Oil Prices Drop Before U.S. Energy Data
Oil prices fell on Wednesday before the release of government data expected to reveal falling crude supplies in the United States, and as markets awaited steps to avert a Greek debt default.
New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in October, shed $1.04 to $89.17 a barrel.
Brent North Sea crude for October eased 15 cents to $111.74 approaching midday in London.
The U.S. Department of Energy is expected to announce that crude stockpiles fell last week in the United States, the world's biggest consumer of oil.
Analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires have forecast a fall in crude stocks of more than three million barrels last week.
The reporting period was marked by the passage of Tropical Storm Lee in the Gulf of Mexico, where oil and gas production was partially shut down, followed by another tropical storm, Nate, which blocked crude imports coming from Mexico.
Oil traders were also tracking debt developments in Greece.
"With the Greek risk (of default) overhanging the market, (oil) prices have been very edgy, very jumpy," said Nick Trevethan, senior commodities strategist at ANZ Research.
A Greek default on its debt or exit from the Eurozone would have "dramatic" consequences for Greece and the rest of the world, EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn told the European Parliament on Wednesday.
Rehn's warning follows growing expectations in Europe, despite official denials, that Greece is heading towards a bankruptcy which would force it to default on part of its massive debt mountain.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou are to discuss the Greece situation at a teleconference scheduled for 1600 GMT on Wednesday.
Ahead of the meeting, a French government spokeswoman said Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon will "do everything to save Greece."
Source: Agence France Presse
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/15003 |