Oil prices rose in Asia today as dealers await US economic data this week that could provide a clue to when the Federal Reserve will start winding down its stimulus programme.

New York’s main contract West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for December delivery gained nine cents to $94.70 a barrel in morning trade, while Brent North Sea crude for December climbed 25 cents to $106.16.

US economic data

“Investors will be looking at US economic data this week, especially the jobs data, for an indication of whether tapering will be brought forward to December,” Desmond Chua, market analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore, said.

A better-than-expected summary of the US economy by the Federal Reserve last week had fuelled speculation that it will soon begin winding down its bond-buying by the end of the year.

Investors will next focus on US third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) advanced estimates to be released on Thursday, as well as official October payrolls data out on Friday.

The oil market has been closely following the Fed’s debate on when to scale back its $85-billion-a-month stimulus.

The onset of tapering will boost the greenback, making dollar-priced oil more expensive for countries using other currencies.

Libyan oil production

Investors are also eyeing Libyan oil production, after an announcement by its National Oil Corp that the Al-Harriga terminal will resume operations on Monday at the latest.

The terminal, which has a capacity of 110,000 barrels a day, has been closed along with several other terminals by protesters demanding jobs and a more equitable distribution of oil revenues.

Libyan crude production has been disrupted for several months by the labour unrest, and the output slashed to as little as 300,000 barrels per day from 1.5-1.6 million before the showdown began.

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