Oil slips as dollar firms, but supply worries check losses

Oil futures fell early on Thursday as the dollar firmed on the US Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance, but concerns over looming supply risks kept a floor under prices. Brent crude shed 44 cents, or 0.5 per cent, to $95.72 a barrel at 0146 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures retreated 59 cents, or 0.7pc, to $89.41. The benchmarks settled up more than $1 on Wednesday, aided by another drop in US oil inventories, even as the Fed boosted interest rates by 75 basis points and Chair Jerome Powell said it was premature to think about pausing rate increases. A strong dollar is dragging down oil, with some market participants also likely booking profits following recent gains, CMC Markets analyst Tina Teng said. “With the Fed confirming a higher peak in rates, a darkened global economic outlook could continue to pressure the oil’s futures markets,” Teng added. But global supply risks still loom large.