Bloomberg: Oil rose to a nine-month high as officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency were denied access to an Iranian military base and said negotiations “couldn’t finalize a way forward.” Bloomberg
By Mark Shenk
Oil rose to a nine-month high as officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency were denied access to an Iranian military base and said negotiations “couldn’t finalize a way forward.”
Futures climbed for a fifth day after the IAEA, the United Nations’ nuclear body, said Iran refused inspectors permission to visit the Parchin base during two days of talks that ended yesterday. Crude fell as much as 0.6 percent earlier as reports showed manufacturing activity slowed in Europe and China, signs that fuel demand may decline.
“We’re just watching the Iranian story play out,” said Tim Evans, an energy analyst at Citi Futures Perspective in New York. “What occurs in the market will depend on the developments there.”
Crude oil for April delivery increased 3 cents to $106.28 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest settlement since May 4. Futures have gained 14 percent in the past year.
Brent oil for April settlement climbed $1.23, or 1 percent, to $122.89 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The price reached $123.23, the highest intraday level since May 3. The European benchmark was at a $16.61-a-barrel premium to New York-traded West Texas Intermediate oil. The spread was $1.20 wider than yesterday.
An Iranian general, Mohammad Hejazi, said his nation would consider pre-emptive action when threatened, Fars news agency reported yesterday.
Israeli Threat
Israel and the U.S. have said all options are on the table in ensuring the Persian Gulf nation doesn’t acquire atomic weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for energy.
Speculation that oil supplies will be disrupted has increased as tension between Iran and Western nations escalates, David Greely, head of energy research at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in New York, said in a report today. The bank maintained a recommendation that investors buy Brent contracts for July 2012 to take advantage of rising prices.
“The biggest driver of the market recently has been fear about Iran,” said Tom Bentz, a director with BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage Inc. in New York. “There’s anxiety about what the latest sanctions will mean and what retaliation will take place. All of this keeps prices inflated.”
A euro-area composite index based on a survey of purchasing managers in the services and manufacturing industries dropped to 49.7 from 50.4 in January, London-based Markit Economics said in an initial estimate today. Economists in a Bloomberg News survey had forecast a reading of 50.5.
Chinese Manufacturing
China’s manufacturing also may shrink in February, according to the preliminary 49.7 reading of an index from HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics. It would be the fourth month factory activity declines in China as Europe’s sovereign-debt crisis damps exports and the housing market cools. Readings below 50 point to a contraction.
“We didn’t get rosy economic data,” said Gene McGillian, an analyst and broker at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. “We’re still well above $105 and the bullish factors that got us here are still there. The geopolitical tensions with Iran continue to simmer.”
Purchases of previously owned homes in the U.S. climbed 4.3 percent to a 4.57 million annual rate, a report from National Association of Realtors showed. The median forecast of 74 economists in a Bloomberg News survey called for existing-home sales called for a rise to 4.66 million.
Greek Bailout
Agreement on a second bailout for Greece may not be enough to end Europe’s debt crisis and countries in the euro-area periphery must reduce debt and improve competitiveness, Bank of England Deputy Governor Charlie Bean said in a speech yesterday in Glasgow, Scotland.
An Energy Department report tomorrow will probably show that U.S. crude supplies rose 1.35 million barrels, or 0.4 percent, to 340.4 million in the seven days ended Feb. 17, according to the median of 10 analyst estimates in a Bloomberg News survey. The addition would leave supplies at the highest level since the week ended Sept. 23.
Electronic trading volume on the Nymex was 492,366 contracts as of 2:42 p.m. in New York. Volume totaled 723,166 contracts yesterday, 22 percent above the three-month average. Open interest was 1.44 million contracts.
