Oil prices yesterday edged lower in Asia after jumping the most in almost two weeks on Monday as better-than-expected as U.S. housing data countered fears that a surge in virus cases would hamper the country’s economic recovery.
Futures in New York fell toward $39 a barrel after rising 3.1% on Monday as a record increase in pending home sales spurred gains across financial markets. Yet with the coronavirus running rampant across the southern and western U.S. and many states pausing or reversing re-opening measures, the outlook for energy demand in the world’s largest economy remains uncertain.
West Texas Intermediate has risen around 11% this month, while Brent is up 17%. However, gains in both the U.S. and global benchmarks have slowed in June following spectacular rebounds in May.
Production curbs from OPEC+ and other nations have helped to rebalance the market over the last couple of months, but global consumption still has a long way to go to get back to pre-virus levels. Gasoline demand in the U.S. fell 2.3% on Saturday from a week earlier, according to data from GasBuddy, showing how the increase in virus cases is restraining activity.
“Supply cuts have done their part and have been fully priced in,” said Vandana Hari, founder of Vanda Insights in Singapore. “Brent appears to have found a floor at $40, but the upside is likely to be limited” and the market is keeping a nervous watch on the pandemic’s resurgence in the U.S., she said.
WTI for August delivery fell 0.7% to $39.41 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 7:40 a.m. in London. Brent for the same month, which expires Tuesday, dropped 0.6% to $41.46. The more active September contract declined 23 cents to $41.62.
