Oil prices set to fall for third month

Paul Carsten - Oil prices declined yesterday and were on track to fall for the third month in a row as a strong supply outlook and questions around demand outweighed fears that Israeli strikes in Lebanon and Yemen could escalate conflict in the Middle East.Brent crude futures for November delivery, expiring yesterday, lost 66 US cents, or 0.9%, to US$71.32 a barrel as of 1140 GMT. The more active December contract fell 41 cents, 0.6%, to US$71.13. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures lost 51 cents, 0.8%, to US$67.67 a barrel.Both benchmarks had earlier gained more than US$1.Brent was on track to lose more than 9% month-on-month, which would be its biggest decline since November 2022. WTI was set to decline almost 8% since the end of August.Middle EastOn Monday prices had been supported by the possibility that Iran, a key producer and member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, may be directly drawn into a widening Middle East conflict.Since last week Israel has escalated attacks, conducting strikes which have killed Hezbollah and Hamas leaders in Lebanon and hit Houthi targets in Yemen. The three groups are backed by Iran."We suspect that some oil market participants will look past this escalation given that there still has not been a major physical supply disruption and Iran has not demonstrated any appetite to enter this nearly year-long conflict," said Helima Croft of RBC Capital Markets.ChinaOil prices also had a muted response to Beijing&#039;s announcement last week of fiscal stimulus measures in the world&#039;s second-biggest economy and top oil importer.Traders question whether the measures would be enough to boost China&#039;s weaker-than-expected demand so far this year.Data on Monday was not encouraging for demand, showing China&#039;s manufacturing activity shrank for a fifth straight month and the services sector slowed sharply in September.Instead, prices have been depressed by news that half a million barrels of Libyan crude exports may come back online as a central bank dispute is resolved, and a report that Saudi Arabia may stop targeting an oil price of US$100 a barrel as OPEC begins to unwind voluntary supply cuts from December. - Reuters

Oil prices set to fall for third month

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