LONDON: Brent oil ticked higher on Friday, supported by tensions over Iran and the decision by OPEC and its allies to extend a supply cut deal until next year, while US benchmark crude prices fell on weak economic indicators.
Brent was up 53 cents at $63.83 per barrel by 1330 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) slipped 18 cents to $57.16. The US market was closed on Thursday for a holiday.
Both benchmarks were set for their biggest weekly falls in five weeks.
A trade war between the United States and China has dampened prospects of global economic growth and oil demand, but talks between the two nations resume next week in a bid to resolve the deadlock.
“The truce between the United States and China is not translating into anything in the real economy in the short term,” Petromatrix oil analyst Olivier Jakob said.
“The negotiations still have to happen and until then we will be looking at very weak manufacturing PMIs,” he said referring to Purchasing Managers’ Indices which indicate companies’ optimism about their sector.
German industrial orders fell far more than expected in May, and the Economy Ministry said this sector of Europe’s largest economy was likely to remain weak in the coming months.
In the US, new orders for factory goods fell for a second straight month in May, government data showed, stoking the economic concerns.
The US Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday a weekly decline of 1.1 million barrels in crude stocks, smaller than the 5 million barrel draw reported by the American Petroleum Institute and less than analyst expectations.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers such as Russia, a grouping known as OPEC+, supported prices by extending their deal on supply cuts.
Tension in the Middle East also offered some support. Iran, already embroiled in a row with the United States, threatened on Friday to capture a British ship after British forces seized an Iranian tanker in Gibraltar over accusations the ship was violating EU sanctions on Syria.
“It is just another sign that the market sentiment is not strong enough to react to those headlines and events, which is quite unusual,” Jakob said.
A Reuters survey found OPEC oil output sank to a new five-year low in June, as a rise in Saudi supply did not offset losses in Iran and Venezuela due to US sanctions and other outages elsewhere in the group.
Oil production by Saudi Arabia, the world’s top crude exporter, was 9.782 million barrels per day (bpd) in June, an OPEC source said, slightly up from 9.67 million bpd in May.
Brent oil inches up on Iran tensions and OPEC, while US crude falls
Brent oil inches up on Iran tensions and OPEC, while US crude falls
- Both benchmarks were set for their biggest weekly falls in five weeks
- In the US, new orders for factory goods fell for a second straight month in May
Qatar residential property sales jump 44% in 2025 as prices ease: Knight Frank
RIYADH: Qatar’s residential property sales surged 43.5 percent in 2025 to 26.6 billion Qatari riyals ($7.30 billion), driven by rising transaction volumes even as home prices softened, according to Knight Frank.
The number of residential deals climbed 50 percent in 2025 from a year earlier to 6,831 transactions, signaling sustained liquidity in the market despite a more competitive pricing environment, the property consultancy said in its Qatar Real Estate Market Review.
In line with broader trends across the Gulf Cooperation Council, Qatar is seeking to strengthen its real estate sector as part of its economic diversification efforts.
Faisal Durrani, head of research at Knight Frank for the Middle East and North Africa region, said: “Although residential prices are softening, strong growth in transaction volumes highlights continued liquidity and demand in Qatar’s core residential markets and indicating stabilization, rather than a market in retreat.”
In the fourth quarter of 2025, residential sales activity remained concentrated in key locations, led by Doha, which recorded 564 transactions with a combined value of 2.4 billion riyals. Al Wakrah followed with 387 transactions worth 895 million riyals.
“Average villa prices fell by 1 percent during the 12 months to the fourth quarter of 2025, reflecting a more competitive pricing environment as supply expands and buyers become increasingly value-led. Despite this moderation, prime locations remain resilient, supported by steady demand for premium schemes,” said Durrani.
Rental rates also eased, with average villa rents down 2.4 percent year on year in the fourth quarter to 12,985 riyals per month. Prime locations continued to outperform, with West Bay Lagoon averaging 18,656 riyals a month for three-bedroom villas and up to 25,696 riyals for five-bedroom units. Overall villa rents declined 3 percent in 2025.
“Qatar’s residential rental market continues to be shaped by tenant demand for well-located, lifestyle-led communities, with pricing remaining strong for larger villas in established neighborhoods,” said Knight Frank’s Adam Stewart.
Qatar’s office market showed similar trends, with grade-A rents falling 1.4 percent year on year to 90 riyals per sq. meter per month. Demand remained focused on prime districts, led by West Bay and the Marina District, as occupiers shifted away from older buildings.
“Economic diversification in line with Qatar’s National Vision 2030 is supporting job growth and office demand, especially in the tech, green energy, and services sectors,” said Stewart.
He added: “These occupiers are increasingly seeking high-specification, modern buildings with advanced facilities, and we are seeing a clear shift toward prime locations in Doha and Lusail, pulling tenants away from older stock.”
