Crude Oil Drops Amid Oversupply Concerns

Crude oil prices fell on Monday amid thin trading volumes ahead of year-end holidays, driven by investor concerns over a potential oversupply in the coming year and the strength of the US dollar.

Brent crude futures dropped $0.31, or 0.43%, to $72.63 per barrel by session close. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate USOIL futures slipped $0.22, or 0.32%, to $69.24 per barrel. The Mexican crude blend also declined, shedding 0.28% to $64.51 per barrel.

BrokerReviewRegulatorsMin DepositWebsite
🥇Read ReviewFCA, CySEC, ASIC, MAS, FSA, EFSA, DFSA, CFTCUSD 100Visit Broker
🥈Read ReviewFSCA, FSC, ASIC, CySEC, DFSAUSD 5Visit Broker
🥉Read ReviewCySEC, MISA, FSCAUSD 25Visit Broker
4Read ReviewASIC, BaFin, CMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, SCBUSD 200Visit Broker
5Read ReviewASIC, FCA, CySEC, SCBUSD 100Visit Broker
6Read ReviewFCA, FSCA, FSC, CMAUSD 200Visit Broker
7Read ReviewBVI FSCUSD 1Visit Broker
8Read ReviewCBCS, CySEC, FCA, FSA, FSC, FSCA, CMAUSD 10Visit Broker
9Read ReviewASIC, CySEC, FSCA, CMAUSD 100Visit Broker
10Read ReviewIFSC, FSCA, ASIC, CySECUSD 1Visit Broker

USOIL

Outlook and Market Drivers

Analysts forecast an oversupply for next year, which is expected to push Brent prices to an average of $70.50 per barrel, lower than this year’s $79.64 average, according to a December report.

Concerns about European supply eased after reports confirmed the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian and Kazakh oil to Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Germany, resumed operations following technical issues at a Russian pumping station last Thursday.

The dollar hovered near its two-year high on Monday, a level it had reached the previous Friday. A stronger dollar increases the cost of oil for holders of other currencies, adding downward pressure on prices.

Weekly Performance

Last week, Brent futures fell by approximately 2.1%, WTI dropped 2.6%, and the Mexican crude blend declined by 2.33%. These losses were driven by global economic growth concerns and weaker oil demand after the Federal Reserve signaled caution regarding further monetary easing.

Check out our free forex signals
Follow the top economic events on FX Leaders economic calendar
Trade better, discover more Forex Trading Strategies
ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Ignacio Teson
Ignacio Teson
Economist and Financial Analyst
Ignacio Teson is an Economist and Financial Analyst. He has more than 7 years of experience in emerging markets. He worked as an analyst and market operator at brokerage firms in Argentina and Spain.
Related Articles
Comments
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments