Oil prices edged slightly lower on Thursday after Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas signed an agreement to cease fire in Gaza.
Brent crude futures were down $1.08, or 1.6%, at $65.18 a barrel at 01:10 p.m. ET (1710 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down $1.05, or 1.7%, at $61.49.
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Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas signed an agreement on Thursday to cease fire and free Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, in the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump‘s to end the war in Gaza.
Under , fighting will cease, Israel will partially withdraw from Gaza, and Hamas will free all remaining hostages it captured in the attack that precipitated the war, in exchange for hundreds of prisoners held by Israel.
“Crude futures are in a corrective phase as the Israel/Hamas conflict looks to be ending,” said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial.
‘WIDE-RANGING’ IMPLICATIONS FOR OIL MARKETS
“The peace agreement is a major breakthrough in recent Middle Eastern history – its implications for oil markets could be wide-ranging, from the possibility of a decrease in the Houthis’ attacks in the Red Sea to an increase in the likelihood of a nuclear deal with Iran…” Rystad Energy’s Chief Economist Claudio Galimberti said in a note.
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The OPEC+ group, made up of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, agreed on Sunday to a November output hike that was smaller than market expectations, easing oversupply concerns.
Prices had gained around 1% on Wednesday to reach a one-week high after investors viewed stalled progress on a Ukraine peace deal as a sign that sanctions against Russia, the world’s second-largest oil exporter, would continue for some time.
Meanwhile, a Republican bill to fund the U.S. government and end a shutdown was falling short of the votes needed for passage in the Senate on Thursday, as voting continued. A prolonged shutdown could dampen the economy and hurt oil demand.
The U.S. central bank should move cautiously on further interest rate cuts, Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr said on Thursday. Lower borrowing costs typically boost demand for oil and push prices higher.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, adding that they “reviewed good progress achieved in trade negotiations” and agreed to stay in close touch over the coming weeks. Trump has imposed a on most exports from India, among the highest for any U.S. trading partner. The tariffs were on Indian goods from 25% over New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil.
The U.S. also imposed sanctions on about 100 individuals, entities and vessels, including a Chinese independent refinery and terminal, that helped Iran’s oil and petrochemicals trade, the administration of President Donald Trump said on Thursday.
Credit: Reuters
