Oil rises over 1% as demand hopes bolster sentiment | Reuters

Oil rises over 1% as demand hopes bolster sentiment | Reuters

Oil rose more than 1% on Monday as Chinese economic figures and U.S. vaccination rates pointed to a strong rebound in demand in the world’s two largest economies.

Investors remain wary, however, over record-breaking infection rates in India, the third-largest fuel importer worldwide, along with higher OPEC+ oil supply.

Brent crude rose 80 cents, or 1.2%, to settle at $67.56 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose 91 cents, or 1.4%, to settle at $64.49 a barrel.

The United States and China, the world’s top two oil consumers, are expected to drive a recovery in demand from the coronavirus pandemic.

“Even as COVID-19 cases hit record levels this week, oil prices have moved higher on growing vaccination numbers in developed markets,” a BofA Global Research report said. “Recent data points to the high effectiveness of vaccines at preventing infections and fatalities.”