OIL FUTURES: Crude extends slide as omicron spread fuels demand jitters

摘要

Crude futures settled lower Dec. 1 after reports of the first COVID-19omicron variant infection in the US faded an early session rally.Front-month NYMEX January WTI settled 61 cents lower at$65.57/b and ICE February Brent fell 36 cents to $68.87/b.Crude prices had rallied overnight and held onto gains following asmaller-than-expected US crude oil inventory draw, but sentimentfaltered after US health officials confirmed the first-ever case of theomicron variant on US soil.