{
  "id": 15696743,
  "title": "Oil eases as markets assess potential waiver on Russian energy, Middle East supply risks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/oil-eases-as-markets-assess-potential-waiver-on-russian-energy-middle-15696743",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-20T03:10:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/oil-eases-as-markets-assess-potential-waiver-on-russian-energy-middle-east-supply-risks/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Oil prices retreated on Tuesday amid investors reviewing the potential waiver of sanctions and tariffs on Russian energy exports by US President Donald Trump. Simultaneously, concerns over possible disruptions in Middle East energy supplies due to attacks in Saudi Arabia and Yemen kept markets wary. Brent crude futures declined 49 cents, or 0.45%, to $109.06 a barrel by 0010 GMT, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) contract for November delivery fell 0.33%, settling at $103.32. The December contract was down 46 cents, or 0.47%, at $98.08. The price of Brent crude surged to $110.70 per barrel in the prior session, its highest level since May 20. On Friday, Trump issued an executive order waiving key US sanctions and tariffs related to Russia, including duties on its goods and penalties for purchasing its oil and gas. However, the President had not yet announced his final decision as of Saturday, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed a desire to gather more information before making a determination. Russia's crude oil output surged by 65,000 barrels per day in September to 8.43 million barrels per day (bpd), but was still 870,000 bpd below the previous year, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Analysts believe the prospect of additional Russian diesel supply could provide some relief, but the primary focus remains on the ongoing risks to energy infrastructure in the Gulf region. Tim Waterer, KCM Trade chief analyst, noted that fear of further damage to energy infrastructure in the Gulf continues to dominate market sentiment. On Monday, the Houthis, an Iran-aligned group, claimed they had launched several attacks on Saudi energy, airport, and military targets, including an Aramco facility in Yanbu, the Shaybah oilfield, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and Abha airport. However, Saudi authorities have not officially confirmed these allegations, and Reuters could not independently verify the claims. Meanwhile, the Houthis also attacked a government security forces training camp in Yemen's Shabwa province, resulting in 58 deaths and over 200 injuries. These renewed attacks reinforced worries about regional stability and emphasized the persistent threats to energy supplies from the Middle East, preventing oil prices from falling below $100 a barrel. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicated that crude oil inventories in the country were anticipated to have decreased last week, alongside product inventories, as per a preliminary Reuters poll released on Monday.",
  "summary": "Oil prices fell on Tuesday as markets weighed an executive order from US President Donald Trump that waived some sanctions and tariffs on Russian energy exports, while attacks on Saudi Arabia and Yemen kept fears of Middle East supply disruptions in view.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Oil eases as markets assess Russian energy waiver, Middle East supply risks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/oil-eases-as-markets-assess-russian-energy-waiver-middle-east-supply",
        "published": "2026-10-20T00:54:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Oil eases as markets assess potential waiver on Russian energy, Middle East supply risks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/oil-eases-as-markets-assess-potential-waiver-on-russian-energy-middle",
        "published": "2026-10-20T00:57:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Oil eases as markets assess potential waiver on Russian energy, Middle East supply risks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/oil-eases-as-markets-assess-potential-waiver-on-russian-energy-middle-15679145",
        "published": "2026-10-20T01:00:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Economic Times - Top News",
        "title": "Oil eases as markets assess potential waiver on Russian energy, Middle East supply risks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/oil-eases-as-markets-assess-potential-waiver-on-russian-energy-middle-15681352",
        "published": "2026-10-20T01:26:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Oil eases as markets assess potential waiver on Russian energy, Middle East supply risks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/oil-eases-as-markets-assess-potential-waiver-on-russian-energy-middle-15686245",
        "published": "2026-10-20T02:24:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}