Login Open account
United Kingdom
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Show more
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs, FX or any of our other products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Losses can exceed deposits on some products.
Show less
By using our website you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy.
Okay
Crude oil bulls seeing few clouds on the horizon Crude oil bulls seeing few clouds on the horizon Crude oil bulls seeing few clouds on the horizon

Crude oil bulls seeing few clouds on the horizon

Commodities 5 minutes to read
Ole Hansen

Head of Commodity Strategy

Summary:  Brent crude oil trades back above $70/barrel for the first time in five months while WTI is attempting to re-enter the $65 to $75 range where it spend six months last year before the November to December collapse.

Supporting the latest move higher has been renewed concerns about supplies from Libya at a time where voluntary and involuntary production cuts from Opec and friends already have a firm grip on the market. 

WTI crude oil is attempting a return to its 2018 upper range:
Source: Saxo Bank
This update from Reuters shed some light on what is currently going on in Libya, a country which has seen dramatic ebbs and flows of its oil output since the fall of Gadaffi in 2011. A period of relative calm has seen Libya’s production move back above one million barrels/day. The major production sites are located far from Tripoli, the capital, where fighting is currently taking place. However, the confrontation between the UN-recognised government and Commander Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) has raised the stakes and led to renewed concerns in the oil market. 
The International Monetary Fund yesterday downgraded its global growth forecast to the lowest in ten years while Vladimir Putin raised doubts about Russia’s willingness to support a prolonged period of production cuts. But these developments are unlikely to hold any sway over the market as long Saudi Arabia continues to back the production cut deal as aggressively as it has done so far. With a very successful Aramco bond auction in the bag they will undoubtedly feel less inclined to act on renewed political pressure from the US. 

Following the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year, the Saudis, in need of political friends abroad ,jumped when the US asked them to increase production ahead of the introduction of sanctions against Iran. What followed was the biggest slump in oil prices in years after the US surprisingly granted waivers to eight buyers of Iranian crude. As a result of being blindsided by the US and because of their need to support the price of crude oil, Saudi Arabia made a 180 degree turn: During a four-month period from December to March the kingdom’s production slumped from a record to a four-year low, well below the level they had agreed as part of the Opec+ deal to cut production. 
With geopolitical risks continuing to impact production from Venezuela and Iran and now also potentially Libya and even Algeria, the crude oil market is likely to remain supported until the price reachs a level that is satisfactory for Opec and Russia. President Trump put through a call to the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman yesterday to discuss Saudi Arabia’s critical role in ensuring Middle East stability while maintaining maximum pressure against Iran. With the Iran waivers due to expire on May 4 the oil market will be looking towards the US and the price of oil to gauge how aggressive Trump can afford to be at this stage. 

With Trump being very focused on (high) stock market prices and (low) gasoline prices the fact that US consumers are now paying the highest seasonal price for gasoline since 2014 could potentially limit his ability to tighten the screws on Iran. 

Later today at 14:30 GMT (CET+2 and ET-4) the EIA will publish its Weekly Petroleum Status report with the API and surveys both pointing to an increase in crude oil stocks and a continued drop in products. 
Monthly oil market reports from Opec today (just published today) and the IEA tomorrow will further cast some light on these two major forecasters' views on production and demand going forward. 

According to a Bloomberg news story today, the Opec update confirms market expectations of a plunge in last month's crude output, with the impact of planned cutbacks exacerbated by the political crisis in Venezuela. Opec oil output, it said, tumbled by 534,000 barrels a day to just above 30 million a day in March. It added that "If output remains at current levels, global oil inventories will decline sharply this quarter and next."

