Energy stocks score biggest rise in a month as OPEC+ cuts begin to show (NYSEARCA:XLE)

Energy stocks closed an otherwise mediocre week in strong fashion, as oil traders who have grappled with concerns over the global demand outlook may finally see signs of tightening in the oil market.

Saudi Arabia and Russia started the week announcing fresh production cuts that will bring total reductions by OPEC+ to 5M bbl/day, or ~5% of global oil demand.

Supporting prices this week, U.S. crude inventories fell more than expected and gasoline inventories posted a large draw, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported.

But gains were capped as the Federal Reserve appeared to be headed for further interest rate hikes, possibly at its policy meeting later this month.

And while Saudi Arabia limits its production, supply is gaining elsewhere; Iran, for example, is increasingly circumventing U.S. sanctions, with oil shipments of ~1.6M bbl/day on average in May and June, according to Kpler and Petro Logistics, more than double the level of about a year ago and the highest since 2018.

Separately, the Biden administration said late Friday it will purchase another 6M barrels of crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Front-month Nymex crude oil (CL1:COM) for August delivery gained more than $2.00/bbl Friday to push the U.S. benchmark +4.5% for the week to $73.86/bbl, its highest settlement since May 24, while September Brent crude (CO1:COM) closed the week +4% to $78.47/bbl, its best settlement since May 1.

U.S. natural gas futures (NG1:COM) closed -7.7% for the week, settling at $2.58/MMBtu, as volatile weather in much of the U.S. complicated the outlook for demand.

ETFs: (NYSEARCA:USO), (BNO), (UCO), (SCO), (DBO), (USL), (DRIP), (GUSH), (USOI), (NRGU), (UNG), (UGAZF), (BOIL), (KOLD), (UNL), (FCG)

The top energy sector ETF (NYSEARCA:XLE) finished the week -0.5%, placing it in the middle of the pack among the S&P’s 11 sectors, but closed +2.1% on Friday, its biggest single-day gain in a month.

Oilfield services companies (OIH) Schlumberger (SLB), Halliburton (HAL) and Baker Hughes (BKR) ranked as three of Friday’s top four gainers on the S&P 500, +8.6%, +7.8% and +4.8%, respectively.

Top 10 gainers in energy and natural resources during the past 5 days: (RIG) +20.4%, (WAVE) +19.2%, (OII) +18.3%, (NE) +18.1%, (DO) +17.1%, (TDW) +16.4%, (NRT) +16.3%, (NINE) +13.9%, (IPI) +13.2%, (LBRT) +12.4%.

Top 5 decliners in energy and natural resources during the past 5 days: (ORGN) -12.7%, (PPSI) -11.8%, (NPWR) -10.7%, (MARPS) -9.9%, (MTR) -9.3%.

Source: Barchart.com