Brent and U.S. crude futures hit fresh 6-1/2-year lows on Monday to drop below the latest supports of $45 a barrel and $40 a barrel respectively as investors fretted that a slowing Chinese economy will lead to weaker demand amid a global supply surplus. Other commodities also hit fresh lows in early Asian trading as fears spread that a more severe slowdown in the world's second-largest economy China would pull down other economies in the region, denting energy and raw material consumption. Brent oil LCOc1 was trading down $1.39 a barrel, or 3.06 percent, at $44.07 as of 0617 GMT (0217 EDT), after hitting an intraday low of $44.00, its lowest since March 2009. On Friday it ended $1.16, or 2.5 percent, lower at $45.46 a barrel. U.S. October crude CLc1 fell $1.32, or 3.26 percent, to $39.13 after hitting a low of $39.00, its lowest since February 2009. In the previous session it settled 87 cents, or 2.1 percent, lower at $40.45 a barrel. U.S. crude lost 13 percent compared with its close on Aug 3. "Supply-side news continues to dominate the market ... Fears of surging Iranian oil are likely to increase further after Iran's oil minister stated the country had plans to raise oil production at any cost," ANZ said in a note on Monday. Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Sunday that holding an emergency OPEC meeting may be "effective" in stabilizing the oil prices, Iran's oil ministry news agency Shana reported. There was a similar call by Algeria earlier this month, but other OPEC delegates said no meeting was planned. Separately, Zanganeh was quoted by Shana on Sunday that South Korea had agreed to increase its Iranian oil purchases after a nuclear deal with world powers cleared the way for an easing of international sanctions on Tehran. South Korean government and business officials visited Iran seeking possible deals in oil and gas. COMMODITIES, EQUITY PLUNGING Besides oil, other commodities tumbled. Asian stocks dived to 3-year lows on Monday as a rout in Chinese equities gathered pace, hastening an exodus from riskier assets. Safe-haven government bonds and the yen rallied on the widespread unrest in the financial markets.[MKTS/GLOB] "Heading into September, deep uncertainties surround the global oil markets, including the strength of China's crude demand, the resilience of U.S. shale producers and the depth and pace of the seasonal downswing in global refinery throughput," said BMI Research, part of the Fitch ratings agency. Daniel Ang at Phillip Futures said: "Considering how prices have been moving, we do not have much hope for prices to stay afloat." U.S. energy firms added two oil rigs last week, the fifth increase in a row, signaling further pressure on a market awash with crude. Source: Reuters
