Oil prices ease after record rally as OPEC, IEA fret about demand

Oil prices eased on Thursday, ending a record streak of gains, after both OPEC and the International Energy Agency (IEA) said renewed lockdowns and the emergence of new coronavirus variants reduced the prospect of a swift demand recovery.
Brent futures fell 33 cents, or 0.5%, to settle at $61.14 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 44 cents, or 0.8%, to settle at $58.24.
On Wednesday, Brent rose for its ninth straight session, tying the benchmark’s record winning streak last hit in January 2019. It was also hit in April and September of 2007. WTI marked its eighth consecutive day of gains, its longest such streak since January 2019.