Crude Oil Falls on Concerns About Economic Recovery, Spain's Deficit

Crude oil declined for the first day in three after equities fell as a slowdown in U.S. manufacturing added to concern that economic growth is faltering, curbing fuel demand. Oil is dropping for the third week, the longest losing streak since May, as Asian stocks slipped on expectations of revisions to U.S. economic growth figures later today. A Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City report yesterday showed manufacturing slowed in August. U.S. crude inventories climbed more than expected last week, an Aug. 25 report from the Energy Department showed.

“The oil market is very bearish,” said Jonathan Barratt, managing director at Commodity Broking Services Pty in Sydney. “The fundamental picture is just not positive at all. If oil breaks $70, it will come under pressure and then you’ll see it substantially lower.” Crude oil for October delivery dropped as much as 49 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $72.87 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $73.03 at 11:27 a.m. Singapore time. Yesterday, the contract rose 84 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $73.36. Prices have dropped 0.6 percent this week and 8 percent since the start of the year.

Economists who projected the U.S. recovery would gain speed in the second half of the year are now scaling back those forecasts as the outlook for jobs and business investment dims. Second quarter gross domestic product growth may be revised down to 1.4 percent from 2.4 percent earlier , according to a Bloomberg News survey of economists.....Read the entire article.

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