Oil prices eased around 1% on Monday after rising in the previous session, as investors focused on short-term demand concerns stemming from crucial upcoming US inflation data and refinery maintenance in Asia and the United States.
Brent crude futures fell 86 cents, or 1%, to $85.53 a barrel after a 2.2% gain on Friday, Money.usnews.com reported.
US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $78.83 a barrel, down 89 cents, or 1.1%, after rising 2.1% in the previous session.
"Crude prices are softening as energy traders anticipate a potentially weakening crude demand outlook as a pivotal inflation report could force the Fed to tighten policy much more aggressively," said Edward Moya, an analyst at OANDA, referring to US consumer price data due on Feb. 14.
"This week could deliver a make or break moment in how bad of a recession Wall Street prices in."
The US Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates to rein in inflation, leading to concerns that the move would slow economic activity and demand for oil.
“The resumption of Azerbaijani oil exports on Sunday at Turkey's Ceyhan terminal also relieved supply concerns,” said analyst Tina Teng at CMC Markets.
The terminal had been damaged in the devastating earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria last week.
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