Oil prices down after IEA lowers global demand forecastMarch 14, 2013 - 09:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Oil prices declined in Asia on Thursday, March 14 after the International Energy Agency (IEA) lowered its global demand forecast while data showed an increase in U.S. inventories, dealers said, according to AFP. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April dropped 25 cents to $92.27 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for April delivery shed 29 cents to $108.23. The IEA on Wednesday slashed its global forecast for growth in world oil demand for the second straight month, citing uncertainty from the US budget talks, sluggish Chinese business activity and unemployment in Europe. It estimated that demand for oil would total 90.6 million barrels per day this year, a cut of 60,000 barrels from its forecast in February. "The IEA's trimming of its 2013 global oil demand forecast added to pessimism," said Sanjeev Gupta, who heads the Asia-Pacific oil and gas practice at Ernst and Young. In the United States, the world's biggest oil consuming nation, fresh data from the US Department of Energy showed stockpiles rose 2.6 million barrels in the week ended March 8, indicating weaker demand in the world's biggest economy. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Turkey extends military presence in Azerbaijan The Turkish parliament has adopted a bill submitted by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to extend the mandate of Turkish troops. Russia to begin assessing migrant workers' speaking skills Rosobrnadzor is planning to change the Russian language exam for migrant workers and include an assessment of speaking skills Armenian, Saudi Foreign Minister meet in Riyadh The two commended the positive dynamics of the development of political dialogue between Armenia and Saudi Arabia Pashinyan: Azerbaijan’s proximity shouldn’t worry border residents At the same time, he said that he “does not guarantee [the security of villagers] one hundred percent”. |