Brent crude drops below $18 a barrel, down more than 8%

Brent crude fell greater than eight p.c to under $18 a barrel Wednesday whereas US oil struggled to carry on to early beneficial properties because the coronavirus ravages vitality markets.

Brent, the European benchmark, was down 8.79 p.c at $17.63 a barrel in Asian commerce, extending heavy losses from a day earlier. US benchmark WTI was up virtually three p.c, after rising 20 p.c earlier within the session.