Oil plunges nearly 5pc on weak demand

Oil prices tumbled nearly five per cent to a near two-week low on Tuesday due to a weaker demand outlook and after a media report said Israel would not strike Iranian nuclear and oil sites, easing fears of a supply disruption. Brent crude futures were down $3.54, or 4.57pc, to $73.92 a barrel at 10:35am CDT (1535 GMT). West Texas Intermediate futures lost $3.55, or 4.81pc, hitting $70.28 a barrel. Both benchmarks had earlier fallen by $4, reaching their lowest since the beginning of October, after settling about 2pc lower on Monday.