Oil prices hit by worries of sharp economic slowdown

LONDON: Oil prices slipped on Monday, with concerns of a sharp economic slowdown overshadowing support from tighter supply due to OPEC's production cuts and U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela.

Brent crude oil futures were at $66.94 per barrel, down 9 cents or 0.13 percent at 1355 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were at $58.73 per barrel, down 31 cents, or 0.53 percent.

Both crude oil price benchmarks closed down last week after briefly hitting their highest since November 2018.

"Oil remains in a tug-of-war between fundamentals and a fickle sentiment in the global financial markets," said Vandana Hari of consultancy Vanda Insights.

Concerns about a potential U.S. recession emerged on Friday after cautious remarks by the U.S. Federal Reserve caused 10-year treasury yields to slip below the three-month rate for the first time since 2007.

Historically, an inverted yield curve - where long-term rates fall below short-term ones - has signalled an upcoming recession, and world stocks hit a 12-day trough on Monday.

Bullish sentiment helped drive benchmarks to last week's highs, but that move could now leave them vulnerable to a correction.

"Speculators increased their net long in ICE Brent by 15,934 lots over the last reporting week, to leave them with a net long of 308,606 lots ... the largest position since late October," ING said in a note.

"A large gross long is a key downside risk for the market, especially with growing concerns over the economy."

Adding to concerns of a widespread global downturn, manufacturing output data from Germany, Europe's biggest economy, shrank for the third straight month, though an improved index on business climate there provided some cheer.

"Estimates for growth and earnings have been revised down materially across all major regions," said U.S. bank Morgan Stanley.

But BNP Paribas strategist Harry Tchilinguirian told the Reuters Global Oil Forum: "Oil supply fundamentals remain price-constructive with OPEC+ collectively making good progress on pledged supply cuts while involuntary supply losses in Iran remain sizeable and those in Venezuela continue to mount."

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-affiliated allies such as Russia, together referred to as OPEC+, have pledged to withhold around 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil supply this year to prop up markets, with OPEC's de-facto leader, Saudi Arabia, seen to be pushing for a crude price of over $70 per barrel.

Commerzbank noted declines in U.S. crude stocks and expenditure by U.S. shale firms were also providing support.

"Oil market-specific reports, which point to tighter supply, are preventing prices from falling any more sharply."