Oil prices extended gains on Tuesday as the market eyed U.S. output concerns in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine and expectations of lower U.S. crude stockpiles.
Brent crude futures for November rose 34 cents, or 0.5%, at $73.09 a barrel at 0420 GMT. U.S. crude futures for October climbed 49 cents, or 0.7%, at $70.58 a barrel.
Both contracts settled higher in the previous session as the ongoing impact of Hurricane Francine on output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico countered Chinese demand concerns ahead of this week’s U.S.
Federal Reserve interest rate cut decision, which should prove positive for investor sentiment in oil. More than 12% of crude production and 16% of natural gas output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico remained offline, according to the U.S.
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) on Monday. “Oil prices managed to recover slightly. (An) extreme bearish state over the past weeks called for some near-term stabilisation, with prices previously touching their lowest level since 2021,” said Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG.
