Trump Gets Oil Traders’ Attention Over Call With Saudi King

Donald Trump spoke on the phone Saturday with King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, days after the U.S. president’s latest criticism of OPEC over high oil prices.

The pair discussed efforts to maintain supplies to ensure the stability of the oil market and growth of the global economy, plus the strategic partnership between the two countries, Al Arabiya TV reported, without providing more details. The White House said Trump and the King spoke on “issues of regional concern.”

Hedge funds are watching Trump’s back-and-forth with the kingdom for any signs that the U.S. might take action against the country or other members who belong to the cartel. The oil market will also be awaiting for any signals from Khalid Al-Falih, the Saudi energy minister, who’s due to speak in events in Morocco and Russia on Monday and Thursday respectively.

Trump’s been increasing the pressure on OPEC, saying it’s pushing oil prices too high. At its latest meeting, the group ignored his call to reduce oil prices.

This week, Trump again said he wasn’t happy with OPEC, Middle East nations and oil prices, asserting that the producer group was causing prices to rise while benefiting from protection of the U.S. military. Trump has gone after OPEC multiple times this year, including while speaking at the United Nations on Sept. 25.

“OPEC and OPEC nations, are, as usual, ripping off the rest of the world, and I don’t like it,” Trump said in an address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “We want them to stop raising prices. We want them to start lowering prices and they must contribute substantially to military protection from now on.”

Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, surged on Friday to a fresh 4-year high above $83 a barrel as the market braces for the impact of the U.S. energy sanctions on Iran.

Gasoline pump prices are on the rise in the U.S., squeezing consumers weeks before critical mid-term elections. The national unleaded average gas price was $2.875 per gallon on Friday, according to AAA, up 1.4 percent in the past month and 11.7 percent higher than a year ago.

bloomberg

10 Comments on "Trump Gets Oil Traders’ Attention Over Call With Saudi King"

Keith McClary on Mon, 1st Oct 2018 12:00 am

NEWS BREAK!!!!
Trump is selling all his hotels and casinos and investing in US fracking!!!!

Sissyfuss on Mon, 1st Oct 2018 9:48 am

Trumps focus, as poor as it is, is centered on the midterms. He has to keep the plates up and spinning even if they are cracked and filthy. He knows a blue tsunami will stop him in his fossil fuel soaked tracks and expose the MAGAnatude of his dirty dealings. America is at the crossroads between a managed systems collapse or Slim Pickens riding the H-bomb to perdition. Hell of a choice.

Davy on Mon, 1st Oct 2018 11:46 am

“Emerging Markets Slammed By Soaring Oil Prices”
https://tinyurl.com/y7kabzqf

“With currencies across the developing world tumbling as a result of a toxic mix of global trade tensions, the strong dollar and rising U.S. interest rates, dollar-denominated crude has become all the more expensive. And while the price of Brent crude, the international oil price gauge, has risen by 22% this year in dollar terms, its cost has doubled if you’re buying in Turkish lira. It is up 39% in Indian rupees and 34% in Indonesian rupiah. And don’t even mention Argentina.”

“The sharp spike in oil – and gasoline prices – assures a double whammy to the economy as local infrastructure is forced to, literally, slow down. And absent a major change, such as a sharp drop in the dollar or oil prices, the large developing nations like Turkey, India, the Philippines and South Africa are out of luck as they import all or most of their oil. This creates a feedback loop where rising prices are spurring higher inflation and expanding already large current-account deficits, further exacerbating the economic hit. An increasing import bill further widens the deficit, which puts further pressure on their currencies.”

I AM THE MOB on Mon, 1st Oct 2018 1:38 pm