Oil prices settle down on report of talks to end Lebanon war
Oil prices closed slightly lower on Tuesday, adding to a more than 6% drop in the previous session, on a report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a meeting for a diplomatic solution to the war in Lebanon.
Brent crude futures settled down 30 cents, or 0.4%, at $71.12 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude shed 17 cents, or 0.3%, to $67.21 a barrel.
The two benchmarks had gained more than $1 a barrel earlier in the session. Both contracts fell on Monday to their lowest levels since Oct. 1 after Israel's retaliatory strike on Iran at the weekend bypassed Tehran's oil infrastructure.
Netanyahu will hold a meeting on Tuesday evening with Israeli ministers and the heads of the country's military and intelligence community about talks for a diplomatic solution to the war in Lebanon, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said on X, citing two sources.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that Iran will "use all available tools" to respond to Israel's weekend attack.
Meanwhile, declining oil demand from China, the world's largest crude oil importer, remains a drag on global oil consumption and prices.
Demand will return to normal growth rates after Chinese President Xi Jinping introduces new stimulus measures to the economy, BP CEO Murray Auchincloss told Reuters.
The oil market is currently balanced and demand is expected to average 104.5 million barrels per day this year, the CEO of Saudi Arabian oil giant Saudi Aramco said.
Source : Reuters
