中國石化新聞網訊據路透社12月22日報導，因英國出現新的冠狀病毒株，再度引發市場對需求復甦的擔憂，油價周二跌至每桶50美元，繼前一交易日下跌後再度下跌。
發現這種新病毒株後，幾個國家關閉了與英國的邊境，不過英國一位部長表示，英國和法國正在努力重新開放歐洲最重要的貿易通道之一。
截至格林尼治標準時間11：25，布倫特原油價格下跌32美分，至每桶50.59美元，跌幅0.6%，而美國西德克薩斯中質原油價格下跌67美分，跌幅1.4%，至每桶47.30美元。
周一，這兩個基準指標均下跌近3%，部分抵消了近期因新冠肺炎疫苗推出的利好消息推動的漲幅。要知道，新冠肺炎疫苗被視為人們恢復正常生活的關鍵。
石油經紀商PVM的塔馬斯•瓦爾加(Tamas Varga)表示:「在當前負面擔憂與未來樂觀情緒之間的搖擺中，擔憂情緒有佔主導地位的傾向。」
上周五，布倫特原油價格達到每桶52.48美元，為3月份以來的最高水平。一些人認為油價存在著進一步下跌的可能。券商OANDA的傑弗裡•哈雷(Jeffrey Halley)表示:「環境顯然仍是充滿風險的，考慮到油價兩個月來上漲的規模，不排除出現更大幅度調整的可能性。」
在數月的停滯之後，美國國會批准了一項8920億美元的新冠肺炎疫情一攬子援助計劃，為石油行業提供了支持。
值得一提的是，歐佩克+定於明年1月將原油日產量提高50萬桶，且目前還沒有跡象表明在價格下跌時會讓其產生任何的動搖。
俄羅斯副總理諾瓦克(Alexander Novak)周一表示，產出的增加不應導致供應過剩。
王佳晶 摘譯自 路透社
原文如下：
Oil drops as new coronavirus strain revives demand fears
Oil dropped towards $50 a barrel on Tuesday, adding to losses from the previous session, as a new coronavirus strain in the United Kingdom revived concerns over demand recovery.
Detection of the new strain prompted several countries to close their borders to Britain, though a British minister said the UK and France are working to reopen one of Europe’s most important trade routes.
Brent crude was down 32 cents, or 0.6%, at $50.59 a barrel by 1125 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 67 cents, or 1.4%, to $47.30.
Both benchmarks slid nearly 3% on Monday, partly erasing recent gains driven by the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, seen as key to allowing a return to normal life.
「In the battle between immediate negative concerns and future optimism, the former is now fighting back,」 said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM.
The latest rally culminated in Brent hitting $52.48, its highest since March, on Friday. Some see potential for prices to fall further.
「The environment remains decidedly risk-averse,」 said Jeffrey Halley of brokerage OANDA. 「Given the scale of oil’s two-month rally, a deeper correction cannot be ruled out.」
Oil gained support from U.S. Congress approval for a $892 billion coronavirus aid package after months of inaction.
In focus will be the latest U.S. oil inventory reports, expected to show crude stocks fell by 3.3 million barrels. The American Petroleum Institute’s report is due at 2130 GMT.[EIA/S]
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, a group known as OPEC+, are set to boost output by 500,000 barrels per day in January. There is no sign yet of any wavering induced by the price drop.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak on Monday said the rise in output should not result in a glut.