Business news from Ukraine

Oil prices move mixed, Brent at $88.9 barrel

5 September , 2023  

Benchmark oil prices are moving mixed near multi-month highs on Tuesday morning.

The price of November Brent futures on London’s ICE Futures exchange is at $88.87 a barrel by 8:29 a.m. Q2, down 13 cents (0.15%) from the previous session’s close. On Monday, these contracts rose by $0.45 (0.5%) to $89 per barrel.

Quotes of futures for WTI crude oil for October at the electronic trading of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) by the specified time rose by 32 cents (0.37%) and amounted to $ 85.87 per barrel. On Monday, the main trades were not held due to a day off in the U.S. (Labor Day).

Prices are supported by expectations of the extension of production reduction measures by OPEC+ countries.

Saudi Arabia is also expected to extend the voluntary production cut by 1 million barrels per day for October.

At the same time, traders regard the signs of possible cooling of the American economy as a reason for the end of the cycle of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, which also strengthens market optimism.

An additional positive factor is the news of an unexpected increase in activity in the manufacturing sector of the Chinese economy. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) in China’s manufacturing sector in August hit its highest level since February, Caixin Media Co., which calculates the indicator, said on Friday. The index rose to 51 points from 49.2 in July. The consensus forecast, cited by Trading Economics, called for a rise to 49.3 points. A value above the 50-point mark indicates an increase in activity in the sector.

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