Oil prices slipped after posting their strongest gain in nearly two weeks, as investors monitored ongoing US trade negotiations and an upcoming OPEC+ meeting this weekend.
Bloomberg reports:
Brent (BZ=F) traded near $69 a barrel after surging by 3% on Wednesday, with West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) above $67. President Donald Trump said he had struck a trade deal with Vietnam, which would be just the third announced following agreements with the UK and China, before a July 9 deadline to reach accords.
Crude has been buffeted in recent weeks, surging and collapsing along with perceived geopolitical risk in the Middle East, although volatility and volumes have fallen in recent days before Friday’s US holiday. Focus is returning to trade talks, and the associated tariffs that threaten oil demand, as well as to Sunday’s OPEC+ meeting, where the group is widely expected to agree on another bumper increase in supply quotas.
“While trade optimism provided a boost to oil prices, the sustainability of this move will likely be short-lived,” said Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy for ING Groep NV. “OPEC+ is set to decide on August output levels this weekend, and so the market will probably be cautious about carrying too much risk into the US long weekend.”
