Oil rises above US$62 a barrel on hopes for US-China trade deal

[NEW YORK] Oil rose above US$62 a barrel on Thursday after China hinted at progress towards a trade deal with the United States, raising hopes for an end to a long dispute that has weighed on economic growth and demand for fuel.

China and the United States have agreed in the past two weeks to cancel tariffs in different phases, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday without giving a timeline.

The trade dispute has prompted analysts to lower forecasts for oil demand and raised concerns that a supply glut could develop in 2020. Oil fell on Wednesday, partly because of worries that a US-China trade deal might be delayed.

"Today we start with a different set of headlines that they came to some agreement on the framework," said Olivier Jakob, oil analyst at Petromatrix. "That is definitely what is supporting prices."

Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose 55 cents, or 0.9 per cent, to settle at US$62.29 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 80 cents, or 1.4 per cent, to US$57.15.

The bigger rise in WTI cut Brent's premium over the US benchmark to its smallest since mid September.

Beijing's comments boosted market sentiment, which had also been ruffled by Wednesday's US government supply report showing crude inventories rose last week by 7.9 million barrels, much more than expected by analysts.

Brent has rallied almost 16 per cent in 2019, supported by a deal between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies such as Russia to limit supplies until March next year. The producers meet on Dec 5-6 in Vienna to review the policy.

Opec Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo said this week he was more optimistic about the outlook for 2020 because of developments on trade disputes, appearing to downplay any need to cut output more deeply.

Still, doubts about a trade deal could resurface, analysts said. Reuters reported on Wednesday a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to sign the deal could be delayed to December, contributing to oil's decline.

"It remains to be seen whether today's gains can be sustained," said Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at Forex.com. Rising inventories and Saudi Arabia's quick ramp up of production after attacks in September limit potential price gains, Mr Razaqzada said. "So, while further short-term gains cannot be ruled out, the upside looks limited from here."

REUTERS