Oil prices steady with storm disruptions, demand fears in focus

Investing.com– Oil prices steadied in Asian trade on Tuesday as traders sought to gauge the impact of Tropical Storm Francine on U.S. oil production, while concerns over sluggish demand remained in play. 

Prices were nursing steep losses from the prior week amid renewed concerns that global oil demand will slow, especially following middling economic readings from top importer China. The prospect of oversupply and increased production also weighed. 

But oil prices rebounded on Monday as sentiment improved. 

Brent oil futures expiring in November were flat at $71.86 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude futures steadied at $67.90 a barrel by 22:37ET (02:37 GMT). 

Tropical storm Francine set to batter Gulf of Mexico 

A slew of oil companies were seen stopping production and refining activities in the Gulf of Mexico as Tropical Storm Francine made its way towards the U.S. mid-South.

The storm is expected to potentially strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall, and is expected to lash the upper Texas and Louisiana coasts with heavy rain and gale winds this week. 

The storm could potentially cause extended disruptions in the energy-rich Gulf of Mexico, reducing crude supplies in North America and presenting a tighter near-term outlook for oil markets. 

This notion offered oil markets some support, helping them recover a measure of bruising losses logged last week.

Oil battered by demand concerns, China woes 

Oil prices were nursing steep losses in recent sessions as markets fretted over slowing demand, especially in top crude importer China.

A string of weak economic readings from the country for August drummed up concerns over slowing growth, as did signs that increasing electric vehicle adoption was also denting fuel demand. 

Beyond China, caution over U.S. interest rates also weighed on oil markets, especially ahead of key inflation data due later this week.

The inflation reading comes just a week before a Federal Reserve meeting, where the central bank is widely expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points.