Oil prices edged down slightly Tuesday, June 11, after a credit-rating upgrade of U.S. government debt led investors to speculate that the U.S. central bank might consider scaling back its aggressive monetary policies, The Associated Press reported.
Benchmark oil for July delivery fell 8 cents to $95.69 per barrel at midday Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 26 cents to close at $95.77 per barrel on the Nymex on Monday.
Investors have been trying to guess the timetable for the U.S. Federal Reserve to wind down its massive bond-buying program. The $85 billion-a-month asset purchases, which help put pressure on interest rates, have been a boon to stock and commodities markets, where investors have turned in search of returns that outdo bonds.
Stan Shamu, a market strategist at IG in Melbourne, said the chances that the Fed might taper off purchases might be viewed as increasing after Standard & Poor's Ratings Services upgraded its outlook Monday for the U.S. government's long-term debt. That could hurt stock and oil prices.
"This restored the notion that the Fed will be looking to taper off soon enough as conditions seem better," said Shamu in an email commentary.
Traders were also waiting for updated forecasts on global oil demand. OPEC and the U.S. Energy Department issue their monthly reports Tuesday, while the International Energy Agency, an umbrella group for the world's oil consuming nations, gives its update Wednesday. The U.S. Energy Department also comes out with its weekly report on oil and fuel supplies.
Brent crude, a benchmark for many international oil varieties, fell 26 cents to $103.65 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.
