Oil Prices Gain on Demand Recovery Bets Ahead of Summer Driving Season

• Oil prices settled higher Monday, supported by renewed bets on a recovery in energy demand as the U.S. reopening picks up speed ahead of the summer driving season.
• On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude futures for June delivery rose 1.43% to settle at $64.49 a barrel, while on London's Intercontinental Exchange, Brent rose 1.22% to trade at $67.58 a barrel.
• "Crude oil prices rallied as signs of further strength in demand continue to emerge. The emergence of several US cities from lockdown is stoking confidence of stronger demand in gasoline ahead of the key US summer driving season," ANZ Research said in a note.
• The renewed optimism ahead of the summer driving season, a period in which gasoline demand is typically at its seasonal peak, is helping to offset concerns over a strong record of daily Covid-19 infections in India, the third latest oil-consuming country.
• The upbeat start to the month for U.S. oil prices comes after a 13% rally last month despite lingering concerns over the increase in Iranian production. Over the weekend, Iran said it expects to export as much as 2.5 million barrels of oil should nuclear deal talks with the U.S. and other nations lead to the removal of restrictions against the Islamic Republic.

(Source: Investing.com