Oil prices below $93 amid reports on U.S. crude supply surgeMay 16, 2012 - 13:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Oil prices fell to fresh six-month lows below $93 a barrel Wednesday, May 16 in Asia after a report showed U.S. crude supplies surged more than expected last week, AP reported. Benchmark oil for June delivery was down $1.22 to $92.76 a barrel, the lowest since November, at midday Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 80 cents to settle at $93.98 in New York on Tuesday. Brent crude for July delivery was down $1.14 at $110.31 per barrel in London. The American Petroleum Institute said late Tuesday that crude inventories rose 6.6 million barrels last week while analysts surveyed by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos., had predicted an increase of 1.5 million barrels. Inventories of gasoline fell 2.6 million barrels last week while distillates tumbled 1.6 million barrels, the API said. The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration reports its weekly supply data later Wednesday. Crude has plunged more than 12 percent from $106 earlier this month amid investor concern global economic growth will slow more than previously expected this year. U.S. crude inventories are at a 22-year high amid weak demand and growing production. Greece announced Tuesday it would hold new elections, probably next month, after politicians failed to form a government after a vote earlier this month. Traders fear Greece may drop the euro currency, which could trigger a loss of confidence in other debt-burdened European countries such as Spain and Italy. Europe is already teetering near recession this year, and further political turmoil could hurt economic activity and demand for crude. "The chances that Greece will leave the euro-zone sooner rather than later are growing," Capital Economics said in a report. "The key question remains whether the policymakers can prevent contagion effects from prompting a bigger and much more damaging breakup of the currency union." In other energy trading, heating oil was down 1.7 cents at $2.92 per gallon and gasoline futures slid 1.3 cents at $2.88 per gallon. Natural gas rose 1.4 cents at $2.51 per 1,000 cubic feet. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Armenia, Turkey discuss restoration of historic bridge The meeting took place on May 17 in Ashgabat on the sidelines of an international conference of ministers of culture. EU welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan “progress” The EU has welcomed “progress” made in the framework of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation process. Belarus opposition leader slams Lukashenko for Karabakh trip Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has harshly criticized the visit of Lukashenko to Karabakh. Mkhitaryan raises arrest of former Karabakh leaders in Azerbaijan Inter Milan star Henrikh Mkhitaryan has shared a news story about the extension of the arrest of former Karabakh leaders. |