RTRS: NYMEX-Crude, equities jump on China currency move
* China currency revaluation may boost commodity demand
* Equities climb after China's currency move, lifts oil
* Coming up: Federal Reserve 2-day meeting starts Tuesday
NEW YORK, June 21 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures rose
more than $1 on Monday after China's move to allow more
flexibility in its currency lifted prices on the expectation
China's oil demand growth will rise.
China's yuan surged on Monday, the biggest one-day move
since its landmark revaluation in 2005. [ID:nN20208975]
For the oil market, the immediate implication was the
prospect that the yuan strengthening against the dollar will
make dollar-denominated commodities such as crude oil less
expensive for China's oil-thirsty economy.
World stocks hit a five-week high after China's actions on
the yuan. MSCI world equity index .MIWD00000PUS rose 1
percent, hitting its highest level since mid-May. [MKTS/GLOB]
U.S. stocks rose at the open in New York, with the S&P 500
index moving above a key resistance level at 1,130. [.N]
The U.S. Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee
two-day meeting starts Tuesday. Markets will get another
indication about the Fed's intent to keep low interest rates
and other economic stimulus measures in place.
Technical strength also was a factor for oil futures,
trading sources said, after crude futures ended last week above
the 200-day moving average.
"Equities are raging, lifting all ships. Also, the (crude)
market finished above the 200-day moving average last week,"
said Stephen Schork, president at the Schork Group in
Villanova, Pennsylvania.
PRICES
* On the New York Mercantile Exchange at 9:55 a.m. EDT
(1355 GMT), July crude CLN0 was up $1.49, or 1.93 percent, at
$78.67 a barrel, trading from $77.33 to $78.92.
* The NYMEX July crude contract expires on Tuesday. As of
Friday, open interest positions stood at only 62,256.
* The $64.24 intraday low on May 20 was the weakest NYMEX
front-month price since $62.76 was struck on July 30, 2009. The
2010 peak of $87.15 was struck on May 3.
* In London on the Intercontinental Exchange, August Brent
crude LCOQ0 rose $1.38, or 1.76 percent, to $79.60 a barrel,
trading from $78.49 to $79.86.
* NYMEX July RBOB RBN0 rose 3.24 cents, or 1.51 percent,
to $2.18 a gallon, trading from $2.1531 to $2.1930.
* NYMEX July heating oil HON0 rose 3.84 cents, or 1.8
percent, to $2.1673 a gallon, trading from $2.1321 to $2.1725.
* The July/July heating oil crack spread <0#CL-HO=R> was at
$12.34 a barrel. The spread ended Friday at $12.23. The
July/July RBOB crack spread <0#RB-CL=R> was at $13.03. The
spread ended Friday at $13.02.
* The spread between the current front month and the
five-year forward crude contract CLc61 was at $10.22, based
on the July 2015 contract Friday settlement at $88.89. The
spread ended on Friday at $11.71.
TECHNICALS
NYMEX crude 10-day/20-day moving average: $75.76/$73.98
Technical support/resistance:
NYMEX crude: $76.86/$83.13
NYMEX heating oil: $2.0875/$2.1703
NYMEX RBOB: $2.1044/$2.1908
For a full report on technicals, click on [ID:nLDE65K15Z]
MARKET NEWS
* China's diesel exports in May hit a record high and
gasoline exports rose 73 percent year on year, official customs
data showed. [ID:nTOE65K042]
* Copper prices soared as China's currency move raised
hopes of stronger demand growth. [MET/L]
* Iran barred two U.N. nuclear inspectors, adding to
tension after Tehran was recently hit by new U.N. sanctions
over its nuclear program. [ID:nLDE65K1CO]
* Russia cut gas supplies to Belarus by 15 percent pressing
its neighbor to pay a $192 million debt and raising fears of
disruptions in deliveries to Europe. [ID:nLDE65K031]
(Reporting by Robert Gibbons)