WTI stays below $78.00 as Western central banks set for their first rate hike of 2023

• Oil price has shifted its business below $78.00 as western central banks stare a fresh rate hike.
• The continuation of hawkish monetary policy by the central banks might advance global recession fears.
• China’s Caixin Manufacturing PMI might remain upbeat as the economy is now operating at full capacity levels.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI), futures on NYMEX, have shifted their auction below the crucial support of $78.00 in the early Asian session. On Monday, the oil price extends its losses after failing to hold the psychological resistance of $80.00. Rising fears of a global recession as western central banks are expected to hike their interest rates further have weakened oil demand projections dramatically.

Various developed economies have been demonstrating contraction in the scale of economic activities as western central banks are on a mission to tame soaring inflation in achieving price stability.

Starting from the mighty Federal Reserve (Fed) which is expected to hike interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) to the 4.50-4.75% range to the European Central Bank (ECB), which is worried about rising wages is likely to push interest rates by 50 bps to 2.50%. And, last, the Bank of England (BoE) which is struggling to ease the double-digit inflation figure in the United Kingdom economy might follow the footprints of the ECB ahead and will accelerate global recession fears after continuing their interest rates hiking sage of CY2022 this year.

Apart from that, investors will also look toward the release of the Caixin Manufacturing PMI data, which is scheduled for Wednesday. The economic data is expected to expand to 49.5 from the former release of 49.0 as the Chinese economy is open for operating at full capacity after remaining locked due to pandemic controls. It is worth noting that China is the largest importer of oil and accelerating manufacturing activities in that region might express optimism for the oil price.

On the supply front, oil flows from Russia are advancing despite sanctions from the western cartel after its invasion of Ukraine. Earlier, the oil price was rising on expectations that Russia might not be ready in delivering oil at deeply discounted prices. However, Moscow’s oil outflows have risen, which has trimmed supply worries firmly.