Oil Prices Increase as Demand Outlook Improves

Oil prices rose on Monday, extending three weeks of gains that have been underpinned by an improved outlook for fuel demand as increased Covid-19 vaccinations help lift travel curbs, along with tightness in supply.
Brent crude was up 51 cents, or 0.7%, at $73.20 a barrel, the highest since May 2019. US West Texas Intermediate gained 47 cents, or 0.7%, to $71.38 a barrel, the highest since October 2018, CNBC reported.
Motor vehicle traffic is returning to pre-pandemic levels in North America and much of Europe, and more planes are in the air as anti-coronavirus lockdowns and other restrictions are being eased, driving three weeks of increases for the oil benchmarks.
"In the short term, the oil market may be volatile with frequent pullbacks as crude prices are beginning to struggle as demand in Europe and India faces headwinds," said Avtar Sandu, senior manager for commodities at Phillip Futures in Singapore.
"The major trend is, however, still intact and deep pullbacks would provide opportunities for buying the dips," he said.
OPEC and allies, known as OPEC+, need to increase output to meet recovering demand, the International Energy Agency said in its monthly report on Friday.
The OPEC+ group has been restraining production to support prices after the pandemic wiped out demand in 2020, maintaining strong compliance with agreed targets in May.
"OPEC+ needs to open the taps to keep the world oil markets adequately supplied," the IEA said.
Goldman Sachs said last week it expects Brent to rise to $80 per barrel this summer, as the rollout of inoculations boosts economic activity around the world.