Oil falls below US$99 as US-Iran talks, Saudi pipeline revival ease supply fears

Oil prices slipped below US$99 a barrel on Wednesday, as renewed US-Iran talks and Saudi Arabia's efforts to revive its East-West pipeline quelled fears of supply disruptions. US President Donald Trump reported a "very productive" meeting with Iranian officials, while suggesting he was deliberating between negotiating an agreement or taking military action against the Islamic Republic.

Tehran reportedly suggested reopening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States took steps to lift the blockade that has limited Iranian oil exports. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is aiming to restart its East-West pipeline soon, potentially boosting supply via an alternative route that circumvents the Hormuz. The oil price decline has also alleviated some inflation concerns, though the US dollar held steady, buoyed by hawkish remarks from Federal Reserve officials that suggest additional interest rate hikes are likely.

The dollar index hovered near 100.5, close to an eight-week peak, after Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin cautioned that inflationary shocks may linger. Fed officials including Vice Chair Philip Jefferson and New York Fed President John Williams are expected to offer further insights on the central bank's rate trajectory in the coming days.

Market focus will also shift to US purchasing managers' indices, Fed remarks, durable goods data, and University of Michigan sentiment readings. The Malaysian ringgit slipped 0.17% against the US dollar to 4.0680, extending its month-long decline to 0.63%, though it remains 3.32% stronger than a year prior. Analysts forecast the US dollar-Malaysian ringgit exchange rate to hit 4.07991 by the end of the quarter and 4.01066 in a year.