Oil tops $60 for first time in 2015, industry cutbacks support

[February 13, 2015]  By Alex Lawler and Jack Stubbs
 
 LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose above $60 a barrel on Friday for the first time this year, bringing gains this week to 4 percent, supported by signs that deeper industry spending cuts may curb excess supply.

Also supporting oil, euro zone economic growth accelerated unexpectedly in the final quarter of 2014 as the bloc's largest member, Germany, expanded at more than twice the expected rate.

The price of Brent crude collapsed from $115 in June to $45.19, the lowest in almost six years, in January due to oversupply. Since January, mounting signs of lower industry spending have helped prices rally by more than 30 percent.

Apache Corp <APA.N>, a top U.S. shale oil producer, said on Thursday it would cut capital spending and its rig count in 2015 following the price collapse, keeping its output growth mostly flat.

Brent for April delivery <LCOc1> was up $1.12 at $60.40 by 1120 GMT (06:20 a.m. EST), after trading at a high of $60.54 earlier in the session. The March contract expired overnight. U.S. crude <CLc1> was up 80 cents at $52.01.
 

"During the last weeks, crude oil rebounded driven by improved market sentiment and by expectations that low prices will lead to lower supply growth in 2015," said Daniela Corsini, analyst at Intesa Sanpaolo, in a report.

Besides Apache's update, Royal Dutch Shell's <RDSA.L> chief executive said on Thursday supply might not be able to keep up with growing demand as companies reduce budgets, and France's Total <TOTF.PA> announced investment and job cuts.

"Seeing today's prices, supply will probably not keep pace with this growth. It may even decline, as prices are close to cash costs," said Shell Chief Executive Ben van Beurden.

Still, analysts at JBC Energy in Vienna said in reference to Apache's moves that spending cuts can easily be reversed.

"While the company expects North American onshore production to be flat this year, they emphasize their flexibility to come back very quickly if the price environment or the cost structure changes sufficiently," JBC said.

"This is generally what makes most people doubt that the latest rally can be sustained."

A weaker U.S. dollar, which makes dollar-denominated commodities cheaper for holders of other currencies, has also supported oil this week, analysts say.

(Additional reporting by Adam Rose in Beijing; Editing by Dale Hudson and David Evans)

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