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Oil prices fell on Monday as an easing of geopolitical risks in the Middle East and the prospect of another OPEC+ output hike in August improved supply expectations amid persistent uncertainty over the outlook for global demand.
Brent crude futures fell 13 cents, or 0.19%, to $67.64 a barrel by 0344 GMT, ahead of the August contract's expiry later on Monday. The more active September contract was at $66.62, down 18 cents.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 32 cents, or 0.49%, to $65.2 a barrel.
Last week, both benchmarks posted their biggest weekly decline since March 2023, but they are set to finish higher in June with a second consecutive monthly gain of more than 5%.
A 12-day war that started with Israel targeting Iran's nuclear facilities on 13 June pushed up Brent prices, which surged above $80 a barrel after the U.S. bombed Iran's nuclear facilities and then slumped to $67 after President Donald Trump announced an Iran-Israel ceasefire.
The market has stripped out most of the geopolitical risk premium built into the price following the Iran-Israel ceasefire, IG markets analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note.
Further weighing on the market, four delegates from OPEC+, which includes allies of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said the group was set to boost production by 411,000 barrels per day in August, following similar-sized output increases for May, June and July.
OPEC+ is set to meet on 6 July and this would be the fifth monthly increase since the group started unwinding production cuts in April.
However, bearish pressure from concerns over slower global oil demand, particularly from China, is likely to persist.
Uncertainty around global growth continues to cap prices, said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.
China's factory activity contracted for a third straight month in June, as weak domestic demand and faltering exports weighed on manufacturers amid U.S. trade uncertainty.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
Honduras has brought back mask mandates as COVID-19 cases and a new variant surge nationwide.
Kuwait says oil prices will likely stay below $72 per barrel as OPEC monitors global supply trends and U.S. policy signals. The remarks come during market uncertainty fueled by new U.S. tariffs on India and possible sanctions on Russia.
British American Tobacco is preparing to sell its first disposable vape in the U.S. reversing years of opposition to unauthorised devices amidst a booming $8 billion market for synthetic nicotine products.
Large investors, wary of September’s traditional seasonal downturns, moved to lock in profits on Tuesday, according to traders and research firms – a sign that the sell-off in technology shares may reflect a broader retreat from risk.
Pop Mart has posted stunning interim results for the first half of 2025, riding on the explosive popularity of its breakout character Labubu.
Estee Lauder (EL.N) said on Wednesday that its annual profit forecast has come in below Wall Street expectations, as the cosmetics giant continues to face weakness in the United States and China alongside uncertainty over tariffs.
The U.S. Commerce Department has expanded steel and aluminium tariffs on Tuesday, to include more than 400 products, aiming to protect domestic industries.
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