LONDON: Oil prices rose on Friday and were poised to end three weeks of decline, buoyed by rising fuel demand and expectations that U.S. plans for global reciprocal tariffs would not come into effect before April, providing more time to avoid a trade war.
Brent futures were up 37 cents, or 0.49%, at $75.39 a barrel by 1418 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 24 cents, or 0.34%, to $71.53. Both contracts were on track for weekly gains of about 1%.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday ordered commerce and economics officials to study reciprocal tariffs against countries that place tariffs on U.S. goods and to return their recommendations by April 1.
“Positive development on the trade front in light of U.S. tariff delays paves the way for some recovery in oil prices this morning, as the risk environment warms up to the prospects of further trade consensus being reached,” said IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong.
“However, gains in oil prices may seem limited as market participants have to digest the prospects of Russian supplies being brought back on the market amid potential Ukraine-Russia peace talks.”
A lifting of sanctions on Moscow in the event of a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is likely to boost global energy supplies.
Trump ordered U.S. officials this week to begin talks on ending the war in Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed a desire for peace in separate phone calls with him.
Russian oil exports could be sustained if workarounds to the latest U.S. sanctions package are found, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its latest oil market report.
Meanwhile, global oil demand has surged to 103.4 million barrels per day (bpd), up by 1.4 million bpd year on year, JPMorgan analysts said on Friday.
“Initially sluggish demand for mobility and heating fuels picked up in the second week of February, suggesting the gap between actual and projected demand will soon narrow,” the bank said.
“Heating fuel use is expected to rise again. Additionally, soaring gas prices in Europe could prompt a shift from gas tooil, boosting demand.”
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