Singapore — Oil fell 1% on Monday as markets opened following western air strikes in Syria at the weekend, while a rise in US drilling for new production also dragged on prices. The US, France and Britain launched 105 missiles on Saturday, targeting what they said were three chemical weapons facilities in Syria in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in Douma on April 7. Brent crude oil futures were at $71.85 a barrel at 5.47am GMT, down 73c, or 1%, from their last close. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 57c, or 0.9%, at $66.82 a barrel. Traders said markets in Asia began cautiously after the weekend strikes, with some relief that the move looked unlikely to escalate. "In the wake of the co-ordinated attack on Syria, oil prices are significantly lower … [but] the impact appears to be compact and over," said Sukrit Vijayakar, director of energy consultancy Trifecta. Oil markets also came under pressure from a rise in US oil drilling activity. US energ...
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