Oil prices rose above $74 a barrel in thin trade today as worries about euro zone economic stability fuelled the worst monthly loss for the commodity since December 2008.
US crude for July delivery rose 34 cents to $74.31 by 0443 GMT, after settling down 58 cents on Friday, when a downgrade of Spain's credit ratings and disappointing US economic data fuelled investor caution about riskier assets like oil.
Front-month crude fell $12.18, or 14.1 per cent, in the month of May, the biggest monthly percentage loss since December, 2008, when prices fell 18.1 per cent.
London Brent crude rose 39 cents to $74.41 a barrel. Front-month Brent crude was down $13.42, or 15.4 per cent for the month, the biggest monthly percentage decline since November, 2008.
Trading was curtailed today with markets in the US and UK closed for public holidays.
Chinese premier Wen Jiabao warned today that global economic growth remained vulnerable to sovereign debt risks and the possibility of a second downturn, while saying China's growth remains on track.
Fitch Ratings downgraded Spain's sovereign credit rating by one notch on Friday, saying the country's economic recovery would be "more muted" than government forecasts due to austerity measures.
The euro stabilised against the dollar today but remained under downward pressure from the Spain credit downgrade.
A Reuters survey on Friday showed that Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or Opec, oil supplies to the market rose in May to the highest in 17 months, suggesting a price slide has yet to spur closer adherence to agreed output targets.
Nawal al-Fuzaia, Kuwait's national representative to Opec, said crude oil prices could fall to $60 a barrel due to global economic instability.
In a sign of bearish sentiment for oil prices, money managers cut net crude oil long positions on the New York Mercantile Exchange by 12,558 positions in the week to May 25th, Commodity Futures Trading Commission data showed on Friday.
Commodities in May had their steepest monthly decline in 18 months, with a key sector index down more than 8 per cent as the European crisis roiled energy, metals and agricultural markets, the Reuters-Jefferies CRB index showed.
Traders are keeping an eye on forecasts for the Atlantic hurricane season that have revived concerns of disruption to supplies in the Gulf of Mexico, where BP was trying to plug a gushing oil well.
Investors are also looking ahead to demand figures as the US driving season, when motor fuel demand reaches its annual peak, started at the weekend and runs until Labor Day in early September.
Reuters