Oil prices ease over uncertain supply picture

[LONDON] Oil prices fell for a second day on Tuesday, as concerns emerged that a six-week rally may have fizzled after Opec doused hopes for a speedy erosion of a global overhang of unwanted crude.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said on Monday demand for its crude would be less than previously thought in 2016 as supply from rivals proves more resilient to low prices, increasing excess supply in the market.

To tackle the surplus, Saudi Arabia and non-Opec member Russia, the world's two largest oil exporters, along with Qatar and Venezuela have proposed major producers freeze output at January levels.

Even with the proposed freeze, continuously high production means global output still exceeds demand by at least 1 million barrels per day (bpd). "We ran into US$40 a barrel ... the idea Opec was going to be able to at least freeze production and was along the right tracks has unravelled a bit," CMC Markets strategist Jasper Lawler said.

Brent crude futures were down 92 cents at US$38.61 a barrel by 1210 GMT, while US crude futures were 83 cents lower at US$36.35.

While Russian and Saudi production remains stable, analysts say Iran has raised output to around 3.1 million bpd from about 2.9 million bpd in January.

Oil demand could also slow. Morgan Stanley said there was a 30 per cent probability of a global recession this year.

In spite of uncertainty about whether a production freeze will occur, and over its effectiveness given concerns about the global economy, investors have turned more friendly towards oil.

Speculators have added to their bets on a sustained rise in crude futures and the ratio of bullish bets to bearish in the Brent market has risen to its highest since last May, consultancy JBC Energy said. "I'd be very surprised if we just tanked down here and made fresh lows below US$27 and the impression I get is I'm not the only one. Futures sentiment ... and futures positioning has switched around and is looking a lot more bullish," CMC's Lawler said.

REUTERS