Oil prices ended Thursday’s trading on a high, as US crude continued to rise for the seventh consecutive session, with optimism about demand for crude.
Oil prices today
By 02:13 PM GMT (05:13 PM GMT), the futures prices forWest Texas Intermediate Crude February delivery- by 1.3%, recording $75.95 a barrel.
Futures contract prices also fellRaw brent March 2022 delivery by about 1.2%, recording $78.61 a barrel, after it was near $80 earlier in the session.
Oil prices in 2021
Brent crude is on track to end the year up 53%, while WTI is set for a 58% gain, the strongest performance of the two benchmarks since 2009, when prices rose more than 70%.
Both contracts peaked in 2021 in October, with Brent crude at $86.70 a barrel, the highest since 2018, and WTI at $85.41, the highest since 2014.
Global oil prices are expected to rise further next year as demand for jet fuel catches up.
Oil demand
“We’ve had a delta swing, omicron and all kinds of shutdowns and travel restrictions, but oil demand has remained relatively flat,” said Craig James, chief economist at Australian brokerage Comsec.
However, after rising for several consecutive days, oil prices halted gains in today’s session, with cases of corona rising and recording new epidemic levels around the world, from Australia to the United States, in conjunction with the rapid spread of the Omicron mutant.
American health experts have warned citizens to prepare for severe disruptions in the coming weeks, with infection rates likely to worsen amid increased holiday travel and New Year’s celebrations and the reopening of schools after the winter holidays.
OPEC+
Simultaneously, 4 sources toldReuters The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its external allies led by Russia, in the alliance known as OPEC+With oil approaching $80, the alliance is likely to stick to the plan to add 400,000 barrels per day of supplies in February during their meeting scheduled for January 4, as part of a plan to roll back sharp production cuts implemented in 2020.
“I think we’re going to see a lot of pressure on OPEC+, to make sure there’s enough oil supplied to the market,” James said.
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