Oil climbs by $4 as further interest rate hikes loom

By Laura Sanicola

(Reuters) -Oil prices rose by more than $4 on Friday before paring some gains amid uncertainty around future interest rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve, while a looming EU ban on Russian oil and the possibility of China easing some COVID restrictions supported markets.

Though fears of global recession capped gains, Brent crude futures were up $2.63, or 2.8%, at $97.30 a barrel by 12:08 p.m. EDT (1608 GMT), set for a weekly gain of about 2.5%.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up $2.96, or 3.4%, at $91.13 and on course for a weekly gain of nearly 5%.

China is sticking to its strict COVID-19 curbs after cases rose on Thursday to their highest since August, but a former Chinese disease control official said substantial changes to the country’s COVID-19 policy are to take place soon.

China’s stock markets have been buoyed this week by the rumours of an end to stringent lockdowns despite the lack of any announced changes.

However, signals about the size of U.S. interest rate hikes caused oil to pare some gains.

The U.S. Labor Department’s non-farm payrolls report on Friday showed a rise in the unemployment rate to 3.7% last month from 3.5% in September, suggesting some loosening in labor market conditions that could give the Fed cover to shift towards smaller rate increases.

Richmond Federal Reserve President Thomas Barkin on Friday said he is ready to act more “deliberatively” on consideration of the pace of future U.S. interest rate hikes, but said rates could continue rising for longer and to a higher end point than previously expected.

“The China re-opening talk this morning got oil going but the various Fed representatives have been making it clear there’s a long way to go with respect to interest rate hikes, and oil markets are more sensitive to that,” said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC.

While demand concerns weighed on the market, supply is expected to remain tight because of Europe’s planned embargoes on Russian oil and a slide in U.S. crude stockpiles.

“The slight weakness in the dollar, the upcoming ban on Russian oil sales are certainly supportive as focus is shifting from recession fears to supply issues,” said PVM Oil Associates analyst Tamas Varga.

“The main catalyst, however, is reports that China may ease its zero-Covid restrictions, which would be a boon to its economy and oil demand.”

The EU ban on Russian crude imports is due to take effect from Dec. 5. Details of G7 price cap aimed at alleviating constraints on Russian flows outside the EU are still under discussion.

RECESSION FEARS

On the bearish side, fears of a recession in the United States, the world’s biggest oil consumer, grew on Thursday after Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said it was “very premature” to be thinking about pausing interest rate hikes.

“The spectre of further rate hikes dimmed hopes of a pick-up in demand,” ANZ Research analysts said in a note.

The Bank of England warned on Thursday that it thinks Britain has entered a recession and the economy might not grow for another two years.

Underscoring demand concerns, Saudi Arabia lowered December official selling prices (OSPs) for its flagship Arab Light crude to Asia by 40 cents to a premium of $5.45 a barrel versus the Oman/Dubai average.

The cut was in line with trade sources’ forecasts, which were based on a weaker outlook for Chinese demand.

Looking into next week, investors are awaiting the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s short-term energy outlook and the November U.S. Consumer Price Index for insight on the pace of inflation.

(Additional reporting by Julia Payne in London and Sonali Paul in Melbourne and Jeslyn Lerh in SingaporeEditing by David Goodman and Chris Reese)