Singapore: Oil prices swung more than six per cent on Friday, but were still on track for their biggest weekly loss in more than a decade owing to a price war and the spreading coronavirus pandemic.
In another day of volatile trading, both main contracts initially dipped more than two per cent, tracking heavy falls across global markets that have suffered some of their biggest losses in years.
But the commodity abruptly changed course in Asian afternoon trade, with West Texas Intermediate rising four percent to $33 a barrel and Brent crude up 3.9 per cent at USD 34.50.
The much-needed rally came after the US military launched air strikes in crude-rich Iraq and stocks rebounded, with Asian bourses pulling back from early lows and European equities surging at the open.
Nevertheless, prices of US benchmark WTI are still down more than 20 percent this week and on course for their biggest weekly drop since the global financial crisis of 2008.
Crude markets were plunged into turmoil Monday after top exporter Saudi Arabia sparked a price war with Russia over a row about slashing output to support the virus-battered energy sector. That sent Brent and WTI through the floor, with both falling by a third.
The virus outbreak added to downward pressure, as growing concerns about a global recession and travel restrictions including a temporary ban on travel from Europe to the US dimmed the outlook for demand.
