Oil prices stabilise after Fed hike as tighter market looms

Oil prices stabilised on Thursday after sharp declines earlier following Wednesday's US interest rate increase that drove investors out of commodities. A tighter market looms in 2017 due to planned output cuts led by Opec and Russia,

International Brent crude oil futures were trading at $54.02 a barrel, up 12 cent from their last close.

US West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures were at $51.02 per barrel, virtually flat with their last settlement.

ANZ bank said on Thursday that oil markets would move into a substantial deficit in the first quarter of next year if the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and other producers led by Russia go through with their announced cuts of almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) in output.

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“This will likely push oil prices well above $60 per barrel early next year,” it said.

Crude prices also received some support from falling US crude inventories. Data from the US Energy Information Administration showed that commercial crude inventories last week declined 2.56 million barrels to 483.19 million barrels.

Traders

However, traders have said it is far from clear whether Opec and other producers will follow through with their announced cuts. Opec pumped 33.87 million bpd last month, according to figures it collects from secondary sources, up 150,000 bpd from October, Opec said in a monthly report on Wednesday.

That shows the group’s output has continued to rise, adding to a global glut, ahead of the January start of its first supply cut agreement since 2008. That could raise questions about its ability to comply fully with the deal.

Thursday's more stable prices came after sharp declines late on Wednesday, when crude fell over 3 per cent due to a strong dollar. The greenback rose to close to 14-year highs against a basket of other currencies as the US Federal Reserve raised rates for the first time in a year.

"The Federal Reserve hike ... saw bond yields rise, dealing a blow to commodities in general," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at futures brokerage OANDA in Singapore.

A stronger dollar, in which oil is traded, can hit crude demand as it makes fuel more expensive for countries using other currencies at home.

- Reuters