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Fitch Affirms Saudi Aramco at 'A+' with Stable Outlook

 Saudi Aramco logo (AFP)
 Saudi Aramco logo (AFP)
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Fitch Affirms Saudi Aramco at 'A+' with Stable Outlook

 Saudi Aramco logo (AFP)
 Saudi Aramco logo (AFP)

Fitch Ratings on Tuesday affirmed Saudi Aramco’s long-term issuer default ratings at “A+” for both foreign- and local-currency ratings, with a stable outlook.
In a statement, Fitch Ratings praised Aramco's sustainable dividend policy. It said the company delivered a sustainable and progressive base dividend of $81.2 billion in 2024.
“Saudi Aramco is one of the world's largest oil producers and Saudi Arabia's national oil company,” Fitch Ratings said. “Its financial profile benefits from strong pre-dividend free cash flow (FCF) generation and conservative financial policies.”
Also, Aramco’s business profile is characterized by large-scale production, vast reserves, low production costs and expansion into downstream and petrochemicals, the rating company noted.
According to Fitch Ratings, Saudi Aramco has the flexibility to reconsider its dividend commitment if oil prices fall or capex is higher than we currently assume.
It explained that Saudi Aramco’s rating reflects its large reserve and production base, and a robust financial profile characterized by strong profitability, liquidity and market access.

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Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
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Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday as investors weighed firm winter fuel demand expectations against large US fuel inventories and macroeconomic concerns.

Brent crude futures were down 3 cents at $76.13 a barrel by 1003 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures dipped 10 cents to $73.22.

Both benchmarks fell more than 1% on Wednesday as a stronger dollar and a bigger than expected rise in US fuel stockpiles pressured prices.

"The oil market is still grappling with opposite forces - seasonal demand to support the bulls and macro data that supports a stronger US dollar in the medium term ... that can put a ceiling to prevent the bulls from advancing further," said OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong.

JPMorgan analysts expect oil demand for January to expand by 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) year on year to 101.4 million bpd, primarily driven by increased use of heating fuels in the Northern Hemisphere.

"Global oil demand is expected to remain strong throughout January, fuelled by colder than normal winter conditions that are boosting heating fuel consumption, as well as an earlier onset of travel activities in China for the Lunar New Year holidays," the analysts said.

The market structure in Brent futures is also indicating that traders are becoming more concerned about supply tightening at the same time demand is increasing.

The premium of the front-month Brent contract over the six-month contract reached its widest since August on Wednesday. A widening of this backwardation, when futures for prompt delivery are higher than for later delivery, typically indicates that supply is declining or demand is increasing.

Nevertheless, official Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed rising gasoline and distillates stockpiles in the United States last week.

The dollar strengthened further on Thursday, underpinned by rising Treasury yields ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump's entrance into the White House on Jan. 20.

Looking ahead, WTI crude oil is expected to oscillate within a range of $67.55 to $77.95 into February as the market awaits more clarity on Trump's administration policies and fresh fiscal stimulus measures out of China, OANDA's Wong said.