Oil steady as US production rise offsets Mideast tension

NEW YORK — Oil prices ended little changed on Tuesday, steadying after earlier gains and losses, as expectations of high US production and exports offset concerns that fighting between Iraqi and Kurdish forces could threaten the country’s crude output.

Brent crude futures gained six cents, or 0.10%, to settle at $57.88 per barrel, while US crude gained one cent to settle at $51.88. Both contracts traded up nearly one percent and down over one percent during the day.

The Baghdad government recaptured territory across northern Iraq from Kurds on Tuesday, widening a campaign that has shifted the balance of power in the country.

The fighting in one of Iraq’s main oil-producing areas helped to restore a risk premium on oil prices, though officials said that oil fields in the region were operating normally.

“The security premium built into prices from the (Iraqi-Kurdish) situation is in the process of vanishing,” said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York. “Everyone is looking to see if the high level of (US) crude oil exports will pull down inventories again.”

Analysts forecast US crude inventories declined by about 4.20 million barrels in the week to Oct. 13.

The American Petroleum Institute, an industry trade group, will release US weekly petroleum inventory data at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT), ahead of the government’s report on Wednesday.

“Market participants will closely watch the rising oilproduction profile in the United States and persistently high exports from the country — factors that will continue to limit gains in oil prices,” said Abhishek Kumar, senior energy analyst at Interfax Energy’s Global Gas Analytics in London.

Tension between the United States and Iran is also rising, increasing the global risk premium for oil. US President Donald Trump on Friday refused to certify Iran’s compliance over a nuclear deal, leaving Congress 60 days to decide on further action against Tehran.

During the previous round of sanctions against Iran, about one million barrels per day of oil was cut from global markets.

With supply cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries tightening the market, analysts have been raising oil price forecasts. Bank of America Merrill Lynch said it was raising its forecasts. “We see Brent averaging $54 this quarter and $ 52.50 per barrel in 1H18, compared with our previous forecasts of $50 and $49.50 per barrel respectively,” it said. —