Oil prices experienced a decline in early trade on Wednesday, driven by concerns over global demand stemming from weak economic momentum in China and diminished hopes for immediate U.S. interest rate cuts. These factors outweighed fears of supply disruptions in the Middle East due to heightened tensions.
Oil prices softened earlier in the week as economic challenges dampened investor sentiment, counteracting the impact of geopolitical tensions. Investors remained attentive to Israel's potential response to Iran's recent attack on Israeli territory, which occurred over the weekend.
In China, the world's largest oil importer, first-quarter economic growth exceeded expectations. However, various indicators for March, including property investment, retail sales, and industrial output, suggested that domestic demand remains weak, exerting pressure on overall economic momentum.
In the Middle East, Israel's war cabinet postponed its third meeting to decide on a response to Iran's attack until Wednesday. Western allies are considering implementing swift new sanctions against Iran to dissuade Israel from escalating tensions further.
Despite Iran's unprecedented missile and drone strike on Israel, I think Biden administration is unlikely to enact significant sanctions on Iran's oil exports.
Additionally, U.S. crude oil inventories saw a larger-than-expected increase last week, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures.
Overall, oil prices face a complex landscape characterized by a delicate balance between geopolitical tensions, global economic conditions, and supply-demand dynamics.
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