The Sunday Mail
Oil rose above US$60 a barrel on Friday for the first time this year, bringing gains last week to almost 4 percent, supported by signs that deeper industry spending cuts may curb excess supply.
Also supporting oil, euro zone economic growth accelerated unexpectedly in the final quarter of 2014 as the bloc’s largest member, Germany, expanded at more than twice the expected rate.
The price of Brent crude collapsed from US$115 in June to US$45,19, the lowest in almost six years, in January due to oversupply. Since January, mounting signs of lower industry spending have helped prices rally by more than 30 percent.
Apache Corp, a top US shale oil producer, said on Thursday it would cut capital spending and its rig count in 2015 following the price collapse, keeping its output growth mostly flat.
Brent for April delivery was up US$2,06 at US$61,34 by 1305GMT. The March contract expired overnight. US crude was up US$1,39 at US$52,60.
“During the last weeks, crude oil rebounded driven by improved market sentiment and by expectations that low prices will lead to lower supply growth in 2015,” Daniela Corsini, an analyst at Intesa Sanpaolo, said in a report.
Besides Apache’s update, Royal Dutch Shell’s chief executive said on Thursday supply might not be able to keep up with growing demand as companies reduce budgets, and France’s Total announced investment and job cuts.
“Seeing today’s prices, supply will probably not keep pace with this growth. It may even decline, as prices are close to cash costs,” chief executive Ben van Beurden said.
Still, analysts at JBC Energy in Vienna said in reference to Apache’s moves that spending cuts can easily be reversed.
“While the company expects North American onshore production to be flat this year, they emphasise their flexibility to come back very quickly if the price environment or the cost structure changes sufficiently,” JBC said.
“This is generally what makes most people doubt that the latest rally can be sustained.”
A weaker U.S. dollar, which makes dollar-denominated commodities cheaper for holders of other currencies, has also supported oil this week, analysts say. – Reuters
