Oil prices slip after restrictions to counter Omicron variant
LONDON (Reuters) – Oil prices eased after early gains on Thursday after measures by some governments to slow the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, though losses were capped by positive comments from vaccine makers about the efficacy of their jabs.
Brent crude futures fell 47 cents, or 0.6%, to $75.35 a barrel by 1004 GMT after touching a peak of $76.70. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 31 cents, or 0.4%, to $72.05 after a session high of $73.34.
“Although laboratory tests showed that the Pfizer vaccine has a neutralising effect on Omicron … new measures are being introduced to try to stop the spread of the virus,” said Tamas Varga of oil brokerage PVM.
