Related News
Oil settles lower after US unemployment report
Source: Agencies |
November 7, 2009, Saturday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
OIL prices tumbled yesterday after the government said the US unemployment rate topped 10 percent for the first time since 1983.
Benchmark crude for December delivery gave up US$2.19 to settle at US$77.43 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude for December delivery shed US$2.12 to settle at US$75.87 on the ICE Futures exchange.
America's thirst for petroleum has slumped all year. With nearly 16 million people now out of work, traders found few reasons to expect it will return anytime soon. Crude prices shed most of their gains from earlier in the week, when financial reports showed consumers were spending more, and companies were squeezing more productivity out of their workers.
Prices slumped even after weather forecasters said tropical storms would sweep through the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend, likely disrupting oil production.
"There's some shock value that comes with double-digit unemployment," said Phil Flynn, an analyst with PFGBest. "It's worse than expected. If the job market isn't strong, then the economy isn't strong."
For most of the year, oil prices shrugged off growing unemployment and steadily climbed above US$80 a barrel as investors bet that American energy demand would return with an economic recovery. The weak US dollar also pushed oil higher since crude contracts are priced in dollars, and a drop in US currency gives investors with foreign money more buying power.
But oil hasn't been able to push past US$82 a barrel as US oil consumption dropped well below average for this time of year. With millions of people giving up the morning commute, gasoline demand has plunged.
"I'm glad that it's finally being talked about," trader Stephen Schork said. "We have way too much oil."
Still, Francisco Blanch, head of global commodities research with Bank of America-Merill Lynch, believes that crude prices will continue to march to US$100 a barrel by 2011. The weak dollar will continue to boost oil prices next year, he said, though it's hard to tell how much more the market will bear.
"What we know is at US$150 (a barrel last year), the world economy blew up. So it will be somewhere in that range," Blanch said.
In other Nymex trading, heating oil fell 5.41 cents to settle at US$2.0035 a gallon. Gasoline for December delivery lost 6.34 cents to settle at US$1.9243 a gallon. Natural gas for December delivery plunged 18.7 cents to settle at US$4.595 per 1,000 cubic feet.
Benchmark crude for December delivery gave up US$2.19 to settle at US$77.43 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude for December delivery shed US$2.12 to settle at US$75.87 on the ICE Futures exchange.
America's thirst for petroleum has slumped all year. With nearly 16 million people now out of work, traders found few reasons to expect it will return anytime soon. Crude prices shed most of their gains from earlier in the week, when financial reports showed consumers were spending more, and companies were squeezing more productivity out of their workers.
Prices slumped even after weather forecasters said tropical storms would sweep through the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend, likely disrupting oil production.
"There's some shock value that comes with double-digit unemployment," said Phil Flynn, an analyst with PFGBest. "It's worse than expected. If the job market isn't strong, then the economy isn't strong."
For most of the year, oil prices shrugged off growing unemployment and steadily climbed above US$80 a barrel as investors bet that American energy demand would return with an economic recovery. The weak US dollar also pushed oil higher since crude contracts are priced in dollars, and a drop in US currency gives investors with foreign money more buying power.
But oil hasn't been able to push past US$82 a barrel as US oil consumption dropped well below average for this time of year. With millions of people giving up the morning commute, gasoline demand has plunged.
"I'm glad that it's finally being talked about," trader Stephen Schork said. "We have way too much oil."
Still, Francisco Blanch, head of global commodities research with Bank of America-Merill Lynch, believes that crude prices will continue to march to US$100 a barrel by 2011. The weak dollar will continue to boost oil prices next year, he said, though it's hard to tell how much more the market will bear.
"What we know is at US$150 (a barrel last year), the world economy blew up. So it will be somewhere in that range," Blanch said.
In other Nymex trading, heating oil fell 5.41 cents to settle at US$2.0035 a gallon. Gasoline for December delivery lost 6.34 cents to settle at US$1.9243 a gallon. Natural gas for December delivery plunged 18.7 cents to settle at US$4.595 per 1,000 cubic feet.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
