Oil prices rebound in Asia

SINGAPORE: Oil prices rebounded on bargain-hunting in Asia Wednesday after falling to multi-month lows owing to a surge in the US dollar and weak global manufacturing data, analysts said.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for October delivery rose 38 cents to $93.26 while Brent crude for October gained 42 cents to $100.76 in afternoon trade. WTI fell $3.08 to $92.88 in New York trade, its lowest level since January, while Brent sank $2.45 in London to $100.34. It had fallen to as low as $100.17, its lowest level since May 2013.

"The oil market is recovering after the surge in the US dollar put a downspin on commodity prices, including crude oil," David Lennox, resource analyst at Fat Prophets in Sydney told. The US dollar bought 105.20 yen in Asia Wednesday, compared with 104.06 yen on Friday before the long weekend in the United States. US markets were shut on Monday for the Labor Day public holiday.

A stronger greenback makes dollar-priced oil and commodities more expensive for buyers using weaker currencies, denting demand and pushing prices lower. Lennox said oil prices were also under pressure after weak Chinese and European manufacturing data this week raised concerns about a slowdown in global energy demand. Investors will next be scrutinising the latest official US petroleum stockpiles report for trading cues, he added.

The US Energy Information Administration will release the report a day later than usual on Thursday instead of Wednesday due to the public holiday on Monday.