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Oil price above US$100 on international banking plan
Source: Agencies |
December 1, 2011, Thursday
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THE price of oil yesterday finished trading above US$100 for the first time in two weeks, as the US and other countries made it easier for banks to lend money and keep the global economy growing.
The Federal Reserve said it will team up with the European Central Bank, the Bank of England and the central banks of Canada, Japan and Switzerland to increase the flow of dollars around the world. The coordinated move should be a shot in the arm for Europe, where a festering credit crisis has slowed the eurozone economy and threatened a recession.
Separately, China reduced the level of cash its banks are required to keep on hand in an effort to boost lending and keep the world's second-largest economy going strong.
Benchmark crude rose 57 cents to finish at US$100.36 per barrel in New York. At one point it was as high as US$101.75 a barrel. Brent crude, used to price many foreign kinds of oil, rose 12 cents to end at US$109.98 per barrel in London.
Wednesday's price increases indicate that many oil traders think the global economy will eventually benefit - and oil demand will grow - as more money flows through the banking system. The Fed added more encouraging news in its Beige Book survey released yesterday. It showed the US economy expanding at a slow but steady pace in most parts of the country.
For now, however, oil and gas demand remains weak. The Energy Information Administration reported yesterday that US wholesale gasoline demand fell in November to the lowest monthly average since January 2004.
"That was rather disappointing, given that last week included a holiday weekend," independent analyst and trader Stephen Schork said.
American motorists have been driving less with retail prices well above seasonal record levels.
The government reported yesterday that oil and gasoline supplies grew last week, as imports rose and refineries slowed down because of weak demand. The weak supply and demand numbers kept oil prices from rising further.
In other energy trading, heating oil was virtually unchanged to end at US$3.0214 per gallon, and gasoline futures rose 2.86 cents to finish at US$2.5677 per gallon. Natural gas lost 8.3 cents to end at US$3.550 per 1,000 cubic feet.
The Federal Reserve said it will team up with the European Central Bank, the Bank of England and the central banks of Canada, Japan and Switzerland to increase the flow of dollars around the world. The coordinated move should be a shot in the arm for Europe, where a festering credit crisis has slowed the eurozone economy and threatened a recession.
Separately, China reduced the level of cash its banks are required to keep on hand in an effort to boost lending and keep the world's second-largest economy going strong.
Benchmark crude rose 57 cents to finish at US$100.36 per barrel in New York. At one point it was as high as US$101.75 a barrel. Brent crude, used to price many foreign kinds of oil, rose 12 cents to end at US$109.98 per barrel in London.
Wednesday's price increases indicate that many oil traders think the global economy will eventually benefit - and oil demand will grow - as more money flows through the banking system. The Fed added more encouraging news in its Beige Book survey released yesterday. It showed the US economy expanding at a slow but steady pace in most parts of the country.
For now, however, oil and gas demand remains weak. The Energy Information Administration reported yesterday that US wholesale gasoline demand fell in November to the lowest monthly average since January 2004.
"That was rather disappointing, given that last week included a holiday weekend," independent analyst and trader Stephen Schork said.
American motorists have been driving less with retail prices well above seasonal record levels.
The government reported yesterday that oil and gasoline supplies grew last week, as imports rose and refineries slowed down because of weak demand. The weak supply and demand numbers kept oil prices from rising further.
In other energy trading, heating oil was virtually unchanged to end at US$3.0214 per gallon, and gasoline futures rose 2.86 cents to finish at US$2.5677 per gallon. Natural gas lost 8.3 cents to end at US$3.550 per 1,000 cubic feet.
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