Oil futures eased for a second session on Friday on expectations that Washington may soon act to cool prices that remain above $80 per barrel, while movement curbs in China to rein in a Covid-19 outbreak weighed on fuel demand.
Brent crude futures fell 6 cents to $84.41 a barrel at 0427 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude was down 21 cents, or 0.3 per cent, at $81.91 a barrel.
China, the world’s second-biggest oil consumer, has suspended some international flights and stepped up efforts to rein in a virus outbreak at Tianjin while the highly transmissible Omicron variant has spread to the northeastern city of Dalian.
Many cities, including Beijing, have also urged people to stay put during the Lunar New Year holiday, which could cool demand for transport fuel during a peak travel season.
