Crude Drops From 1-Week High Amid Disagreement on Budget

Oil slid from the highest level in a week as U.S. lawmakers disagreed on steps to avert automatic spending cuts and tax increases that take effect on Jan. 1 and threaten to curb economic growth and fuel demand.

Futures dropped as much as 0.6 percent in London after rising the most in three weeks yesterday on a plan by the Federal Reserve to expand its monetary stimulus. Republicans have “some serious differences” with President Barack Obama’s budget proposals, House Speaker John Boehner told reporters in Washington. The Fed’s bond purchases can’t offset full effects of the so-called fiscal cliff, Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said.