Oil prices climbed on Tuesday, with investors regaining some risk appetite as they await clues from the U.S. Federal Reserve chairman on potential interest rate rises and as some oil producers continued to struggle to beef up output.
Brent crude futures gained 40 cents, or 0.5%, to $81.27 a barrel at 0529 GMT, after dropping 1% in the previous session.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 52 cents, or 0.7%, to $78.75 a barrel, after falling 0.8% on Monday.
A weaker U.S. dollar helped support oil prices on Tuesday, as it makes oil cheaper for those holding other currencies.
A U.S. Senate committee holds hearings this week for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and vice-chair nominee Lael Brainard that could provide new details about the U.S. central bank’s plans to tighten monetary policy.
Recent oil price declines had been driven by worries about soaring cases of COVID-19 around the world potentially sapping fuel demand.
Analysts pointed to OPEC supply additions running below their allowed increase under the OPEC+ pact, as some countries, including Nigeria, are not producing their agreed volumes.
Libya, which is exempt from OPEC supply curbs, has been hit by pipeline maintenance work and oil field disruptions. However, on Monday, production resumed at the El Feel oil field, where an armed group halted output last month.
The market is waiting on U.S. oil and product inventory data from the American Petroleum Institute (API), an industry group, due at 2130 GMT on Tuesday, followed by data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Wednesday.
Six analysts polled by Reuters expect U.S. crude stockpiles fell by about 2 million barrels in the week to January 7, which would mark a seventh straight week of declining crude inventories. (©Philippine Daily Inquirer 2021)
