Share

Oil drops $2 to five-year low

London - Brent crude oil fell more than $2 a barrel on Monday to a new five-year low on predictions that oversupply would keep building until next year after Opec decided not to cut output.

In a report dated 5 December, Morgan Stanley said oil prices could fall as low as $43 a barrel next year.

The US investment bank cut its average 2015 Brent base-case outlook by $28 to $70 per barrel and by $14 to $88 a barrel for 2016.

"Without Opec intervention, markets risk becoming unbalanced, with peak oversupply likely in the second quarter of 2015," Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Longson said.

Brent for January was down $1.77 at $67.30 a barrel after lunch, having fallen $2.30 to $66.77 - its lowest since October 2009.

US crude was down $1.44 at $64.40 a barrel, after hitting a session low of $64.14. The US contract, also known as West Texas Intermediate, touched $63.72 last week, its lowest since July 2009.

Driving further slide

Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia at a meeting last month resisted calls from poorer members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to cut production, driving a further slide in prices, which have lost more than 40% since June.

Cartel member Kuwait said on Monday oil prices were likely to remain around $65 a barrel for the next six to seven months.

"I think oil prices will remain at these levels ... until world economic recovery is clear or if there were any political crises or Opec changed its production policy," said Nizar al-Adsani, chief executive of Kuwait's state oil company.

Libyan state oil company NOC said on Sunday the country was producing 800 000 barrels per day, though its El Sharara oilfield was closed due to a pipeline blockade.


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
19.29
-0.7%
Rand - Pound
23.87
-1.1%
Rand - Euro
20.58
-1.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.38
-1.1%
Rand - Yen
0.12
-1.2%
Platinum
943.50
+0.0%
Palladium
1,034.50
-0.1%
Gold
2,391.84
+0.0%
Silver
28.68
+0.0%
Brent-ruolie
87.29
+0.2%
Top 40
67,314
+0.2%
All Share
73,364
+0.1%
Resource 10
63,285
-0.0%
Industrial 25
98,701
+0.3%
Financial 15
15,499
+0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders