"Oil rises as Chinese border opening spurs fuel demand optimism"

" Oil rises as Chinese border opening spurs fuel demand optimism \r\nOil prices\u00a0climbed on Monday as the borders reopened in\u00a0China, the world\u2019s top crude importer, boosting the outlook for fuel demand growth and offsetting global recession concerns.\r\n\r\nBrent crude futures rose 90 cents, or 1.2%, to US $79.47 a barrel at 0520 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 90 cents, or 1.2%, at US $74.67.\r\n\r\nHopes for less-aggressive U.S. interest rate rises are buoying financial markets and depressing the dollar. A weaker greenback makes dollar-denominated commodities more affordable for investors holding other currencies.\r\n\r\nBoth Brent and WTI tumbled more than 8% last week, their biggest weekly declines at the start of a year since 2016.\r\n\r\n\u201cCrude oil prices recovered from the previous week\u2019s losses as the economic reopening in China and less aggressive monetary tightening prospects from the Federal Reserve set a positive tone for demand recovery,\u201d said Avtar Sandu, senior manager for commodities at Phillip Futures.\r\n\r\nAs part of a \u201cnew phase\u201d in the fight against\u00a0COVID-19, China opened its borders over the weekend for the first time in three years. Domestically, some 2 billion trips are expected during the Lunar New Year season, nearly double last year\u2019s movement and recovering to 70% of 2019 levels, Beijing says.\r\n\r\nOver the last week, airlines have boosted their January international seat capacity to and from China by 9.5% as they ramp up flights after its border opening, according to aviation data provider Cirium.\r\n\r\nDespite the gains in oil on Monday, concerns remain that the massive flow of Chinese travellers may cause another surge in COVID infections.\r\n\r\nThose concerns are reflected in the market structure for the benchmark oil futures. Both front-month Brent and WTI contracts are in contango, when current prices are below prices for later-delivery contracts, which typically indicates bearish sentiment for the market.\r\n\r\n\u201cMarket sentiment has remained negative as China\u2019s battle with COVID-19 worsens. Despite removing most virus-related restrictions, a surge in cases across the country could stifle economic activity,\u201d ANZ analysts said in a note.\r\n\r\nEnergy futures for crude oil, refined products and natural gas have plummeted in the New Year as traders have reconsidered near-term worries over cold weather and fears of supply shortages and dumped contracts.\r\n\r\nLast week, U.S. energy firms cut the number of operating oil and natural gas rigs by seven, the biggest weekly decline since September 2021, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said on Friday.\r\n\r\n "

"Oil rises as Chinese border opening spurs fuel demand optimism"

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