08 September 2015 – US oil prices fell on Tuesday as the global economic outlook darkened further and cooperation between oil producing countries to curb oversupply looked unlikely, pulling US crude prices down around 3% in early Asian trading.
Japan’s economy shrank an annualised 1.2% in April-June, revised gross domestic product data showed on Tuesday, despite ongoing government and central bank measures to support growth.
Asian shares looked set to struggle on Tuesday to defend the three-year trough hit last month as investors sought more signs of stability in China’s slowing economy and volatile financial markets.
“Oil prices are now expected to stay around current levels until the end of 2015, before rising to the mid to high 50s by the end of 2016,” National Australia Bank said in its September commodities note to clients.
US crude benchmarks were down over 3% on Tuesday from their previous close at $44.66 per barrel, and although Brent futures firmed 40 cents in early trading to $48.03 a barrel, the global benchmark was still down $1.24 from its opening value on Monday.
Oil prices have fallen almost 60% since June 2014 on a global supply glut, with prices seesawing in recent weeks as concerns about a slowing Chinese economy caused turmoil in global stock markets.
On the supply side, recent speculation that Russia might be willing to cooperate with Opec to curb output in support of prices were given a blow on Monday after the chief executive of Russian oil major Rosneft ruled out a Russian cut.
*Reuters