Oil drops over 2% on China lockdowns, U.S. stimulus concerns | Reuters
Oil prices fell more than 2% on Friday, with both contracts posting a loss on the week as concerns about Chinese cities in lockdown due to coronavirus outbreaks tempered a rally driven by strong import data from the world’s biggest crude importer.
Brent fell $1.32, or 2.3%, to settle at $55.10 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled down $1.21, or 2.3%, at $52.36 a barrel.
Both benchmarks, which hit their highest in nearly a year earlier in the week, posted their first weekly declines in three weeks, with Brent down 1.6% on the week and U.S. crude down about 0.4%.
While producers are facing unparalleled challenges balancing supply and demand equations with calculus involving vaccine rollouts versus lockdowns, financial contracts have been boosted by strong equities and a weaker dollar, which makes oil cheaper, along with strong Chinese demand.
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