Opec report 
IEA report 

Outrageous Predictions 2023: The War Economy

  • Billionaire coalition creates trillion-dollar Manhattan Project for energy

    The constantly growing global need for energy drives the world's richest to huddle up and launch a R&D project in a size the world hasn't seen since the Manhattan Project gave the US the first atomic bomb.
    Read article

  • French President Macron resigns

    The political stalemate in France and the rise of Marie Le Pen following the 2022 elections corners President Macron, forcing him to give up on politics and resign from his position. At least for now.
    Read article

  • Gold rockets to USD 3,000 as central banks fail on inflation mandate

    As markets and central banks realise that the idea that inflation is transitory is wrong, and that prices will remain higher for longer, gold is sent through the roof, hitting a price tag of USD 3,000
    Read article

  • EU Army forces EU down path to full union

    With continued challenges in the region and a US military that isn't aggressively enacting its former role as global policeman, the European Union agrees to create its own armed forces, bringing the whole region closer.
    Read article

  • A country agrees to ban all meat production by 2030

    In an effort to become one of the global leaders on the path to net-zero emissions, one country decides to not only put a heavy tax on meat, but to ban domestic production entirely.
    Read article

  • UK holds UnBrexit referendum

    Following a recession and domestic pressure, the United Kingdom is thrown into political turmoil that will end with a vote to wind back Brexit.
    Read article

  • Widespread price controls are introduced to cap official inflation

    History tells us that with the war economy comes rationing and price controls. And this time is no different, as policymakers introduce strict price controls that lead to a range of unintended consequences.
    Read article

  • OPEC+ & Chindia walk out of the IMF, agree to trade with new reserve asset

    Sanctions against Russia have caused widespread turmoil due to US Dollar moves in countries across the globe that don't consider the US an ally. To relieve themselves from this, they leave the IMF and create a new reserve asset.
    Read article

  • USDJPY fixed to the USD at 200 as Japan overhauls financial system

    Following the challenges that faced the Japanese Yen in 2022, the Bank of Japan attempts to keep the currency from sliding. Unsuccessful on the long-term, Japan will launch a reset of its entire financial system.
    Read article

  • Tax haven ban kills private equity

    With the war economy comes an increased focus on national interests and sovereign nations' ability to assert themselves. In that regard, the OECD countries turn their attention on tax havens and pull the big guns out, banning them altogether.
    Read article

Disclaimer

The Saxo Bank Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website. This content is not intended to and does not change or expand on the execution-only service. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Bank Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Bank Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Bank Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Bank Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Bank Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.

Please read our disclaimers:
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
- Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-gb/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)

Saxo Markets
40 Bank Street, 26th floor
E14 5DA
London
United Kingdom

Support Centre
For existing clients, please click here to request support via the Support Centre.

Have a question about our products, platforms or services? Visit the Support Centre to find answers for our most frequently asked questions. If you are still unable to locate an answer to your question, you will also find contact details for your local Saxo office to speak with a representative.

Contact Saxo

Select region

United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Products & pricing
Platforms
Accounts & service
General
Other
Legal

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs, or any of our other products work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. The value of your investments can go down as well as up. Losses can exceed deposits on some margin products. Professional clients can lose more than they deposit. All trading carries risk.

Trade Responsibly
All trading carries risk. To help you understand the risks involved we have put together a series of Key Information Documents (KIDs) highlighting the risks and rewards related to each product. Read more
Additional Key Information Documents are available in our trading platform.

Saxo Markets is a registered Trading Name of Saxo Capital Markets UK Ltd (‘SCML’). SCML is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Firm Reference Number 551422. Registered address: 26th Floor, 40 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DA. Company number 7413871.

This website, including the information and materials contained in it, are not directed at, or intended for distribution to or use by, any person or entity who is a citizen or resident of or located in the United States, Belgium or any other jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, availability or use would be contrary to applicable law or regulation.

It is important that you understand that with investments, your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. It is your responsibility to ensure that you make an informed decision about whether or not to invest with us. If you are still unsure if investing is right for you, please seek independent advice. Saxo Markets assumes no liability for any loss sustained from trading in accordance with a recommendation.

Apple, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android is a trademark of Google Inc.