New York, May. 4 (BNA): Oil prices settled lower on Friday, and posted their steepest weekly loss in three months as investors weighed weak U.S. jobs data and possible timing of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.
Brent crude futures for July settled 71 cents lower, or 0.85%, to $82.96 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for June fell 84 cents, or 1.06%, to $78.11 a barrel, Reuters reported.
Investors were concerned that higher-for-longer borrowing costs would curb economic growth in the U.S., the world’s leading oil consumer, after the Federal Reserve decided this week to hold interest rates steady.
U.S. job growth slowed more than expected in April and the annual wage gain cooled, data showed on Friday, prompting traders to raise bets that the U.S. central bank will deliver its first interest rate cut this year in September.
Higher rates typically weigh on the economy and can reduce oil demand.
M.I.
#Oil #settles #jobs #data #steepest #weekly #loss #months
Source link