Crude oil futures end lower on concerns about outlook for energy demand

31 Oct 2020 Evaluate

Extending their losses for third straight session, crude oil futures settled lower on Friday on concerns about the outlook for energy demand amid a continued spike in coronavirus cases. The number of new COVID-19 cases in the United States reached a new record high on Thursday, with health experts expecting cases to soar going forward and death rates to triple by mid-January. 88,521 new coronavirus cases were reported in the US on Thursday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, an increase of 9,540 cases compared to Wednesday. Uncertainty about the outcome of next week's presidential elections also generated selling pressure as recent polls show Democratic nominee Joe Biden leading President Donald Trump.

Crude oil futures for December fell $0.38 or 1.1 percent to settle at $35.79 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. December Brent crude dropped $0.51 or 1.4 percent to settle at $37.14 a barrel on London's Intercontinental Exchange.

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