Oil Falls Below $56, Heads for Biggest Annual Drop Since 2008

Oil dropped below $56 a barrel on Wednesday and was heading for its biggest annual decline since 2008, pressured by weakening demand and a supply glut prompted by the U.S. shale boom and OPEC's refusal to cut output. Global benchmark Brent crude has fallen 49.5 percent in 2014 as demand growth slowed, the United States expanded output and OPEC, dropping its strategy of trimming supply to keep oil around $100 a barrel, chose instead to defend market share. On Wednesday, prices came...

© La Voix de l'Amérique - mercredi 31 décembre 2014