Oil falls as India’s Covid-19 surge to weigh on fuel demand: Details here

TOKYO (Reuters) – Oil prices fell on Monday on fears that surging COVID-19 cases in India will drive down fuel demand in the world’s third biggest oil importer and as investors adjusted positions ahead of a planned increase in OPEC+ oil output from May.

Brent crude futures dropped 38 cents, or 0.6%, to $65.73 a barrel by 0507 GMT, following a 1.1% rise on Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 31 cents, or 0.5%, at $61.83 a barrel, after rising 1.2% on Friday.

Both benchmark crudes fell about 1% last week.

“Market sentiment was dented on worries that surging number of COVID-19 cases in some countries, especially in India, will slash fuel demand,” Kazuhiko Saito, chief analyst at commodities broker Fujitomi Co.