Oil steadied near $67 a barrel as the benefits of a weaker dollar were offset by the sweep of the coronavirus pandemic across key importer India. Brent futures traded little changed, paring an earlier decline as the dollar slipped, making commodities priced in the currency more attractive. Yet India reported record Covid-19 infections on Monday in a further blow to fuel demand.
Oil has risen almost 30% in 2021 in a stuttering advance as Covid vaccinations are rolled out, but infection flare-ups in some countries continue to weigh on demand. After OPEC and its allies presided over supply cuts to drain bloated stockpiles, the cartel now plans to start restoring barrels in May. Yet high global Covid-19 cases temper hopes for an imminent end to the pandemic.