Oil prices rise amid U.S., China trade talks

Oil prices increased by over 1% on Thursday, May 8, 2025, buoyed by hopes of a breakthrough in looming trade talks between the United States and China.

The U.S. and China are the world’s two largest oil consumers.

Brent crude futures were up 89 cents, or 1.5%, at $62.01 a barrel at 1334 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.02, or 1.8%, to $59.09.

The market has almost stabilised at slightly above $61 a barrel, said SEB analyst Ole Hvalbye, which along with some optimism around the tariff situation with ice-breaker talks due between the U.S. and China, was providing support.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet with China’s top economic official on May 10 in Switzerland for negotiations over a trade war that is disrupting the global economy.

The countries are the world’s two largest economies, and the fallout from their trade dispute is likely to lower crude consumption growth.

Troops raid fuel station supplying Boko Haram in Borno

Other trade deals being announced by United States President Donald Trump, such as the one with the UK, could also be a bit positive on the market, according to Fawad Razaqzada, an analyst at City Index and Forex.com.

At the same time, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known as OPEC+, will increase their oil output, pressuring prices.

Analysts at Citi Research lowered their three-month price forecast for Brent to $55 per barrel from $60 earlier, but maintained their long-term forecast of $60 a barrel this year.

A U.S.-Iran nuclear deal could drive Brent prices down towards $50 per barrel on increased supply in the market, but if no deal were to happen, prices could go up to over $70, they told Reuters.

The Star