By Tsuyoshi Inajima
Oil capped a second weekly gain on Friday following a decline in U.S. crude stockpiles and efforts from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to calm fears of a possible recession. Prices were further supported Monday by Prince Abdulaziz’s remarks, while a Russian official said his country intends to maintain its critical alliance with Saudi Arabia following the appointment.
“Prince Abdulaziz is very experienced and has served in the energy industry for decades,” said Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS Group AG in Zurich. “His comments today suggest we shouldn’t expect any major policy changes from the kingdom, which still wants to see oil inventories falling.”
West Texas Intermediate oil for October delivery advanced 53 cents to $57.05 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 11 a.m. London time. The contract climbed 22 cents to $56.52 on Friday.
Brent for November rose 48 cents to $62.02 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe Exchange, and traded at a $5.10 premium to WTI for the same month. The global benchmark crude capped a fourth weekly gain on Friday.
Prince Abdulaziz served as deputy petroleum minister for a dozen years and most recently as minister of state for energy since 2017. He takes charge as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, most notably Russia, work to bolster prices at a time when a raging trade war between the U.S. and China weighs on global demand.
The prince said that the trade war has put a “fog” around the oil market, but added that he isn’t too concerned about U.S. shale output.
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Canadians Should Decide What to do With Their Money – Not Politicians and Bureaucrats