Oil prices rose by more than $1 on Friday, after a big sell-off in the previous session as a new wave of coronavirus infections across Europe triggered fresh lockdowns and dampened expectations of any imminent recovery in fuel demand. Brent crude was up $1.01, or 1.6%, to $64.29 a barrel by 0917 GMT. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) US crude rose $1.02, or 1.7%, to $61.02 a barrel. Both contracts closed about 7% lower on Thursday as several large European economies reimposed lockdowns and vaccination programmes were slowed by distribution issues and concerns about possible side effects. Although Germany, France and other countries have announced the resumption of inoculations after regulators declared the AstraZeneca vaccine safe, the programme halt has made it harder to overcome resistance to vaccines among some of the population. Britain also announced it would have to slow its COVID-19 vaccine rollout next month due to a supply delay. “Concerns are rapidly growing of a mobility-depressing third wave in Europe amid a pause in vaccinations and rapid spread of the B117 mutation that originated in the UK,” JP Morgan said.
The bank still sees Brent averaging above $70 a barrel in the fourth quarter, however.
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