Oil slips on US deficit, ratings worries

LONDON: Crude oil prices fell on Wednesday after ratings agency Moody's assigned a negative outlook to the United States, stoking concern that demand may fall as the world's top oil user faces longer-term fiscal and economic challenges.

Worries are growing that major economies may slip back into recession as Europe's debt crisis deepens and after global manufacturing data proved disappointing. The slowdown is having a direct impact on US oil demand as consumer spending and gasoline use crumble.

Brent slid 81 cents to $115.65 a barrel by 0832 GMT, almost $12 below this year's peak above $127. US crude fell 44 cents to $93.35 a barrel, the lowest intraday price since June 29.

The passing of a deal saving the US from default triggered fleeting relief amid investors, but focus remained to the longer term challenges for the world's largest economy and the euro zone's troubles.

"Fears for demand destruction are ever-present, while weak manufacturing PMI numbers from across the globe this week only add fuel to economic concerns," VTB Capital's Andrey Kryuchenkov said. "The market is starting to look weak technically and persistent risk aversion on the broader market could drive crude lower in the short run. No one is prepared to go long just yet."

Disappointing economic data also encouraged investors to reduce exposure to risk and seek the safe havens of the Swiss franc and gold.

"Even if the debt ceiling issue in the US has been cleared, that is only successful in that it avoids a default," said Ken Hasegawa, a commodity derivatives manager at Japan's Newedge brokerage.

"The deficit is still a big problem and that is creating financial fear. People are decreasing gasoline consumption," Hasegawa said.

Spanish and Italian 10-year government bond yield spreads over the benchmark German bund widened further on Wednesday as contagion from the euro zone debt crisis continued to spread amid a bleak outlook for global growth.

In Spain, data from the dominant services sector showed a sharp contraction in July, mirroring the weakness in factory output and signalling that the fragile economy could contract in the third quarter.

MOODY'S ASSIGNS NEGATIVE OUTLOOK

Moody's Investors Service late on Tuesday confirmed its Aaa rating of the United States, citing the decision to raise the debt limit, but assigned a negative outlook that could pressure lawmakers to cut the deficit.

The decision by Moody's came a few hours after rival Fitch Ratings upheld its AAA rating of the US Fitch also warned the world's largest economy must cut its debt burden to avoid a future downgrade.

The greater need for fiscal discipline comes as the slowdown of the US economy intensifies.

US consumer spending dropped in June for the first time in nearly two years and incomes barely rose, signs the economy lacked momentum as the second quarter drew to a close.

The nation's retail gasoline demand fell 3.1 percent in the week to July 29 from a year earlier, as price gains since the beginning of July weighed on consumption, MasterCard said.

Industry group the American Petroleum Institute on Tuesday said gasoline stocks jumped a bigger-than-expected 2.5 million barrels and distillate stocks rose in line with forecasts by 1.4 million barrels.

US crude inventories unexpectedly fell 3.3 million barrels last week. Inventory statistics from the US government's Energy Information Administration will follow on Wednesday.

Tuesday's data followed weak manufacturing readings a day earlier from the US, Europe and China and last week's disappointing second-quarter US GDP estimate, which reinforced fears that slowing economic growth threatens to dampen oil demand.

A series of US employment data releases from Wednesday through Friday will be closely watched.

Copyright Reuters, 2011