Oil prices fall as strong dollar, worries over China weigh on sentiment
Oil prices fell on Friday as a strong dollar, mixed economic signals and concern over China's economy weighed on investor sentiment.
Brent crude prices fell by 41 cents, or 0.5%, to $84.70 a barrel by 0650 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 49 cents, or 0.6%, to $82.33 a barrel.
For the week, Brent was down 0.3%, while WTI was trading marginally higher.
The U.S. dollar index climbed for the second consecutive session after stronger-than-expected data on the U.S. labour market and manufacturing earlier in the week. A stronger greenback dampens demand for dollar-denominated oil from buyers holding other currencies.
A lack of concrete stimulus measures from top oil importer China has also weighed on commodities overall, ANZ analysts said in a note. China's economy grew at a slower-than-expected 4.7% pace in the second quarter, official data showed, sparking concerns about the country's oil demand.
"Concerns over supply in the short term kept the losses minimal," ANZ said, however, referring to worsening wildfires threatening production in Canadian oil sands.
Elsewhere on the economic front, Japan's core inflation perked up in June, leaving the door open for an interest rate hike in the major oil market.
Oil prices found some support in the prior two sessions after the U.S. government reported a bigger-than-expected weekly decline in oil stockpiles.
Analysts at consultancy firm FGE, though, said broader inventory trends look more bearish than expected this month. They noted U.S. crude stocks have drawn at a slower-than-usual pace for this time of the year and global fuel stocks rose last week.
Meanwhile, the OPEC+ producer group is unlikely to recommend changing the group's output policy, including a plan to start unwinding one layer of oil output cuts from October, three sources told Reuters on Thursday.
Source: Reuters
Trending News

PRINPAG criticises court order against investigative journalist to halt corruption report
05:49
US regulator approves pill form of Wegovy weight-loss drug
11:44
NDC to mark 44th anniversary of 31st December revolution in Ada
16:54
48 suspected cybercrime operatives arrested in Dawhenya crackdown
10:32
Minority demands probe into GoldBod operations, alleges $300m loss and environmental damage
16:39
Korle-Bu to conduct mass burial of unclaimed bodies after January 18, 2026
10:06
Police foil highway robbery, gun down 3 suspects, retrieve 7 weapons
17:38
Interior Minister assures security personnel of improved welfare at joint route march
09:26
Nation-first, principled and people-centred leadership wins us elections, and Bawumia stands for it – Akosua Manu to NPP
11:57
Lands Ministry: 50 large-scale mining companies face license revocation
08:27


