Crude oil prices ticked down during midmorning trade in Asia Dec. 18 as renewed uncertainty about the US stimulus package emerged while pandemic considerations weighed on the market. Receive daily email alerts, subscriber notes & personalize your experience. Register Now At 11:10 am Singapore time (0310 GMT), the ICE February Brent crude contract was down 17 cents/b (0.27%) from the Dec. 17 settle at $51.33/b while the NYMEX January light sweet crude contract fell 13 cents/b (0.27%) at $48.23/b. Both markers had risen 0.82% and 1.13% on Dec. 17 to settle at $51.50/b and $48.36/b, respectively. The slide in prices came after negotiations over the US stimulus package continued to drag, with signs emerging that another stopgap funding measure might be needed to avert a government shutdown until a deal is finalized. The market has been anticipating the ratification of a stimulus bill throughout in […]