The dollar has fallen because aggressive interest rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve are no longer expected. Central banks for other major economies, though, are continuing with bigger rate increases even as inflation has eased.
While supported by a weaker greenback, oil's gains have been limited by the prospect of slow growth in the United States, the world's biggest oil consumer, and recessions in places including Britain, Europe, Japan and Canada. "The crude demand outlook needs a clear sign that China's reopening will be smooth, and that the U.S. economic growth momentum does not deteriorate quickly," OANDA analyst Edward Moya said in a note.to a milder rate increase after a year of larger hikes, but policymakers also projected that "ongoing increases" in borrowing costs would be needed.
Upcoming interest rate hikes in 2023 are likely to weigh on the U.S. and European economies, boosting fears of an economic slowdown highly likely to dent global crude oil demand, said Priyanka Sachdeva, market analyst at Phillip Nova. Investors are also eyeing developments on the Feb. 5 European Union ban on Russian refined products as the EU countries willReporting by Sonali Paul in Melbourne and Jeslyn Lerh in Singapore; Editing by Jamie Freed and Tom Hogue