Oil in biggest rally since December

Hong Kong - Oil is riding the longest winning streak since December on optimism Saudi Arabia will support an extension to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec)-led output cuts just as US stockpiles show signs of shrinking.

Futures in New York were holding gains after rising 6.3% in the previous six sessions. Saudi Arabia is likely to back prolonging the curbs into the second half of 2017 in an effort to boost prices, according to a person familiar with the kingdom’s internal discussions.

Several other countries, including Kuwait, have also expressed public support for an extension. Industry data was said to show US crude supplies fell last week.

While speculation that the Opec and its allies will extend their six-month pact aimed at eroding a global glut is helping boost prices, there’s also concern that rising US output will counter the reductions.

Saudi Arabia, the biggest Opec producer, reduced supply below 10 million barrels a day in March, more than pledged under the deal, according to a separate person familiar with the matter. The group is scheduled to gather in Vienna on May 25.

“Extending production cuts beyond June is gathering momentum," said Jonathan Barratt, chief investment officer at Ayers Alliance Securities in Sydney.

"The problem is, as prices climb higher, US shale producers will pump more. The top for West Texas is probably about $55 a barrel."

West Texas Intermediate for May delivery was at $53.52 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, up 12 cents, at 12:33 in Hong Kong. Total volume traded was about 16 percent below the 100-day average. Front-month prices rose 32 cents to $53.40 on Tuesday, the highest close since March 1.
Saudi decision

Brent for June settlement was 16 cents higher at $56.39 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. Prices increased 25 cents, to $56.23 on Tuesday. The global benchmark crude traded at a premium of $2.48 to June WTI.

Saudi Arabia will decide on an extension depending on the stance of other Opec nations such as Iraq and Iran, as well as Russia, which isn’t a member of the group but joined the output cuts, the person familiar with the kingdom’s internal discussions said.

The world’s biggest crude exporter hasn’t made a final decision yet.

US crude supplies fell by 1.3 million barrels last week; the American Petroleum Institute was said to report.

Stockpiles probably dropped from a record high by 1.5 million barrels to 534 million barrels in the week ended April 7, according to a Bloomberg survey before an Energy Information Administration report on Wednesday.

Nationwide inventories have expanded by about 56 million barrels since the start of this year.

Oil-market news:

Saudi Arabia pared its oil production last month to the lowest since January, staying below the output level it pledged to maintain as part of a global deal to reduce crude supplies, according to a person with knowledge of the data.

Volume in WTI call options, which give the holder the right to buy crude in the future at a set price, surged on Tuesday to the highest since March.

More than 61 000 contracts of July WTI crude $57 call options traded as of 5:19 in New York, a record high for the contract.