The drop follows the news that the world consumers announced plans to release a record volume of crude and oil products from strategic stocks. Moreover, the markets have been monitoring the recent development in China, where authorities have kept Shanghai under lockdown under its “zero-tolerance” policy for COVID-19.
Members of the International Energy Agency (IEA) will release 60 million barrels over the next six months. The US will match the amount as part of the 180-million-barrel release announced in March. The moves are meant to offset a shortfall in Russian crude after Moscow was hit with heavy sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine.
Brent crude was trading 2% lower at $100.73 per barrel, while crude oil lost 2.2%, reaching $96.09 a barrel.
Sources: reuters.com