Oil traded near an eight-week high after economic data from the U.S. and China bolstered optimism that demand is growing in the world’s two largest energy- consuming countries.
Futures advanced 2 percent on Oct. 1 after U.S. consumer spending increased more than forecast in August as incomes climbed, a Commerce Department report showed. Prices also rose as China’s purchasing managers’ index gained in September at the fastest pace in four months.
“The broad sentiment is that a double-dip in the U.S. is looking more and more unlikely,” said Ben Westmore, a minerals and energy economist at National Australia Bank Ltd. in Melbourne. “Combine that with the strong growth in China, and you’ve got the world’s two biggest oil consumers both looking like they’re in a recovery period.”
The November contract was at $81.52 a barrel, down 6 cents, in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 11:54 a.m. Singapore time after reaching $81.87. It surged $1.61 to settle at $81.58 on Oct. 1, the highest close since Aug. 5, capping the biggest weekly gain since February.
Consumer purchases in the U.S. climbed for a second month, rising 0.4 percent and exceeding the 0.3 percent gain projected by the median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. Incomes were up 0.5 percent, the biggest advance this year.
China’s purchasing managers’ index climbed to 53.8 from 51.7 in August, the logistics federation and statistics bureau said Oct. 1. The median forecast from 15 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News was 52.5. Readings above 50 indicate expansion.
