As the oil market collapse has taken WTI into the uncharted and “impossible” territory of negative prices, there has been considerable attention not only on where prices might be going, but also what is happening to the forward curve, and what it means. Even in more normal markets, the structure of the forward curve “backwardation” and “contango” is a source of confusion – mystery even.
The descent of US crude prices into negative territory is a “body blow” to a creaking oil and gas sector, an industry leader has said.
The world’s two leading oil price benchmarks suffered contrasting fortunes today amid ongoing supply and demand fears.
Oil futures advanced amid a broader bounce across financial markets while the price of actual crude plummeted to near $15 a barrel.
As oil crashes due to the impact of the coronavirus, it’s easy to overlook an even more dismal reality for producers: the real prices they’re getting for their barrels are worse still.
Oil kept falling after its biggest weekly drop since July as signs that reaching a comprehensive U.S.-China trade deal will be tough gave no respite from a worsening demand outlook.
Oil posted its biggest ever intraday jump to more than $71 a barrel after a strike on a Saudi Arabian oil facility removed about 5% of global supplies, an attack the U.S. has blamed on Iran.
Oil closed down in New York for the first time in three days amid rising concerns about the likelihood of a global economic contraction and mounting supplies.
Oil extended its retreat as investor appetite for risk assets shrank and uncertainty persisted over how much OPEC output will need to be cut to counter booming U.S. shale supplies.
Brent crude oil averaged $72 per barrel (b) in 2018, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) averaged $65/b in 2018.
Oil headed for its first annual decline since 2015, slumping more than 20 percent in a turbulent year that saw fears of supply scarcity turn to expectations of a surplus.
Oil was jolted higher by efforts across the globe to support prices as Saudi Arabia and Russia extended their pact to manage the market and Canada’s largest producing province ordered unprecedented output curbs. Prices retreated slightly after Qatar said it was leaving OPEC.
Oil climbed as the Trump administration signaled optimism a trade deal may be reached with China and an industry report indicated robust U.S. fuel demand.
Oil rose from its lowest settlement in more than a year in New York, though signs of record output from Saudi Arabia amid pressure from President Donald Trump continued to weigh on the market.
Oil slipped again on persistent fears that a surplus will re-emerge next year despite OPEC’s plans to cut production.
After declining by more than 20 percent from the October peak, oil prices are showing some signs that they have now bottomed out.
Oil’s record losing streak has plunged prices into a bear market and is reverberating around the globe, with the mayhem rattling everyone from bond traders to political leaders and fund managers.
Oil was showing little sign of recovering from its unprecedented decline as investors flee a market hammered by swelling supplies and a darkening demand outlook.
Oil fell for a 12th day, its longest losing streak on record, after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Saudi Arabia’s plan to cut output.
Saudi Arabia said OPEC and its allies should reverse about half the increase in oil output they made earlier this year as fears of shortages are supplanted by concerns about oversupply and collapsing prices.
Oil climbed after a record run of losses as Saudi Arabia said it will reduce crude sales in December and speculation rose that OPEC and its allies will cut output next year.
Oil headed for the biggest weekly loss since February as the U.S. softened its crackdown on Iranian exports and American supplies surged, assuaging fears of an impending shortage.
Oil faltered below $70 a barrel as Saudi Arabia said it has no intention of using its oil wealth as a political tool and as American crude stockpiles were seen gaining for a fifth week.
For oil investors, this is both the best of times and the worst of times, depending on which crude benchmark you trade.
Oil fell near $69 a barrel on concern over higher inventories at a key storage hub in the U.S. and as the threat posed by a storm to Gulf of Mexico assets eased.