Oil higher as OPEC ups 2013 global demand forecast, euro rises against greenback
Posted February 12, 2013 4:11 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NEW YORK, N.Y. – The price of oil rose Tuesday as OPEC upgraded its forecast for global demand and the Group of Seven industrial countries pledged not to devalue their currencies.
Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude gained 48 cents to finish at US$97.51 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
OPEC, the Vienna-based organization comprising many of the world’s key oil exporters, raised its 2013 forecast for global demand to 89.7 million barrels — 80,000 barrels more than its previous forecast a month ago — citing “some signs of recovery in the global economy and colder weather at the start of this year.”
It said about half of the demand increase over 2012 would come from China.
Oil prices were also supported by a rise in the euro against the dollar. The increase makes it cheaper for European traders to buy crude oil, which is priced in dollars.
The euro rose after the finance ministers from the Group of Seven leading industrial countries insisted they remained committed to exchange rates driven by the market — not government policy — and would consult closely when it comes to sharp movements in foreign currency markets.
Brent crude, used to price international varieties of oil, rose 53 cents to end at US$118.66 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.
In other energy futures trading on the Nymex, wholesale gasoline rose three cents to finish at US$3.05 a U.S. gallon (3.79 litres), heating oil rose less than a cent to finish at US$3.24 a gallon and natural gas fell five cents to end at US$3.23 per 1,000 cubic feet.
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