Oil Steadies as Rate Hikes Loom, Russian Flows Stay Strong

Oil Steadies as Rate Hikes Loom, Russian Flows Stay Strong
A maze of crude oil pipes and valves is pictured during a tour by the Department of Energy at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in Freeport, Texas on June 9, 2016. Richard Carson/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

LONDON—Oil steadied on Monday as looming interest rate hikes by major central banks and signs of strong Russian exports balanced rising Middle East tension over a drone attack in Iran and hopes of higher Chinese demand.

Investors expect the Federal Reserve to raise rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, followed the day after by half-point hikes from the Bank of England and European Central Bank, and any deviation from that script would be a shock.