Oil climbs more than 2% as stock mart rebounds

NEW YORK — Oil prices rose more than 2% on Monday, supported by a rebound in the stock market as concerns of a trade war between the United States and China eased.

Brent crude futures rose $1.54 to settle at $68.65 a barrel. Brent prices gained 2.3% on the day, its largest daily percentage gain since March 21. US West Texas Intermediate ( WTI) crude futures gained $1.36 to settle at $63.42, a 2.2% gain, its largest daily percentage rise since March 23.

“Once again we find the oil market being swept up in broader market sentiment,” said Matt Smith, director of commodity research at ClipperData. “After Friday’s flight from risk, the positive mood in equities to start the week is encouraging a rebound in oil, with a weakening dollar providing a further shot in the arm.”

The US stock market broadly rose more than 1% as strength in technology shares and a softer stance by US policy makers on China trade tariffs powered a rebound from last week’s selloff. Crude futures have recently tracked with equities.

Oil prices fell about 2% on Friday after US President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs on China over Twitter, reigniting fears of a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.

Market participants also focused on an air strike on a Syrian air base over the weekend. Syria and Russia blamed Israel for carrying out an attack on a Syrian air base near Homs on Monday which followed reports of a poison gas attack by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces on a rebel-held town.

The Pentagon formally denied a Syrian state television report that the US military had fired missiles at a Syrian government air base.

Concerns surrounding the implications of heightened conflict in Syria, whose main ally is Russia, drove oil prices higher, analysts said.

“It’s more instability in the global oil market and concerns about supply globally in a pretty strong demand environment,” said Rob Thummel, portfolio manager at energy investment manager Tortoise Capital in Leawood, Kansas.

Prices have been supported so far this year by healthy demand and supply restraint led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC), which started in 2017 to rein in oversupply and prop up prices.

In physical oil markets, OPEC’s no. 2 producer Iraq said on Monday that it will keep prices steady for its May crude supplies.

WTI’s discount to Brent recently has widened to its largest since January, reflecting some of the investor caution over rapidly expanding US output. —