Crude oil futures ended slightly lower on Monday as worries about a recession weighed on outlook for energy demand. However, the dollar’s weakness and signs of improved demand for oil from China helped limit the commodity's downside. The dollar index dropped to 111.92, down more than 1.2% from Friday's close. Chinese President Xi Jinping's assurance that the government will take steps to boost the struggling economy helped raise hopes about higher demand for fuel in the world's second largest economy.
Benchmark crude oil futures for November delivery fell $0.15 or 0.2 percent at $85.46 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for December delivery lost slightly to settle at $91.62 a barrel on London's Intercontinental Exchange.