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Oil falls on China economic woes, rising OPEC supply

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Oil falls on China economic woes, rising OPEC supply

SINGAPORE, REUTERS, Feb 2, 2016–  Oil prices fell for a second session in Asian trade on Tuesday as worries about top energy consumer China and rising oil supply weighed on markets, although possible talks between OPEC and Russia on output cuts offered some support.


Brent for April delivery LCOc1 had dropped 66 cents to $33.58 a barrel as of 0502 GMT, after settling down $1.75, or 4.9 percent, in the previous session.


The front month contract for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) CLc1 was down 71 cents at $30.91 after falling $2.00, or 5.9 percent, the session before.


The fall in oil prices reflected the general negative sentiment in the Asia time zone, said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at Sydney’s CMC Markets.


“Stocks markets are down; oil is weakening. It all points towards negative risk sentiment across the board,” he said.


“(Prices) have just come back to reality a bit, although they are holding water above $30 a barrel,” said Ben Le Brun, market analyst at Sydney’s OptionsXpress, pointing to concern over rising oil supplies and weaker economic data.


Oil prices could nudge below $30 a barrel again if investors saw hopes fading of a deal between members of oil producers cartel OPEC and Russia on production cuts, he said.


Goldman Sachs said it was “highly unlikely” OPEC producers would co-operate with Russia to cut output, while also being self-defeating as stronger prices would bring previously shelved production back to the market.