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Oil slips on China demand concerns, fading Middle East concerns

Oil costs fell on Tuesday, extending losses from the previous session, amid concerns about demand in China, the world's largest crude importer, while the marketplace brushed off the threat of dispute escalating in the Middle East.

Brent crude oil futures fell by 32 cents, or 0.4%, to $79.46 a barrel by 0320 GMT. U.S. unrefined futures were down 36 cents, or 0.5%, at $75.45 a barrel.

A raft of disappointing economic news out of China has shaken markets just recently. China's manufacturing activity likely shrank for a 3rd month in July, a survey revealed on Monday.

Also on Monday, Citi cut China's development projection to 4.8%. from 5% after the nation's second-quarter development missed out on expert. price quotes, keeping in mind that economic activity softened further in. July.

We believe the market has a stronger downside predisposition in the. short term, weighed by continuing slack domestic demand from. China, along with prospective output remediation by some OPEC+. members in Q4, stated Emril Jamil, a senior expert at LSEG Oil. Resarch, describing the Organization of the Petroleum. Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia.

Tariff stress with Europe and the U.S. will likewise. influence Chinese unrefined need moving forward, Jamil stated.

The market is viewing an upcoming conference of China's top. decision-making body, the Politburo, anticipated to take place this. week, that could elicit more economic policy assistance.

However expectations are limited after the Third Plenum, a secret. policy conference in mid-July, mostly reiterated existing financial. policy objectives and failed to raise market belief.

Oil fell 2% in the previous trading session after Israel. indicated that its reaction to a Hezbollah rocket strike in. Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday would be calculated. to prevent dragging the Middle East into an all-out war.

That was reinforced by a U.S. diplomatic push, reported by. on Monday, to constrain Israel's response and avoid it. from striking either the Lebanon capital of Beirut or any major. civilian infrastructure in retaliation.

In Venezuela, the opposition stated it had won 73% of the. vote, despite the nationwide electoral authority having actually declared. incumbent Nicolas Maduro the winner of the election, providing him. a 3rd term in office.

Nicolas Maduro's success in the latest Venezuelan election. is a headwind for worldwide supply, as this might lead to tighter. US sanctions, ANZ analysts said in a note, approximating that. might cut Venezuela's exports by 100,000-120,000 barrels per. day.

Federal governments in Washington and elsewhere cast doubt on the. results and required a complete tabulation of votes, and. protesters gathered in the areas and cities across Venezuela on. Monday.

(source: Reuters)