Oil prices fall on rising COVID-19 infections in Asia, inflation fears

[May 19, 2021]  By Noah Browning

LONDON (Reuters) -Oil prices fell for a second day on Wednesday on renewed demand concerns as coronavirus cases in Asia rise and on fears rising inflation might lead the U.S. Federal Reserve to raise interest rates, which could limit economic growth.

Brent crude futures fell $1.08, or 1.5%, to $67.63 a barrel at 1100 GMT. It settled 1.1% lower on Tuesday after briefly climbing above $70 earlier in the session.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures dropped $1.05 cents, or 1.6%, to $64.44 a barrel, following a 1.2% fall on Tuesday.

Brent's rise to $70 was driven by optimism over the reopening of the U.S. and European economies, among the world's biggest oil consumers.

But it later retreated on fears of slowing fuel demand in Asia as COVID-19 cases surge in India, Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand, prompting a new wave of movement restrictions.

"Yesterday's trade proved again that $70 signals irrational exuberance," said Vandana Hari, energy analyst at Vanda Insights.

"Assessing the global demand picture remains challenging as reopenings and restrictions across the world are probably the most diverse since the start of the pandemic," said Hari.

Despite this, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said oil prices were stable and the market had roughly balanced, with demand slightly exceeding supply.

A petrol station attendant prepares to refuel a car in Rome, Italy, January 4, 2012. REUTERS/Max Rossi

Uncertainties over inflation also prompted investors to reduce exposure to riskier assets like oil.

Westpac economist Justin Smirk said speculation that the Federal Reserve might raise rates because of inflation fears weighed on the outlook for growth and in turn on commodities demand.

"The Fed's very serious (about holding rates low), but the market's speculating about earlier movement," he said.

The Fed has indicated that interest rates will stay at their current low levels through 2023 though futures markets show investors believe rates may start to be raised by September 2022.

Investors will also be watching out for the latest U.S. crude and products stocks data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration due on Wednesday.

(Additional reporting by Sonali Paul in Melbourne and Roslan Khasawneh in Singapore; editing by Louise Heavens and Jason Neely)

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