Oil fell a second day, tracking a plunge in equity markets and other risk assets on concerns tariffs and other measures will stunt growth in the world’s largest economy.

Brent crude dropped to near $69 a barrel after sliding 1.5% on Monday while West Texas Intermediate declined below $66. Investors retreated from every type of risk on Monday with economic fear racing across markets as US President Donald Trump presses on with tariff measures and geopolitical shakeups.

Oil has fallen almost a fifth from a high in mid-January as Trump’s chaotic rollout of tariff hikes and push to slash federal spending darken the economic outlook in the biggest producer and consumer of crude. Other bearish factors include OPEC+ plans to add supply and weakening demand in China, where Beijing told refiners to pivot away from making mainstay fuels like diesel and gasoline.

Monday’s flight to safety also saw the US dollar snap a five-day losing streak, making commodities priced in the currency less attractive for many buyers.

Meanwhile, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the Trump administration was prepared to enforce US sanctions on Iranian oil production. He spoke at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston on Monday.

Executives from some of the world’s top oil and gas producers — including Chevron Corp., Shell Plc and Saudi Aramco — offered full-throated support for President Trump’s energy-dominance agenda at the gathering. Vitol Group Chief Executive Officer Russell Hardy said oil between $60 to $80 a barrel is a “reasonable” range for the next few years.

Prices:

  • Brent for May settlement slipped 0.4% to $69.00 a barrel at 8:22 a.m. in Singapore.

  • WTI for April delivery fell 0.5% to $65.67 a barrel

. Read more on Markets by NDTV Profit.Brent crude dropped to near $69 a barrel after sliding 1.5% on Monday while West Texas Intermediate declined below $66.  Read MoreMarkets, Global Economics, Business, Bloomberg 

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