|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
. | ![]() |
. |
|
![]() |
![]() by Staff Writers New York (AFP) Sept 08, 2014
Oil prices dropped Monday with the European benchmark contract slipping below $100 a barrel on concerns about fragile demand, heavy supply and a strengthening US dollar. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for October delivery fell 63 cents to $92.66 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, its lowest level since January. European benchmark Brent oil for October delivery declined 62 cents to $100.20 a barrel, after earlier falling below $100 a barrel for the first time since June 2013. Matt Smith, analyst at Schneider Electric, cited weak economic data from China and Japan, two major oil consumers, as "not the best start to the week on the economic data front." China showed a surprising drop of 2.4 percent in imports, while Japan said its economy shrank 1.8 percent on-quarter in April-June, worse than the previously estimated contraction of 1.7 percent. Analysts also cited reports that suggest lofty supplies of oil remain on the market as refineries in North America and North America shift into maintenance mode and run less crude through their plants. Tim Evans, analyst at Citi Futures, pointed to "ongoing concern regarding an apparent physical surplus, with some estimating inventories held on tankers used as floating storage at the highest level since 2009." Finally, the big jump in the dollar against some other leading currencies has also pressured oil. Because crude is traded in dollars, the commodity becomes more costly outside the US when the dollar strengthens.
Related Links All About Oil and Gas News at OilGasDaily.com
|
![]() |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service. |