TORONTO – Crude oil prices dipped to near a nine-month low as they fell for a tenth consecutive day, potentially having an impact on the Bank of Canada interest rate decision next month. West Texas Intermediate dipped to a low of US$59.26 before closing off 83 cents or 1.4 per cent to US$59.84. Since its peak last month, WTI is down about 22 per cent as it experienced a fifth consecutive weekly drop. And the December crude contract was down 48 cents at US$60.19 per barrel to the lowest level since February. A glut of oil production is the main cause of the declines in prices of WTI and Brent crude. The United States has taken the crown as the world’s leading oil producer after output increased by two million barrels per day over the last year to reach 11.6 million bpd. At the same time, OPEC is over-producing and sanctions have been watered down against Iran as the U.S. granted waivers on the sanctions to eight countries over concerns that a complete end of Iranian imports would cause economic disruptions. “But sentiment has also driven down the prices with fears on global growth weakening and therefore slowing oil […]
