WTI Crude Drops Over 4% on Trade Tensions
WTI crude oil futures slid 4.2% to settle at $58.2 a barrel on Friday, the lowest since May 7, as renewed US-China trade tensions rattled markets. President Trump threatened a “massive increase” in tariffs on Chinese goods and hinted at canceling his upcoming meeting with President Xi Jinping, raising concerns that a trade war could slow global economic growth and curb oil demand. The decline was compounded by ongoing bearish sentiment from rising global supply, including higher output from OPEC+ and non-OPEC producers. Easing tensions in the Middle East, including progress toward a Gaza ceasefire, also removed a key risk premium from prices. Traders accelerated selling, with short positions in WTI surging, while risk-averse investors pulled back from equities, amplifying downward pressure. Analysts noted that without a catalyst to support buying, crude could see further volatility near the $60 level due to concentrated options hedging.