Oil prices stabilized on Friday (3), after a series of four consecutive upward sessions, which pushed the value of the barrel to the highest levels seen in the last two months.
Currently, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the benchmark for the United States, is down slightly by 0.01%, trading at 73.12 dollars per barrel. Brent, which serves as a benchmark for the European market, is down 0.04%, at 75.90 dollars per barrel. Both indices remain close to their highest levels since the beginning of November, reflecting a significant recovery after a period of volatility in the global energy market.
This upward movement was driven in part by optimism regarding the recovery in demand for oil, especially in key markets such as Asia and the United States. However, the global economic context is far from unanimous, with data indicating a slowdown in industrial activity in various regions. Asia and the United States ended 2024 with an industrial slowdown, while Europe closed the period with a contraction, which raises concerns about the pace of economic recovery and its relationship with energy consumption.
In addition, political tensions in the United States continue to weigh on the oil market. The growing uncertainty surrounding Donald Trump’s candidacy in the upcoming elections, combined with the use of tariffs as a negotiating tool, has generated fears among companies and investors. The impact of these policies could affect demand for energy, especially against a backdrop of high costs and trade uncertainties.
On the other hand, in the American market, oil stocks continue to fall, although the drop has been less pronounced than expected. According to the latest data, oil inventories fell by 1.2 million barrels last week, lower than the forecast of a 2.8 million barrel reduction. This more moderate decline in inventories reflects a slowdown in production or a slight improvement in supply, which may have contributed to the stability in prices, despite external pressures.
Although the oil market has shown resilience in recent weeks, economic and political uncertainties continue to affect prices significantly. Analysts are waiting for more data on the global economic recovery and the impacts of energy policies before predicting a clearer trend for the energy market in the coming months.
