Oil falls for fifth day on demand concerns as coronavirus spreads

TOKYO: Oil prices fell for a fifth day on Thursday to their lowest since January 2019 as a growing number of new coronavirus cases outside of China fuelled fears of a pandemic which could slow the global economy and lower crude demand.

Brent crude was down 63 cents, or 1.2%, at $52.80 a barrel at 0414 GMT. The contract earlier fell to as low as $52.57, the lowest since Jan. 2, 2019.