Oil prices dip as Middle East tensions ease, China data weak
Business
Oil prices dip as Middle East tensions ease, China data weak
(Reuters) - Oil prices dipped on Tuesday, hovering near a two-week low as Middle East supply concerns eased after Israel accepted a proposal to tackle disagreements blocking a ceasefire deal in Gaza, and as economic weakness in China weighed on fuel demand.
Brent futures for October delivery fell 27 cents, or 0.4%, to $77.39 a barrel by 11:46 a.m. EDT (1546 GMT) . U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for September fell 21 cents, or 0.3%, to $74.16 on its last day as the front-month.
The more actively traded WTI futures for October , which will soon become the front-month, were down about 27 cents to $73.39 per barrel.
"We expect a volatile session today as efforts toward an Israeli/Gaza ceasefire appear to be gaining enough traction to announce an official deal," analysts at energy advisory firm Ritterbusch and Associates said in a note.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Egypt and pushed for progress toward a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. Major differences still need to resolved in talks this week.
"Despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations, clashes between Israel and Hamas continue, and the markets will remain highly sensitive to any developments in the region," said Rystad Energy's senior analyst Svetlana Tretyakova.
