據彭博新聞社2022年8月5日報道，由于越來越多的跡象表明全球經濟放緩抑制了需求，油價創下了今年4月初以來的最大單周跌幅。原油價格接近6個月來的最低水平。 

8月5日，西得克薩斯中質原油價格報收于每桶89美元，本周收盤下跌近10%。美國汽油消費量下降，引發了對需求的擔憂，而低流動性加劇了波動性。來自某歐佩克成員國的供應有所增加，幫助縮小了關鍵原油期貨的時間套利，緩解了市場的緊張局面。  

這種回落在整個石油市場都很明顯。在8月5日結束的一周里，汽油期貨下跌18%。與此同時，原油現貨價差已經收窄，布倫特原油現貨價差——兩份最接近合約的價差和衡量供應的指標——從一周前的每桶逾6美元降至每桶1.73美元。 

加拿大帝國商業銀行私人財富管理（CIBC Private Wealth Management）高級能源交易員麗貝卡?巴賓表示：“原油價格在一周內突破多個技術位，這對超級周期的信徒來說是一場血洗。”“然而，這一行動表明，這更像是買家罷工，而不是有意義的減倉，因為買家在圍繞需求的整體情況好轉之前會滿足于袖手旁觀。”

在今年前5個月大漲之后，原油價格漲勢已逆轉，繼6月和7月下跌之后，本月油價跌幅進一步擴大。低于平均水平的交易量加劇了拋售，這可能會在一定程度上緩解全球經濟中的通脹壓力，這些壓力已促使包括美聯儲（FED）在內的各國央行加息。

李峻 編譯自 彭博新聞社

原文如下：

Oil and Gasoline Futures Down Over 10% on the Week

Oil posted the biggest weekly decline since early April on growing signs that a global economic slowdown is curbing demand. Prices are near the lowest level in six months.

West Texas Intermediate settled at $89 a barrel, ending the week nearly 10% lower. US gasoline consumption has dropped, stoking demand concerns, while low liquidity has added to volatility. Supplies from one certain member of OPEC also picked up, helping to shrink key oil futures time-spreads and ease the tightness in the market.  

The pullback is evident across the oil market. Gasoline futures are down 18% this week. Meanwhile, physical oil differentials have narrowed and Brent’s prompt spread -- the difference between its two nearest contracts and a gauge of supply -- shrunk to $1.73 a barrel in backwardation, down from more than $6 a week ago.

“Crude broke several technical levels in a week that has been a bloodbath for super-cycle believers,” said Rebecca Babin, a senior energy trader at CIBC Private Wealth Management. “The action, however, indicates that this was more of a buyers’ strike than meaningful position reduction, as buyers are content to sit on the sidelines until the broader narrative around demand improves.”

After surging in the first five months of the year, crude’s rally has been thrown into reverse, with losses deepening this month after declines in June and July. The selloff, which has been exacerbated by below-average trading volumes, may alleviate some of the inflationary pressures coursing through the global economy that have spurred central banks including the US Federal Reserve to hike rates.