Big Oil Decline Unlikely as Economies Hit Bottom

New York, NY, Sept. 1, 2009--Oil prices rose slightly to above $70 a barrel Tuesday as a rebound in Asian stocks boosted investor optimism.

Crude for October delivery was up 38 cents at $70.34 a barrel by late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The contract Monday lost $2.78 to settle at $69.96 after a drop in stocks heightened investor concerns that the global economic recovery may be weaker than expected. China's benchmark stock index fell 6.7 percent Monday while the Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.5 percent.

Most Asian stock indexes rose modestly Tuesday, including China's. European markets were moderately down.

"Stocks are a leading indicator of the economy, so if we have a slump in stocks, that's one fewer driver to support high oil prices," said Victor Shum, an energy analyst with consultancy Purvin & Gertz in Singapore.

Oil will likely trade between $65 and $70 during the next few weeks, Shum said.

"I don't expect a big pullback because we are starting to see more signs of economic life," he said. "There's clear evidence that the global economy has reached a bottom."