Benchmark oil for August delivery was down $1.17 at $83.79 a barrel at midday Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude for August delivery was down $1.64 at $96.16 per barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.
Crude soared $7.27 to close at $84.96 in New York on Friday after the leaders of the 27 European Union countries said that they would seek to centralize regulation of European banks and, if necessary, bail them out directly, instead of funneling loans through governments that already have too much debt.
The EU said it also plans to ease borrowing costs for Italy and Spain, the third- and fourth-largest of the 17 economies that use the euro, stop mandating painful budget cuts to every country in need of emergency financial aid and tie their budgets, currency and governments more tightly.
Some analysts were skeptical that the EU’s proposals will reverse a deteriorating debt and economic crisis. Investors will be closely watching as EU finance ministers hash out the details of these plans over the next two weeks.
"$2.60 per gallon. Natural gas slid 2 cents at $2.80 per 1,000 cubic feet.
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