Brent crude oil prices slide to lowest level this year

Oil prices slid on Monday, falling close to their lowest level this year, as street protests against strict COVID-19 curbs in China, the world’s biggest crude importer, stoked concern over the outlook for fuel demand. Brent crude dropped by $1.32, or 1.6%, to trade at $82.31 a barrel at 10:48 a.m. ET (1548 GMT), having slumped more than 3% to $80.61 earlier in the session for its lowest since Jan. 4. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slid 75 cents, or 1%, to $75.53 after touching its lowest since Dec. 22 last year at $73.60.