TOKYO: Oil prices fell for a second day on Tuesday on signs that global economic growth is being hit by the U.S.-China trade war, although losses were limited by tensions in the Middle East after last week's tanker attacks.
Brent crude futures were trading down 40 cents, or 0.7%, at $60.54 a barrel by 0701 GMT. They fell 1.7% in the previous session on concerns about slowing global growth.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 28 cents, or 0.5%, at $51.65. They dropped 1.1% on Monday.
The New York Federal Reserve said on Monday that its gauge of business growth in New York state posted a record fall this month to its weakest level in more than 2-1/2 years, suggesting an abrupt contraction in regional activity.
U.S. business sentiment has sagged as tensions over trade have escalated between China and the United States and on signs of softness in the labour market.
"The (oil) market is in a rut and desperately in need of some robust economic data to get it out of this funk," said Stephen Innes, managing partner at Vanguard Markets in Bangkok.
Oil prices have fallen around 20% since 2019 highs reached in April, in part due to concerns about the U.S.-China trade war and disappointing economic data.
U.S. President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping could meet at the G20 summit in Japan later this month. Trump has said he would meet Xi at the event, although China has not confirmed the meeting.
Putting further pressure on oil, the U.S. energy department said on Monday that shale oil output is expected to reach a record in July.
But tensions in the Middle East are likely to keep prices supported, analysts said.
Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan announced on Monday the deployment of about 1,000 more troops to the Middle East for what he said were defensive purposes, citing concerns about a threat from Iran.
Fears of a confrontation between Iran and the United States have mounted since last Thursday when two oil tankers were attacked, which Washington has blamed on Tehran. Iran has denied involvement.
Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Monday that countries need to cooperate on keeping shipping lanes open for oil and other energy supplies to ensure stable supplies.
Market participants are also awaiting a meeting between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers including Russia, a group known as OPEC+, to decide whether to extend a production cut agreement that ends this month.
The meeting is likely to be held the week after the G20 summit in Osaka on June 28-29, al-Falih said.
He also said that Saudi exports and production are expected to be at "about the same level as in the last few months."
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