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Oil prices fall as stimulus hopes fade
Source: Agencies |
August 1, 2012, Wednesday
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OIL prices fell yesterday as hopes faded for a new round of economic stimulus in the US.
Benchmark U.S. crude lost US$1.72, or about 2 percent, to end the day at US$88.06 per barrel in New York, while Brent crude lost US$1.28 to finish at US$104.92 per barrel in London.
Traders have been guessing for months about when and whether the Federal Reserve would try to spark the economy. Hopes rose last week, then retreated yesterday, following reports of strengthening consumer confidence and home values.
The Conference Board said US consumer confidence rose in July after four months of declines. That's an especially promising sign, given that consumer spending drives 70 percent of the US economy. And the housing industry's prospects looked brighter as prices rose across the country.
As long as the economy shows signs of life, the Fed may hold off on new stimulus measures that in previous years propped up the price of oil, analyst Phil Flynn said.
"Good news is bad news when it comes to the stimulus," he said.
The Fed will talk about possible stimulus measures at a policy meeting this week.
In other energy futures trading, heating oil lost 3.74 cents to finish at US$2.8417 per gallon, while wholesale gasoline lost 4.41 cents to end at US$2.7743 per gallon. Natural gas gave up less than a penny to finish at US$3.2090 per 1,000 cubic feet.
Benchmark U.S. crude lost US$1.72, or about 2 percent, to end the day at US$88.06 per barrel in New York, while Brent crude lost US$1.28 to finish at US$104.92 per barrel in London.
Traders have been guessing for months about when and whether the Federal Reserve would try to spark the economy. Hopes rose last week, then retreated yesterday, following reports of strengthening consumer confidence and home values.
The Conference Board said US consumer confidence rose in July after four months of declines. That's an especially promising sign, given that consumer spending drives 70 percent of the US economy. And the housing industry's prospects looked brighter as prices rose across the country.
As long as the economy shows signs of life, the Fed may hold off on new stimulus measures that in previous years propped up the price of oil, analyst Phil Flynn said.
"Good news is bad news when it comes to the stimulus," he said.
The Fed will talk about possible stimulus measures at a policy meeting this week.
In other energy futures trading, heating oil lost 3.74 cents to finish at US$2.8417 per gallon, while wholesale gasoline lost 4.41 cents to end at US$2.7743 per gallon. Natural gas gave up less than a penny to finish at US$3.2090 per 1,000 cubic feet.
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