By Ahmad Ghaddar, Arunima Kumar and Robert Harvey
LONDON (Reuters) -Oil prices dipped lower in volatile trade on Tuesday, as a weak demand outlook after a global sell-off in markets on Monday countered price support from fears of an escalation in the Middle East conflict, and a drop in Libyan production.
Brent crude futures were down 41 cents, or 0.54%, to $75.89 a barrel at 1320 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 43 cents, or 0.59%, to $72.51.
Both contracts had gained over $1 a barrel earlier in the session, as a broader rally in Asian equity markets overnight supported prices in early trading.
“Despite a rebound in the early session driven by concerns over supply disruptions and rising tensions in the Middle East, crude oil futures could continue their downtrend as market reactions to disappointing U.S. job growth data and weak economic signals from China created a wave of negative sentiment,” said Hani Abuagla, senior market analyst at XTB MENA.
On Monday, both benchmarks fell about 1% as U.S. recession worries hammered global stock markets.
At the same time, weak demand figures, particularly in China, have capped oil prices.
“Demand concerns as a result of weaker economic data from the three most important demand regions – the US, China and Europe – have become more pronounced since Friday,” said Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch.
“(The) long-awaited seasonal upturn in demand in Q3 seems to be disappointing. Use of on-road fuels like gasoline and diesel is coming below initial bullish expectations,” Onyx Capital Group analyst Harry Tchilinguirian said.
However, oil prices are finding a floor as concern mounts that Iran, a major Middle Eastern producer, may retaliate against Israel and the U.S. following the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran and an Israeli attack that killed a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon, potentially leading to a wider regional war.
On Monday, at least five U.S. personnel were injured in an attack against a military base in Iraq, U.S. officials told Reuters. It was unclear whether the attack was linked to the retaliation threats.
Lower production at Libya’s 300,000 barrel-per-day Sharara oilfield also helped provide a floor to price losses.
Libya’s National Oil Corp said on Tuesday it would start to gradually decrease production at the field due to protests.
(Additional reporting by Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo and Trixie Yap in Singapore and Arunima Kumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Barbara Lewis, Mark Potter and Jonathan Oatis)
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