By Adedapo Adesanya
Oil prices soared by about 2 per cent on Monday as the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) decided to delay plans to increase output amid focus on the US presidential election on Tuesday.
Brent futures were up by $1.98 or 2.7 per cent to $75.08 a barrel and the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures gained $1.98 or 2.85 per cent to trade at $71.47 per barrel.
OPEC+ said it would extend its output cut of 2.2 million barrels per day for another month in December at a meeting on Sunday.
Eight countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, as well as Algeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), agreed to extend the November 2023 voluntary production adjustments of 2.2 million barrels per day for one month until the end of December 2024.
The move is aimed at boosting oil prices amid uncertain demand and accelerating supply, with an eye on the imminent US presidential election, though analysts predict a limited impact.
Also speaking on Monday, OPEC’s Secretary General, Mr Haitham Al Ghais, said the group remains very positive on demand for oil in both the short and long term.
The market also shifted focus to the American presidential election between Democratic presidential nominee and current Vice President, Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump on Tuesday (November 5).
So far, the outcome has shown that the election is tight as it could take days after voting ends to know the eventual winner.
The market will also be looking at the developments in the Middle East, especially with anticipation that Iran was preparing to attack Israel from Iraq within days.
Markets were also watching a new tropical storm that was forecast to form on Monday in the Caribbean and threaten offshore oil production along the Gulf of Mexico.
Oil companies like Shell have moved its non-essential personnel from six platforms, adding it currently expects no other impacts on its production across the Gulf of Mexico.
There will be anticipation of what the US Federal Reserve will do at the next meeting on Thursday with expectations high that the US central bank will cut interest rates by 25 basis points.
Also, investors will look to China where the government is expected to approve additional stimulus to boost the slowing economy in the world’s largest oil importer.
