Oil ticks up on weaker US dollar, stalled Russian output cuts

[SINGAPORE] Oil markets rose on Friday as the US dollar edged away from a multi-week high, but prices are being held in check by unchanged Russian output for February, a sign of its weak compliance on a global deal to cut supplies.

The US dollar slipped on Friday from its highest in seven weeks against a basket of currencies, although still holding close to a level that anchors Brent crude near US$55 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) just under US$53.

Benchmark Brent crude futures were up 21 US cents, or 0.4 per cent, at US$55.29 a barrel, as of 0755 GMT. It closed down US$1.28, or 2.3 per cent, in the previous session, and dropped almost 3 per cent on the week.

WTI futures gained 16 US cents, or 0.3 per cent, to US$52.77 a barrel after dropping on Thursday to its lowest since Feb 9. The US benchmark finished in negative territory the past three sessions.

The US dollar had climbed on Thursday after hawkish comments by a US Federal Reserve official encouraged investors to expect a near-term interest rate hike.

"Last night's dollar moves really shook up the markets - we're seeing it across all markets, not just oil," said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at Sydney's CMC Markets.

Russia's February oil output was unchanged from January at 11.11 million barrels per day (bpd), energy ministry data showed, with its cuts from October 2016 levels remaining at 100,000 bpd or a third of what was pledged by Moscow under its agreement with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec).

Official US data also showed that crude inventories in the world's biggest oil consumer rose for an eighth straight week to a record 520.2 million barrels last week.

"Crude oil fell to a three-week low as the stronger US dollar combined with concerns about rising US crude oil inventories to reduce investor appetite," ANZ said in a note.

But even as US oil production rose and Russian output held steady, Opec boosted already strong compliance with the group's six-month deal to 94 per cent, cutting output for a second month in February, a Reuters survey found.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said it was too early to say if the deal to reduce oil production would be extended beyond the end of June. Opec, Russia and others are due to agree on output policy in the next three months.

Short-term technical support could push Brent towards US$60 a barrel, which will "establish an adequate price level for Opec to reduce, but not abolish, its market intervention at the May 25th meeting", BMI Research said in a note on Friday.

REUTERS