"Demand prospects look pretty shaky in the medium term, and
all that uncertainty is causing a moderation in equity markets,
which is being reflected across commodity markets as well."
U.S. crude for March delivery <CLc1> sank 37 cents to
$71.52 a barrel by 0258 GMT, after settling up 70 cents at
$71.89 per barrel on Monday.
London Brent crude <LCOc1> fell 25 cents to $69.86.
The euro inched up against the dollar on Tuesday, but
remained within sight of an 8-½ month low hit last week, due to
concerns over sovereign credit risks in the euro zone. [USD/]
Investors await a special European Union summit on the
economy on Thursday as the bloc grapples with a debt crisis in
Greece and budget woes in other member states. [ID:nLDE6031IT]
Over the past year, oil prices have frequently weakened as
the dollar firmed, at times signalling a flight to safer havens
by investors.
The market will also await the release of weekly U.S. oil
inventory data from the American Petroleum Institute (API), due
at 2130 GMT, for further clues on the recovery in demand from
the world's top energy consumer.
A Reuters poll has forecast a mixed report. Domestic crude
inventories were seen rising 1.2 million barrels due to
increased imports, while distillate stocks, which include
heating oil and diesel, were expected to have fallen, and
gasoline supplies were likely to have edged higher, the poll
showed. [EIA/S]
Some price support will come from another big winter storm
expected to sweep across the U.S. mid-Atlantic this week, after
a blizzard dumped half a metre of snow over the weekend and
closed the federal government. [ID:nN08206421]
U.S. heating demand this week is seen to be 11.5 percent
above normal, the National Weather Service said on Monday.
[ID:nN08188220]
Rising geopolitical tensions could also underpin oil
prices. International pressure for new sanctions against Iran
grew on Monday after Tehran announced plans to make
higher-enriched uranium and add 10 nuclear sites in a year,
reawkening Western fears it wants to develop atom bombs.
[ID:nLDE61705I]
(Editing by Clarence Fernandez)