By Shariq Khan
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Oil prices settled higher for the second consecutive session on Tuesday, as traders downplayed hopes of a Middle East ceasefire and focused on signs of improving demand from China, which could tighten market balances in the months ahead.
Brent crude futures for December gained $1.75, or 2.4%, to settle at $76.04 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures for November delivery rose by $1.53, or 2.2%, to $72.09 a barrel and expired after Tuesday’s settlement.
Beijing’s recent efforts to reinvigorate its slowing economy have led some analysts to raise expectations for oil demand in the world’s largest crude-importing nation. Weak demand from China amid rapid electrification of its car fleets weighed heavily on oil prices in recent months.
Both Brent and WTI rose nearly 2% on Monday, recouping some of last week’s more than 7% decline, after China announced cuts to benchmark lending rates.
Any improvement in economic growth should also boost fuel consumption. Still, it may take some time for the stimulus efforts to filter through to oil demand, said StoneX analyst Alex Hodes.
“We have perhaps seen the low point in demand, but I do not know if there is much consensus regarding how much it can improve the situation,” Hodes said.
In a note to clients on Monday, analysts at Goldman Sachs said their China demand tracker rose by about 100,000 barrels per day in the prior week to a six-month high, partly as the country’s industrial production and retail sales beat expectations.
China on Tuesday set crude import quotas for next year at 257 million metric tons (5.14 million bpd), up from this year’s 243 million tons.
Global oil inventories point to a supply deficit in the fourth quarter, which should support prices in the near term, Hodes said.
Global petroleum stocks were around 1.24 billion barrels last week, 5 million barrels lower than last year, according to StoneX’s review of data from major trading hubs.
U.S. crude stocks rose 1.64 million barrels last week, whereas gasoline and distillate fuel combined fell by 3.5 million barrels, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Analysts polled by Reuters expect a 300,000-barrel increase in crude stocks.
Oil prices eased slightly in low-volume, after-hours trading, with Brent crude at $75.51 a barrel.
Government data on U.S. stockpiles is due on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. ET (1430 GMT). [EIA/S]
In the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the first big push for a Middle East ceasefire since Israel killed the leader of Hamas last week. Washington hopes this will provide an opportunity for peace.
Blinken has made little progress towards a ceasefire in his previous 11 visits to the region since the war in Gaza erupted, so there is skepticism among investors that this will be any different, said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho.
Israel has so far shown no sign of relenting in its Gaza and Lebanon campaigns, while Iran-allied Hezbollah ruled out negotiations while fighting with Israel continues.
(Reporting by Shariq Khan, Ron Bousso, Yuka Obayashi and Siyi Liu; Editing by David Gregorio, Daniel Wallis and Lisa Shumaker)
