Oil Extends Drop as Inflation Data Awaited Amid Banking Fallout

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Oil extended losses ahead of key inflation data as the biggest US bank collapse since 2008 continued to ripple through financial markets.West Texas Intermediate traded near $73 a barrel after closing 2.5% lower on Monday following a volatile session. Investors are waiting the consumer price index read due later Tuesday for clues on the US monetary path, though bets are increasing that the Federal Reserve won’t raise interest rates next week due to the fallout from the demise of Silicon Valley Bank.

Brent’s nearby put skew — a gauge of how much more traders are willing to pay for contracts that profit from a price decline rather than a rally — rose to the highest level since mid-August on Monday amid the market turmoil.

Oil Skews Turn More Bearish | Brent puts most expensive versus calls since August

“A wave of risk aversion swept across the markets amid fears of a broader financial crisis,” said Carsten Menke, an analyst at Julius Baer Group Ltd. Nonetheless, “we see the developments as more noise than news, which should not have any meaningful medium- to longer-term impact on most commodity markets.”

Crude has had a bumpy year so far as traders juggle concerns over a global economic slowdown and optimism around China’s demand rebound after the nation ended Covid Zero. A measure of volatility for WTI skyrocketed this week.

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OPEC is scheduled to issue its monthly market report later Tuesday, and the International Energy Agency will follow with its release on Wednesday, providing on snapshot on the outlook for supply and demand.

Prices:

WTI for April delivery fell 2.3% to $73.05 a barrel at 9:46 a.m. in London. Futures are trading near the lowest in more than a month.
Brent for May settlement dropped 2% to $79.18 a barrel.