Oil steadies as investors weigh demand concerns, Saudi moves

Oil fluctuated between gains and losses as investors weighed new investments by Saudi Aramco with concerns that a deepening trade war between China and the United States will impact global demand for crude.

Futures traded little changed in New York after rising as much as 1.3% earlier in the session. U.S. President Donald Trump said planned trade talks with China next month may be called off. Meanwhile, Saudi Aramco announced plans to buy as take in the refining and chemicals business of India's Reliance Industries Ltd.

“We're seeing mixed support on prices as I think markets remain pulled between demand concerns and supply threats ,” said Ashley Petersen, lead oil market analyst at Stratas Advisors. “For now, fears about demand are still definitely the stronger of the two price influences though. Assuming no new economic announcements, prices should hopefully tread water and even firm up slightly this week.”

Overall, crude remains down this month as fears the U.S .- China trade spat may expand into a currency war. The International Energy Agency on Friday trimmed its forecasts for oil-demand growth this year and next and warned that it may lower the estimates further as the trade conflict drags on.

West Texas Intermediate crude for September delivery gained 43 cents to $54.93 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange on Monday.

Trump said earlier this month that new tariffs on Chinese imports will take effect Sept. 1, shattering a truce reached with President Xi Jinping weeks earlier. It unleashed tit-for-tat action son trade and currency policy that risk accelerating a wider geopolitical fight between the two countries.

Meanwhile, unnamed Saudi Arabian officials said last week the kingdom plans to keep crude exports below 7 million barrels a day in September as it allocates less oil than customers demand. State-run Saudi Aramco will provide customers across all regions with 700,000 barrels a day less than they requested, the officials said.

Saudi Aramco's move to diversify from Saudi Arabia by buying a stake in Indian refiner Reliance precedes a planned public offering that could be held as early as next year.

“The acquisition demonstrates the Saudis are going to be aggressive for their IPO and will maintain their vested interest in keeping oil prices up by keeping supplies off the market, ”said Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at Price Futures Group Inc.