Brent holds near $109 as China growth meets forecast

By Manash Goswami

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Brent crude futures hovered near $109 a barrel on Monday as worries about demand growth ebbed after data from China showed the world's second-biggest economy expanded in line with expectations.

China's GDP grew 7.5 percent in April-June, and while that marked a slow down in nine of the last 10 quarters, it was a relief for some investors who were primed for a lower number. Industrial output was slightly less than forecast, but crude runs in the country's refineries and implied oil demand both rose in June, supporting oil markets further.

Brent crude had gained 1 cent to $108.82 a barrel by 0503 GMT, swinging between a high of $109.02 and a low of $108.61. U.S. oil was up 3 cents at $105.98, recovering from a low of $105.50 earlier in the day.

"Overall, the latest numbers from China were in line with expectations, there were no huge surprises and it is a continuation of the soft theme," said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets. "But industrial output numbers were weak, and there is growth risk to the downside, going forward."

China's implied oil demand rose by nearly 10 percent in June over a weak base a year earlier to 9.94 million barrels per day (bpd), Reuters calculations based on preliminary government data showed. Crude runs rose 10.8 percent to 9.636 million bpd, the highest daily output since February, as refineries boosted production after maintenance.

The latest data out of China helped oil futures extend gains. Brent settled $1.08 higher on Friday, while U.S. crude ended up $1.04, led by the biggest surge in gasoline futures this year as a string of refinery outages stoked concerns about fuel supplies in the heart of the U.S. summer driving season.

U.S. crude has outperformed Brent for the past two weeks, narrowing the European benchmark's premium to U.S. crude to a 2-1/2 year-low of $1.32 at one point on Thursday. It was around $3 on Monday.

SPREAD

Big hedge funds built up a near-record long position in U.S. crude oil futures in the week to July 9, helping fuel a resurgence in the U.S. benchmark.

The latest weekly data from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed funds increased their net long futures and option positions in NYMEX and ICE U.S. crude by more than 26,000 contracts to more than 330,000 during the period, nearing the record they held amid the Libyan civil war in 2011.

Lingering concerns of supply disruption also provided further support. Brent has held above $100 for most 2012 and this year due to tensions between the West and Iran over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Iran was getting closer to the "red line" he set for its nuclear programme.

Investors are also watching the regime change in Egypt. Egypt's interim prime minister filled senior posts on Sunday in a cabinet that will lead the country under an army-backed "road map" to restore civilian rule following the overthrow of elected President Mohamed Mursi.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/brent-holds-near-109-china-growth-meets-forecast-062832544.html

boxing news mint julep silk Star Wars Cinco De Mayo History lindsay lohan bob newhart