Oil Slides as Glut Weighs

U.S. crude touches lowest since August; Oil prices could fall further - Goldman Sachs.

Oil fell on Thursday, with U.S. crude dipping below $40 per barrel, retreating from early gains amid a persistent global glut of crude and refined fuel.

Brent crude futures were down 24 cents at $43.90 a barrel by 1308 GMT.

Rising U.S. stockpiles were the most visible evidence of oil markets being over supplied.

Goldman Sachs said on Thursday there was still a downside risk to oil prices "as storage utilization continues to climb". The bank added that "we don't believe that current prices present an appealing entry point".

"Ultimately the focus will return to the balance of demand relative to supply, and until inventory data provides evidence of a tighter supply, the path of least resistance will be lower," said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets.

International benchmark Brent is still down nearly 12 percent this month and 24 percent this year, having slumped from as high as $115 in 2014.

Brent has not closed higher for two consecutive days since early October.

U.S. crude futures last traded at $40.13 a barrel, down 62 cents from their last settlement having touched a low of$39.89, the lowest since August. The contract fell below $40 for the first time since August on Wednesday.

Traders are preparing for another downward turn in prices by March 2016, market data suggests, as what is expected to be an unusually warm winter dents demand just as Iran's resurgent crude exports hit global markets after sanctions end.

U.S. crude inventories rose by 252,000 barrels last week to 487.3 million barrels, close to record highs, according to the Energy Information Administration, highlighting that more oil is being produced than is needed.

Because of the glut, producers are scrambling to offer discounts in an effort to defend market share against their competition.

OPEC's second-biggest producer, Iraq, has started to sell some crude grades for as little as $30 a barrel, trade sources said, acting as a further drag on futures.

Big oil suppliers have started requiring prepayment when selling cargoes of crude and refined products to Venezuela's PDVSA, a bid to curb potential risks from the state-run company's well-known cashflow woes, sources involved in the deals told Reuters.
 

By Simon Falush