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Oil prices fall by more than $1 on deflation concerns in China

Oil prices fell by more than $ 1 a barrel, losing over 1.5% in early trading on Monday, after frustrating Chinese inflation information and a lack of clarity on Beijing's financial stimulus strategies stoked worries about demand.

Brent crude futures were down $1.26, or 1.59%, at $77.78 per barrel by 0020 GMT, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell $1.20, or 1.59%, to $74.36 per barrel.

The negative news from China outweighed market issues over the sticking around possibility an Israeli action to Iran's Oct. 1 missile attack might disrupt oil production, though the U.S. has cautioned Israel versus targeting Iranian energy facilities.

China's deflationary pressures aggravated in September, according to main data launched on Saturday, and a press conference the exact same day left investors thinking about the overall size of a stimulus package to restore the sputtering economy.

The consumer rate index increased 0.4%, the information showed, missing out on expectations, and the manufacturer rate index fell at the fastest speed in six months, down 2.8% year-on-year, according to the National Bureau of Stats.

Saturday's briefing by the China Ministry of Finance has ended up being a flop. The fiscal measures needed to remove drawback risks to growth and spark the animal spirits within Chinese customers (are) noticeable in their absence, IG market analyst Tony Sycamore stated in a note.

Beijing said on Saturday it would ramp up debt issuance however stopped working to provide a dollar figure.

Both oil standards had actually settled up 1% on the week on Friday as investors weighed possible supply disruptions in the Middle East and Cyclone Milton's effect on fuel demand in Florida.

The U.S. on Friday expanded sanctions versus Iran in action to its Oct. 1 attack on Israel, targeting its ghost. fleet that ferryboats illegal oil materials across the globe.

In the U.S. market, energy firms recently included oil and. gas rigs for the very first time in four weeks, according to. a closely followed report by energy services firm Baker Hughes.

The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future. output, increased by one to 586 in the week to Oct. 11.

The effect of Cyclone Milton improved short-term need in. the U.S. as evacuations supported gasoline intake, but weak. need dominated the principles outlook.

Oil major BP posted a $600 million drop in its third-quarter. profit on Friday because of weak refining margins amidst a. slowdown in worldwide oil usage.

(source: Reuters)