Oil prices fall amid Chinese demand concerns

December 17, 2024 (MLN): Global oil prices declined in early Asian trading on Tuesday as investors worried about Chinese demand and awaited further market direction from a U.S. interest rate decision due on Wednesday.

Brent crude traded near $73.82 a barrel, down 0.90% ($0.67) on the day.

While West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) was at $70.62 per barrel, decreased by 0.13% ($0.09).

Prices were "weighed on by profit-taking after last week's 6% rally and a batch of disappointing Chinese economic data yesterday," IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said.

On Monday, prices fell from multi-week highs on unexpected weakness in consumer spending data from China, despite strength in industrial output, and as investors moved into a holding pattern ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting.

The Fed will hold its last policy meeting of the year on Tuesday and Wednesday, where it is widely expected to cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, as Reuters reported.

The meeting will also shed light on how much further officials think they will cut interest rates in 2025 and 2026, and whether the central bank will scale back easing in anticipation of higher inflation under the incoming Trump administration.

Lower interest rates can boost economic growth and demand for oil.

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