Oil piles on losses following OPEC+ deal to boost supply, rising COVID cases | Reuters

Oil piles on losses following OPEC+ deal to boost supply, rising COVID cases | Reuters

Oil slumped $5 a barrel on Monday, closing out its worst day since March, after an OPEC+ agreement to boost output stoked fears of a surplus just as rising COVID-19 infections once again threaten demand.

Crude oil's year-long recovery has stalled out over the last two weeks due to the prospect of new supply undermining the case for higher prices. With the Delta variant of the coronavirus spreading worldwide - fuelling a 70% rise in U.S. infections last week - funds bailed out of long positions on Monday across multiple risk asset groups, including stocks and the dollar. (Graphic on U.S. cases) here

It is still unclear how the variant will affect oil demand. Consumption in the United States, the world’s largest consumer of fuel, has steadily strengthened in recent weeks, but India, the third-biggest importer, has cut back imports due to oversupply and fears of reduced demand.

“The market is very fixated on the potential for the Delta variant exploding,” said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. “Because of that, we’re getting a run on the bank.”

Brent crude settled at $68.62 a barrel, losing $4.97, or 6.8%. U.S. oil futures for August delivery, which expires on Tuesday, settled at $66.42, down $5.39, or 7.5%. The September U.S. crude oil futures contract settled at $66.35, down $5.21.