* Shrinking factory activity in China limits oil demand
growth
* Rosy U.S. economic data raise worries Fed may end stimulus
soon
* Gasoline demand over U.S. summer driving season may
disappoint
* Coming up: Germany detailed Q1 GDP; 0600 GMT
By Florence Tan
SINGAPORE, May 24 (Reuters) – Crude futures are set to post
their biggest weekly loss in five weeks, with Brent edging down
toward $102 per barrel on Friday, as ample supply and a slow
global economic recovery fuelled worries that demand for oil
would be hit.
Crude inventories in the United States are near record
levels as the world’s top oil consumer produced more from shale,
while shrinking factory activity in China capped fuel demand
growth at the world’s No.2 user.
Improved U.S. jobs and home sales data also sparked worries
that the Federal Reserve could soon scale back bond purchases
and tighten liquidity in markets.
Brent slipped 4 cents to $102.40 by 0327 GMT,
stretching its losses into a fourth session. U.S. crude
inched down 17 cents to $94.08 a barrel.
Both were on track for a more than 2 percent drop this week
— their biggest weekly drop since mid-April.
“There is a lot of supply. Inventories are high in the U.S.
and I don’t expect a big increase in demand from China,” said
Ken Hasegawa, a commodity sales manager at Newedge Japan.
“Oil still has some room to fall further. It’s possible for
Brent to fall to $95 within the next two months.”
Brent hit a three-week low on Thursday after a survey showed
that China’s factory activity shrank for the first time in seven
months in May, stoking worries over the demand outlook for
commodities.
The oil market is now eyeing the U.S. driving season which
starts this weekend for indications on demand.
Traders have cautioned that there is more than enough
gasoline to meet seasonal demand. U.S. gasoline stockpiles last
week were close to the highest level for this time of the year
since 1999, government data showed.
Unlike before, gasoline demand is also not expected to rise
spectacularly as vehicles are becoming more fuel efficient,
Hasegawa said.
(Editing by Himani Sarkar)
