• Crude oil prices have climbed with risk assets as market sentiment and economic activity rebound from the coronavirus lockdown
• Saudi Arabia and Russia solidified an agreement to begin unwinding historic Opec+ supply cuts as world oil demand snaps back
• 2Q-2020 GDP growth rates are due from several advanced economies this coming week amid high-profile equity earnings reports and a FOMC decision

Crude oil price action has staged a monumental recovery since the commodity traded in negative territory this past April. The rally in oil prices over recent weeks looks largely on the back of two bullish fundamental drivers: an Opec+ deal to slash supply combined with a welcomed rebound in global energy consumption.

WTI CRUDE OIL FUTURES PRICE: DECEMBER 2019 – JULY 2020 (CHART 1)

Chart created by @RichDvorakFX with TradingView

WTI crude oil currently fluctuates around $41.00 per barrel measured by the front-month futures contract, but the advance has started to stall, and petroleum performance is still down about 32% since the start of January. Broadly speaking, lower crude oil prices stem from a whopping 9% plunge in world oil demand expected this year due to a screeching halt in economic activity amid the coronavirus lockdown.

This has primarily contributed to a supply-demand imbalance of 9.8-million barrels per day penciled in by Opec for 2Q-2020. Looking forward, however, the cartel of major oil producers have optimistic projections for world oil demand to recover during the second half of 2020 and into 2021. Both the IEA and EIA anticipate global oil demand to increase in the months ahead as well according to their respective monthly oil reports.

OPEC & ALLIES SET TO CURTAIL PRODUCTION CUTS AMID DEMAND RECOVERY (CHART 2)

Chart Source: OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report

Rising demand for crude oil has correspondingly enticed Opec and its allies to begin reversing production cuts announced earlier this year that were aimed at absorbing excess market supply. This was indicated by Opec+ delegates who backed an agreement solidified by Saudi Arabia and Russia to increase the group’s crude oil output by 2-million barrels per day starting next month.

The move looks to ease Opec+ production cuts from 9.7-million barrels per day to 7.7-million barrels per day on net. As such, a bearish risk facing crude oil price action emerges with Opec+ set to unwind prior supply cuts and relax oversight of standing output quotas. Another notable headwind looming over the direction of crude oil includes potential for the v-shaped recovery in global GDP growth to abate as the ‘liquidity high’ from unprecedented monetary and fiscal stimulus measures wears off.

GLOBAL ECONOMIES DUE TO REPORT RECORD COLLAPSE IN GDP GROWTH (CHART 3)

Chart Source: DailyFX Economic Calendar

On that note, market participants may focus on second quarter GDP data releases due next week considering the elevated chance for volatility as this typically high-impact economic indicator crosses the wire. Despite the backward-looking nature of quarterly GDP reports, they can catalyze shifts in trader sentiment, particularly if actual numbers differ materially from forecast. To that end, GDP growth rates from the United States and Eurozone might garner notable attention. This is seeing that the US and EU are two of the world’s biggest economies and consumers of crude oil.

Likewise, a swarm of equity earnings anticipated next week, not to mention the potential for coronavirus vaccine news, could cause fluctuations in risk appetite and crude oil price action as well. Two additional fundamental themes prudent traders may want to keep tabs on include rising jobless claims and escalating China tensions, which might steer crude oil prices lower if these bearish headwinds gain traction and fuel risk aversion.