demand in check.