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Oil claws back some losses after Israel strikes back against Hezbollah

Oil futures clawed back some losses on Wednesday, recuperating from 7week lows as geopolitical stress rose after Israel retaliated against an attack by Hezbollah, although rates stayed under pressure from issues about demand in China.

Brent crude futures climbed up 39 cents, or 0.5%, to $ 79.02 a barrel by 0020 GMT ahead of expiration on Wednesday, while the more active October agreement was at $78.54, up 47 cents.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 52 cents, or 0.7%, to $75.25 a barrel. Both Brent and WTI fell about 1.4% on Tuesday, closing at their least expensive levels in seven weeks.

Tension in the Middle East heated up as the Israeli government claimed it killed Hezbollah's the majority of senior leader in an airstrike on Beirut on Tuesday in retaliation against Saturday's cross-border rocket attack on Israel.

The latest attack took place despite diplomatic efforts by U.S. and UN officials to avoid a major escalation that could irritate the wider Middle East.

Still, Brent and WTI are on track to publish in July their most significant monthly loss because 2023.

Oil costs have actually fallen on remaining issues about China's. need outlook, ongoing optimism towards a ceasefire in Gaza and. expectations that today's OPEC+ conference is not likely to. differ its existing strategy to begin unwinding cuts from. October, IG analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note.

Top ministers from the Organization of the Petroleum. Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia, or OPEC+, as the. group is understood, will hold an online joint ministerial tracking. committee conference (JMMC) on Thursday at 1000 GMT.

The panel is most likely to stay with its present offer to cut. production and to start loosening up some cuts from October,. in spite of current sharp declines in oil prices, five sources from. the producer group told Reuters.

While (WTI) crude oil remains below the 200-day moving. average at $78.66, disadvantage dangers stay towards trendline. support in the $74.20/ 00 area, Sycamore stated, including that a. continual break listed below $74 would open a relocation towards $70.

Slowing fuel need in China, the world's largest crude oil. importer and the greatest contributor to global need growth, is. also weighing on oil markets.

China will launch official buying supervisors' index

(source: Reuters)