Category: Oil

Oil Prices Firm on Optimism Over China’s Reopening

LONDON—Oil prices edged higher on Friday on hopes of a Chinese demand boost, but the broader global economic outlook kept crude benchmarks on course for a weekly decline. Brent crude futures rose 56 cents, or 0.71 percent, to $79.25 a barrel by 1009 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 60 cents, or…


Oil Rebounds After Biggest Drop in Decades at Start of Year

LONDON—Oil rebounded over 2 percent on Thursday after posting the biggest two-day loss for the start of a year in three decades with the shutdown of a U.S. fuel pipeline providing support, though economic concerns capped gains. Big declines in the previous two days were driven by worries about a global recession, especially since short-term…


Oil Falls Again as Concerns Grow Over Global Economy, China COVID-19 Cases

LONDON—Oil fell sharply on Wednesday after slumping in the previous session, weighed down by concerns about weak demand due to the state of the global economy and China’s rising COVID-19 cases. Brent futures fell $1.88 to $80.22 a barrel, a 2.3 percent loss, by 1032 GMT. U.S. crude dropped $1.68, or 2.2 percent, to $75.25…


Oil Falls as Outlook for China, Global Economy Weigh

LONDON—Oil prices edged lower on Tuesday in volatile trade as weak demand data from China and a gloomy economic outlook weighed. Brent crude futures fell 46 cents, or 0.54 percent, to $85.45 a barrel by 1017 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down 38 cents, or 0.47 percent, at $79.88. Both contracts rose by…


Oil Set to End Turbulent 2022 With Second Annual Gain

LONDON—Oil rose on Friday and was on track for a second straight annual gain in a volatile year marked by tight supplies because of the Ukraine war and weakening demand from the world’s top crude importer, China. Crude surged in March with global benchmark Brent reaching $139.13 a barrel, the highest since 2008, after Russia’s…


Oil Falls as China COVID-19 Spike Dampens Demand Outlook

LONDON—Oil prices fell by over 2 percent on Thursday as surging COVID-19 cases in China dimmed hopes of a recovery in fuel demand for the world’s largest crude oil importer. Brent futures for February fell $1.67, or 2.01 percent, to $81.59 a barrel by 0953 GMT. The more active March contract fell 1.79 percent to…


ExxonMobil Launches Legal Challenge Against EU Over Windfall Profit Tax

ExxonMobil has filed a lawsuit against the European Union (EU) over a windfall tax on energy companies announced in September, arguing that the move is “counterproductive” and will “undermine investor confidence.” The Texas-headquartered oil and gas company announced the legal challenge against the bloc, which will be decided on by the European General Court, in a statement to media…


Russia Intensifies Attacks on Kherson in Ukraine’s South, Bakhmut in East

KYIV/BAKHMUT, Ukraine—Russian forces increased mortar and artillery attacks on the city of Kherson more than six weeks after it was retaken by Ukrainian troops, while also exerting pressure along frontlines in the east, Ukraine’s military said on Wednesday. Russia had shelled more than 25 settlements around Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, causing civilian casualties and damaging civilian…


Canada Economic Outlook for 2023: How Bad Could a Likely Recession Be?

News Analysis A trio of economy-related questions being asked as the calendar turns to 2023 are, how bad will the potential recession be, by how much will inflation come down, and will the Bank of Canada have to start cutting interest rates? A recession for an open, medium-sized economy like Canada’s seems unavoidable given that…


Oil Prices Fall on Worries About China COVID-19 Surge, Global Recession

LONDON—Oil prices fell on Wednesday on concerns that rising COVID-19 cases in China, the world’s top oil importer, will disrupt its economic recovery and fuel demand growth as it unwinds its pandemic restrictions. Brent futures for February delivery fell 78 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $83.55 a barrel, by 0900 GMT. U.S. crude fell 75…