Citi lifts its Brent forecast for Q1 ’25

Investing.com – Oil costs surged on Friday and have been on observe for a 3rd straight week of beneficial properties, prompting Citigroup (NYSE:C) to revise larger its common Brent costs for the primary quarter of 2025.

At 08:55 ET (13:55 GMT), the Brent contract rose 3.7% to $79.75 a barrel, on observe for a 3rd straight week of beneficial properties.

The crude markets have rallied on probably bigger geopolitical impacts on Iran’s oil exports and chilly climate boosting heating demand and hitting US oil provide, analysts at Citi mentioned, in a word dated Jan. 9.

“With costs probably firmer till the Trump Administration takes workplace, we revise up common Brent costs from $65/bbl to $71/bbl for 1Q’25 as Chinese language patrons have pulled again greater than anticipated on shopping for Iranian oil,” Citi mentioned.

Forward of US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, expectations are mounting over potential provide disruptions from tighter sanctions towards Iran and Russia whereas oil stockpiles stay low.

Nonetheless, Citi maintains its total bearish 2025 view, with Brent costs dropping to the $60s/bbl from the second quarter of 2025 amid larger-than-usual seasonal inventory builds.

“Cash supervisor positioning in crude has lengthened, offering extra runway for draw back. Trump’s positions on commerce tariffs, boosting US power provide, and reducing power costs nonetheless hints to draw back for oil costs,” Citi mentioned.