Oil rose as tight near-term supplies outweighed expectations of another rate hike this week and an eventual economic slowdown. West Texas Intermediate rose 2.1% to settle above $96 a barrel. The Federal Reserve is expected to increase interest rates this week to slow down economic growth. Despite the gloomier outlook, crude markets are pricing in remarkable strength for physical barrels with some buyers in Asia paying premiums of more than $20 a barrel to secure certain crude grades. Nearby Brent futures are trading about $5 over the next month’s contract, indicating refiners are willing to pay up to secure supplies. “Crude prices are showing signs of stabilization around the mid-$90s as the oil market still remains tight despite another wave of weakening economic data in the US and Europe,” said Ed Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda Corp. “Despite the growing risks of a severe recession, oil should see […]