Brent crude rose more than $1 on Tuesday as US consumer optimism and signs of easier monetary policy from central banks pushed stock markets higher, while increasing Middle East risk also supported oil. Brent and US crude oil headed for their biggest one-day rise since early May, with gains of more than 1 percent. US stocks rallied after central banks reassured investors that they will keep policies designed to foster global growth.
---- Oil inventories high on ample supply
The Conference Board's US consumer confidence index rose in May to its highest level since February 2008, suggesting demand for oil could rise as the economy shows signs of improvement. Brent for July gained as much as $2 a barrel and was up $1.80 at $104.42 per barrel by 1:20 pm EDT (1720 GMT), while US crude rose $1.16 to $95.31 per barrel.
"The consumer confidence number was a big factor here, and the overall strength of the equity markets added to the tenor of demand outlook, which should be picking up," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York. Kilduff said the confidence numbers and equity markets formed a "positive feedback loop", with the wealth effect from strong equity markets making consumers more optimistic.
The price climb comes ahead of Friday's meeting of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, at which Opec will decide its production policy. Oil trading has been choppy in May. Consecutive up days have alternated with streaks of down days, keeping Brent and US crude largely within ranges of $6 and $7 respectively. Brent is down more than 12 percent from its year high in February of over $119, while US crude has lost nearly 3 percent from its January high above $98.
"Every time we go up toward year highs, the market seems to back off of it," said Gene McGillian, analyst at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. "We're still in that pattern, where we're being pushed back and forth on headlines," he said. On Tuesday, buoyant investor sentiment overcame pressure on oil prices from a stronger dollar and worries about ample oil supplies.
Analysts also cited a geopolitical risk premium in oil prices stemming from worries that the escalating war in Syria might spark more strife in the Middle East, which accounts for almost a fifth of the world's seaborne crude oil supplies. Attempts to renew a European arms embargo on Syria failed on Monday and Britain and France are likely to start supplying Syrian rebels with weaponry later this year.
The stock market rally took the focus away from oil market supply-and-demand fundamentals, which have looked fairly gloomy in recent weeks. European recession and a contraction in Chinese factory activity are limiting oil use but producers are pumping at least as fast as end-users are consuming, leading to a build-up in inventories.
According to preliminary data last week, US factory activity slipped to a seven-month low in May. US crude oil stockpiles are near all-time highs, while US gasoline reserves are rising at a time when seasonal demand is traditionally nearing its peak. US gasoline stocks are close to their highest for this time of year since 1999.
Market participants were beginning to focus on Opec's biannual meeting in Vienna at the end of this week, said Carsten Fritsch, senior oil analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. The group is unlikely to alter its output targets, delegates say. "Let me tell you this, this is the best environment for the market. Supplies are plentiful, demand is great, balanced -inventories are balanced," Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi told reporters on his arrival in Vienna on Tuesday.
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