Oil Rallies as Debt-Ceiling Negotiators Move Closer to Agreement

Oil rose and was headed for a modest weekly gain as the dollar eased and investors monitored progress in talks to avoid a US default.

(Bloomberg) — Oil rose and was headed for a modest weekly gain as the dollar eased and investors monitored progress in talks to avoid a US default.

Republican and White House negotiators were moving closer to an agreement to raise the debt limit, according to people familiar with the matter. Still, the agreed-upon details are tentative, and a final accord isn’t in hand. 

Supply dynamics remain in focus, with Saudi Arabia and Russia offering conflicting statements on the potential for more cuts from OPEC and its allies. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that OPEC+ wasn’t likely to take further measures at its gathering in Vienna in June, contrasting with Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman’s remarks earlier in the week that speculators should “watch out.”

Read more: US Inflation, Spending Pick Up in Sign of Economic Resilience

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“Crude prices remain volatile as energy traders remain uncertain over what will happen with US debt-ceiling negotiations and with the June 4 OPEC+ meeting,” said Ed Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda. “A resilient US economy is also complicating what is happening with oil as a little demand boost is being countered with expectations that the Fed will have to cripple the economy with more rate hikes.”

Crude has still sunk almost 10% this year amid the lackluster economic recovery in top importer China and the aggressive monetary tightening campaign by the US Federal Reserve. More US rate increases may be in store, with traders pricing in another quarter-point hike within the next two meetings.

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