Oil edges back from big slump as Iran sanctions return to focus

Reuters  |  SINGAPORE 

By Gloystein

Front-month Brent were at $76.72 a barrel at 0320 GMT, 28 cents, or 0.4 percent, above their last close.

U.S. Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $66.66 a barrel, up 23 cents, or 0.4 percent, from their last settlement.

That came after Brent closed down 4.3 percent and WTI 4 percent in the previous session.

Saudi said at an investment conference in on Tuesday that despite expected supply disruptions from U.S. sanctions against that kick in from Nov. 4, would step up to "meet any demand that materialises to ensure customers are satisfied".

"Oil prices fell substantially ... as released assurances it could supply more to the global market," Australia's said.

Despite the slump, analysts said markets remained tight because of the looming sanctions.

"We still see Brent reaching $85 per barrel by year-end," said U.S.

Into 2019, however, the broader economic outlook could be darkening.

China's said on Wednesday it would step up financial support for regions most hit by the ongoing trade war between and in which both sides have slapped import tariffs on hundreds of goods.

Meanwhile, South Korea's KOSPI-100 equity index has now fallen by nearly 19 percent over the past year, the fastest rate of decline since the financial crisis of 2008/09.

The KOSPI-100 has typically correlated closely with growth in international trade, given the South Korean economy's strong orientation towards exports.

(Reporting by Gloystein; Editing by and Joseph Radford)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, October 24 2018. 08:56 IST