Oil Price Above $100 On US Heating Fuel Demand
The price of oil extended gains above $100 a barrel Monday as the cold weather in the United States increased demand for heating fuels and solid Chinese credit numbers eased concerns over the world's second-biggest economy.
By midday, benchmark U.S. crude for March delivery was up 62 cents to $100.92 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. On Friday, the Nymex contract fell 5 cents to close at $100.30.
"The ongoing cold weather in the U.S. is continuing to lend support to energy prices," analysts at Commerzbank in Frankfurt said in a note to clients.
They added that prices are likely to correct, possibly as much as several dollars, once the cold weather abates, as happened at the start of last year.
For now, though, oil prices have been supported by favorable credit growth numbers from China, which suggested the Chinese economy is not suffering a dramatic slowdown.
Lending by Chinese banks and in the largely unregulated underground market rebounded to 2.6 trillion yuan ($430 billion) in January from December's 1.2 billion yuan, according to the central bank. Lending usually surges at the start of a new year but January's rise exceeded forecasts and might help to ease worries about cooling retail sales, manufacturing and other activity.
Brent crude, which is used to set prices for international varieties of crude, was flat at $109.18 on the ICE Futures exchange in London.
In other energy futures trading in New York:
- Wholesale gasoline rose 2 cents to $2.82 per gallon.
- Heating oil added a penny to $3.09 per gallon.
- Natural gas jumped 24 cents to $5.45 per 1,000 cubic feet.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.
- Brand Finance Ranks Most Valuable, Strongest Oil and Gas Brands
- Canacol Makes New Gas Discovery in Colombia's Magdalena Basin
- Egypt Plans to Meet Summer Fuel Needs with LNG Imports
- FortisBC Denies Gas Greenwashing as Suit Awaits
- Credit Agricole Helps NGP Secure Funds for Fishery-Solar Projects in Taiwan
- Oil and Gas Executives Predict WTI Oil Price
- Industry Protests Proposed Methane Fee Guidelines for O&G Facilities in US
- Exxon, Cnooc Merge Guyana Arbitration Claims Against Chevron
- New China Climate Chief Says Fossil Fuels Must Keep a Role
- Oil Demand Outpaces Expectations, Testing Calculus on Peak Crude
- House Passes Protecting American Energy Production Act
- TotalEnergies Restarts Production in Denmark's Biggest Gas Field
- Republican Lawmakers Say IEA Has Abandoned Energy Security Mission
- USA Oil and Gas Job Figures Jump
- Blockchain Demands Attention in Oil and Gas
- Macquarie Sees USA Oil Production Exiting 2024 at 14MM Barrels Per Day
- Houthis Warn Saudi Arabia of Retaliation If It Backs USA Attacks
- Summer Pump Prices Set to Hit $4 a Gallon Just as Americans Hit the Road
- New China Climate Chief Says Fossil Fuels Must Keep a Role
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- VIDEO: Missile Attack Kills Crew Transiting Gulf of Aden
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Another Major Oilfield Discovery
- What Is the Biggest Risk to Offshore Oil and Gas Personnel in 2024?
- Vessel Sinks in Red Sea After Missile Strike
- Exxon Rights in Stabroek Do Not Apply to Hess Merger with Chevron: Hess
- Equinor Makes Discovery in North Sea
- Analysts Reveal Latest Oil Price Outlook Following OPEC+ Cut Extension