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Oil futures bounced on either side of unchanged early Friday, but were on track for a weekly gain, as investors weighed upbeat economic data from Europe against developments between the world’s biggest economic superpowers, which could create headwinds for crude demand, already reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
China ordered the closure of a U.S. consulate in Chengdu, in apparent retaliation for the U.S. ordering the closure of a Chinese consulate in Houston earlier this week, highlighting elevated tensions between Beijing and Washington, among the biggest consumers of crude and its byproducts.
President Donald Trump also added to a sense of iciness forming between the nation’s when he said late Thursday that the trade pact forged between the country’s last year and signed earlier this year “means much less” to him than it did before.
The U.S. has accused China of mishandling the COVID-19 outbreak, which was first identified in Wuhan, China in December.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday also called on governments around the world to join the U.S. in confronting China’s Communist Party leaders, saying in a fiery election-year speech that engagement with Beijing has failed.
“Smooth international trade relations are needed for oil demand to remain uninterrupted on the long term and tensions between the US and China are never a good sign,” wrote Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of oil markets at Rysstad Energy, in a daily note.
“Closing consulates is a clear escalation and how this relationship develops is something to keep an eye on,” he said.
Thus far, the market has exhibited muted reactions to recent Sino-American flare-ups amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oil traders said that economic data out of Europe helped to inject some optimism in markets about oil demand.
French business activity beat expectations in July, rebounding more than expected after lockdown measures were lifted, a reading of purchasing managers index showed. The German manufacturing sector also avoided a contraction for the first time in 19 months, while U.K. retail sales surged 13.9% in June, beating consensus estimates of a 8.3% rise, with sales now higher than precrisis levels.
West Texas Intermediate crude for September delivery CL.1, +0.80% CLU20, +0.80% on the New York Mercantile Exchange was up 2 cents, or less than 0.1%, at $41.09 a barrel, after declining 2% on Thursday. September Brent crude BRN.1, +0.64% BRNU20, +0.64% added a penny, or less than 0.1%, at $43.32 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe, following a 2.2% skid in the previous session.
For the week, WTI was on pace for a 1.6% weekly gain, and Brent was looking at a 0.8% gain.
Commodity analysts said that storms forming in the U.S. Gulf Coast, however, could buoy crude prices because they could create supply disruptions in the oil-rich region. Tropical Storm Hanna formed late Thursday in the Gulf of Mexico, about 385 miles east, southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, NBC News reported, citing the National Hurricane Center.
