Chinese inflation falls to two-year low

Brent crude slid below US$100 a barrel on Monday for the first time in 14 months as Chinese and U.S. data pointed to slower-than-expected growth in the world’s top oil consumers. Weak economic growth combined with ample supply has pushed oil prices down from a high for the year above US$115 hit in June, complicating efforts by central banks to ward off deflation and putting pressure on the budgets of major oil producers.

LONDON — Brent and U.S. WTI crude oil prices fell to their lowest levels in almost six years on Tuesday as a big OPEC producer stood by the group’s decision not to cut output to tackle a glut in the market. Oil prices have fallen 60 per cent from their June 2014 peaks, driven down by rising production, particularly U.S. shale oil, and weaker-than-expected demand in Europe and Asia.

London (AFP) - New York oil prices tumbled close to six-year lows on Thursday, as record-high US crude inventories deepened worries over the global supply glut.

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said he can’t exclude the risk of deflation in the euro area, in a sign that the likelihood of large-scale quantitative easing is increasing.

London (AFP) - Gold tumbled this week to a four-year low and many other commodities also faltered, as the dollar rebounded after the Federal Reserve ended its quantitative easing stimulus.

Hong Kong (AFP) - Asian markets tumbled Tuesday following painful losses in New York and Europe while the euro sat near nine-year lows as political uncertainty in Greece fanned renewed fears it could leave the eurozone.