MELBOURNE/SINGAPORE: Oil prices dropped more than 1% on Wednesday after an industry report showed an unexpected rise in U.S. crude oil inventories, and President Donald Trump rattled markets by threatening not to sign a long-awaited U.S. COVID-19 relief bill.
Brent crude futures fell 71 cents, or 1.4%, to $49.37 a barrel at 0646 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures slid 67 cents, or 1.4%, to $46.35 a barrel. Both contracts fell nearly 2% on Tuesday, already a second straight session of declines.