Oil prices slid about 2% to a two-week low on fears that
looming U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate hikes could hurt
energy demand in the world's top consumer. A stronger U.S.
dollar also can hurt global demand for oil by making it
more expensive in other countries. Brent futures for June delivery fell $1.65, or 2%,
to settle at $83.12 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery fell $1.70, or 2.1%, to settle at
$79.16. Meanwhile, the June WTI contract, which becomes the U.S.
front-month at the end of trading on Thursday, also lost 2.1% to
settle at $79.24.
*Light Louisiana Sweet for May delivery was seen
bid and offered between a $1.70 and $1.85 a barrel premium to
U.S. crude futures
*Mars Sour fell 30 cents at a midpoint of a $1
discount and was seen bid and offered between a $1.10 and
90-cent a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures
*WTI Midland gained half a cent at a midpoint of a
85-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 80-cent
and 90-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures
*WTI at East Houston , also known as MEH, traded
between a 80-cent and $1 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures
*ICE Brent June futures fell $1.65 to settle at
$83.12 a barrel.
*WTI May crude futures fell $1.7 to settle at $79.16 a barrel
*The Brent/WTI spread widened 2 cents to
minus $3.89, after hitting a high of minus $3.72 and a low of
minus $3.95.
(Reporting by Tim McLaughlin in Boston; Editing by Marguerita
Choy)
