Oil Extends Losses After President Trump Says He Has Covid-19

  • Chances for U.S. fiscal stimulus before election are fading
  • WTI declines 3.2% Friday and is down around 7% this week
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg
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Oil extended losses on Friday as it got caught up in a broad downward move in financial markets after President Donald Trump said he had tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

Futures in New York fell toward $37 a barrel, while global benchmark Brent dropped as much as 3.7%. The U.S. president announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for Covid-19, shortly after one of his closest aides, Hope Hicks, had fallen ill with the coronavirus. Asian stocks retreated, as did European and U.S. equity futures, while the dollar swung wildly.