Oil prices fall over $1/bbl as traders watch demand levels

Oil prices oil fell more than $1 a barrel on Tuesday, continuing a slide that began earlier in the day with traders focused on demand levels but still cautious as they watched for potential supply disruptions amid military clashes between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Brent crude was down $1.18 at $86.97 a barrel as of 9:37 a.m. CDT (1437 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $1.24 to $85.16 a barrel. Both benchmarks had fallen by more than $1 in earlier trade.