The surge in gasoline prices poses risks for President Joe Biden and his green agenda, despite the fact that U.S. oil production is on track to set a new record this year and is expected to continue rising in the future.
Oil prices jumped over 2.5% after OPEC+ members extended supply reductions, with Brent International topping $90 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate hovering above $87 per barrel, as Saudi Arabia announced an extension of its production cut and Russia reduced its exports. Despite slow recovery and increased production, crude futures have rallied more than 25% since late June, with experts predicting prices to continue rising unless a recession occurs. China's demand for petrochemicals has been dampened, but their mobility demand post-lockdowns has offset this.
Oil prices surge to the highest level in 10 months as Saudi Arabia and Russia extend production cuts, raising concerns about inflation and higher interest rates, while the resilient U.S. economy strengthens prospects for interest rate hikes; tensions escalate in the auto sector as contract negotiations with major automakers continue; GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen faces scrutiny from the SEC over stock trades; Apple's market value plummets due to concerns over China's ban on public workers using foreign-branded devices; semiconductor stocks weaken amid export restrictions on China; energy sector excels while industrials and utilities lag; upcoming key economic data to watch includes inflation rate, Producer Price Index, retail sales figures, and Michigan Consumer Sentiment data.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warns that while the U.S. economy is currently strong, it would be a mistake to assume it will sustain long-term due to risks such as central bank actions, the Ukraine war, and unsustainable government spending.
The Federal Reserve is unlikely to panic over the recent surge in consumer prices, driven by a rise in fuel costs, as it considers further interest rate hikes, but if the rate hikes weaken the job market it could have negative consequences for consumers and President Biden ahead of the 2024 election.
Gasoline prices are rising due to oil supply cuts in Saudi Arabia and Russia, as well as flooding in Libya, but some experts believe that increasing oil prices will not have a significant impact on the US economy and do not expect them to rise much higher in the next year or two due to factors such as increased US oil production, slow global economic growth, and the green energy transition. However, high oil prices can lead to higher inflation, potential recession, and could influence the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates, but the impact may not be as severe as in the past, and some experts recommend investing in the energy transition and adopting a more defensive investment strategy.
Marko Kolanovic, chief markets strategist at JPMorgan Chase, warns that a potential decline in inflation in late 2023 could challenge the stock market and weaken the pricing power of businesses, particularly in industries such as retail, automotive, and airlines. He also expresses concerns about the delayed effects of interest rate hikes on the economy, although he upgrades JPMorgan's position on global energy stocks due to expected increases in oil prices. Kolanovic foresees Japanese stocks performing well and suggests that China is entering a "buying zone" with potential trading opportunities in Chinese equities.
A spike in crude oil prices to the highest level of the year adds to the challenges faced by world markets, leaving investors turning to the Federal Reserve chair for reassurance amidst concerns over inflation, a potential government shutdown, unresolved autoworker strikes, and the Chinese property sector bust.
US oil prices and energy stocks, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Occidental Petroleum, fell as crude oil inventories decreased but gasoline stockpiles increased, while the outlook for demand remains uncertain and refinery stocks struggle.
U.S. gasoline prices are expected to decrease and may reach $3 per gallon due to a drop in crude oil futures, potentially benefiting consumers and cooling inflation but also indicating economic weakness with low gasoline demand.
