Oil futures fell on Tuesday as investors became increasingly concerned about the state of the global economy following the Federal Reserve’s long-term strategy of high interest rates. This drop in West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices and November contracts extended the retreat from their 2023 highs, weighing on the outlook for oil demand.
The recent drop in oil prices comes after a rally that was initially sparked by continued production cuts from Saudi Arabia and export restrictions from Russia. These measures, combined with increased supply and domestic production forecasts from the Energy Information Administration, have contributed to the volatility seen in oil prices of late. In addition, the reappearance of barrels from the Iraqi Kurds, along with new barrels from Suriname and Guyana, has added more complexity to the oil market. Diverse sources of supply may introduce more price volatility.
Investors view with fear the Federal Reserve’s strategy of keeping interest rates high for an extended period of time. This policy has the potential to slow economic growth, which will affect oil demand. The current state of the oil market reflects a complex interaction of geopolitical factors, production decisions taken by the main players and macroeconomic policies. As these elements continue to evolve, we can expect the volatility of oil futures to continue.
