Oil prices continue to fall as US-Iran tensions ease

LONDON, January 10, 2020 – Oil prices continued to fall on Friday in Asia and were set to record their first weekly loss since November as US-Iran conflict cooled.

US Crude Oil WTI Futures dropped 0.2% to $59.48 by 12:50 AM ET (04:50 GMT), while International Brent Oil Futures slipped 0.1% to $65.32.

The US House of Representatives voted overnight to curb US President Donald Trump’s power to strike Iran. Meanwhile, in comments to Fox News, Vice President Mike Pence said the Islamic Republic has asked militias in the Middle East not to carry out attacks against US interests.

The easing of the US-Iran tensions reduced concerns of a potential supply disruption in the Middle East, and were cited as the catalyst of selling in oil prices in the past two days.

On the Sino-US trade front, China’s Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng confirmed that Vice Premier Liu He will travel to Washington between Jan. 13 and 15 to sign a phase one trade deal.

He said he has no more information to release about the trade talks, other than that the teams remain in close contact.

Trump previously said that the deal will be signed at the White House on Jan. 15. Under the accord, which was announced in December, the US halted plans for new tariffs on Chinese imports and reduced some existing levies, while Beijing agreed to increase agricultural purchases.

The positive trade news failed to lift oil prices today however, as they were largely overshadowed by improving situation in the Middle East.

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