NEW YORK: Oil prices climbed about 2% to a one-week high on Monday, buoyed by hopes of rising fuel demand this summer despite a stronger U.S. dollar and expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) will leave interest rates higher for longer.
The Fed uses higher interest rates to reduce inflation. Those higher rates boost borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, which can slow economic growth and reduce demand for oil.
Similarly, a stronger U.S. dollar can reduce demand for oil by making dollar-denominated commodities like oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.
Brent futures rose $1.36, or 1.7%, to $80.98 a barrel by 11:24 a.m .EDT (1524 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $1.46, or 1.9%, to $76.99.
That puts both crude benchmarks on track for their highest closes since May 31.
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Goldman Sachs analysts expect Brent to rise to $86 a barrel in third quarter, saying in a report that solid summer transport demand will push the oil market into a third-quarter deficit of 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd).
The U.S. dollar, meanwhile, rose to a one-month high against a basket of other currencies as the euro fell sharply due to political uncertainty in Europe after gains by the far right in voting for the European Parliament prompted a bruised French President Emmanuel Macron to call a snap national election.
“The increase in (crude) prices started as the U.S. wakes up and kicks off the new week. Investors on the other side of the Atlantic clearly dismiss the euro weakness and the resultant dollar strength due to French snap elections,” said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM.
“There is a growing conviction that demand will be buoyant as the summer driving season approaches leading to considerable stock draws.”
Oil last week posted a third straight weekly loss on concerns that a plan to unwind some production cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, from October will add to rising supply.
Despite the OPEC+ cuts, oil inventories have risen. U.S. crude stocks rose in the latest week, as did gasoline stocks. Energy consultancy FGE also expects oil to rally, with prices reaching the mid-$80s into the third quarter.
“We continue to expect the market to firm up,” FGE said. “But it will likely need a convincing signal of tightening from preliminary inventory data.”
Investor attention now turns to the key U.S. Consumer Price Index inflation data for May on Wednesday for hints on when the Fed may start reducing interest rates.
The market is also waiting for the conclusion of the Fed’s two-day policy meeting on Wednesday, in which the central bank is overwhelmingly expected to hold interest rates steady.
Markets dialed back expectations for rate cuts by the Fed in September after Friday’s data, with pricing now reflecting a less-than-50% chance of a reduction. Expectations had risen as high as 69% last week.
Traders also trimmed their expectations for the amount of easing this year, with pricing implying just one cut versus two prior to the payrolls data, according to data from financial firm LSEG.
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