Oil Prices, Energy News and Analysis for July 27, 2020

Oil was propped up by a weaker dollar and stronger U.S. equities with speculation growing around the Federal Reserve reinforcing its dovish message. U.S. crude futures climbed 0.8% on Monday. Equities strengthened on the possibility that a resurgence in global coronavirus cases will push Fed Chairman Jerome Powell to signal rates will stay near zero for longer. Meanwhile, the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index weakened for a second straight session.

“You’re going to have the Federal Reserve that’s going to be accommodative, you’ve got Congress going to pass another relief bill, and that should keep us fairly well supported,” said Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at Price Futures Group Inc. “The stock market’s showing a little more strength,” helping to further boost sentiment.

Futures trade in a tight range as demand woes cap a price recovery

Still, crude futures in New York have been ensnared in a narrow trading range around $40 a barrel since early June, with global virus cases surpassing 16 million, crimping the outlook for a swifter demand recovery. Oil parked in floating storage is 244% higher than a year ago, according to Vortexa data, and still the OPEC+ alliance is preparing to ease unprecedented production cuts in a matter of days.

The shape of the crude futures curve is also pointing to weakness: Both West Texas Intermediate and Brent’s prompt spreads are trading in contango, with Brent’s in the largest contango structure since May.

“The expanding contango curve in WTI and Brent is a function of oversupply,” Bob Yawger, director of the futures division at Mizuho Securities USA, said in a note. “Crude oil has traded above $40 every day this month and it appears that U.S. producers are prepared to take the bait and increase production.”

PRICES
West Texas Intermediate for September delivery rose 31 cents to settle at $41.60 a barrel in New York. WTI’s prompt spread was 20 cents in contango, the weakest in more than a week. Brent for September settlement edged 7 cents higher to end the session at $43.41 a barrel. The global benchmark’s prompt spread was 49 cents in contango.

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