Oil sank for a third consecutive day as Chinese economic data disappointed and the spread of the delta coronavirus variant hurt prospects for global demand. West Texas Intermediate slumped as much as 2.4% as fresh outbreaks in Asia have started weighing on China’s economy, with retail sales growth and industrial output slowing. cases are also at or near records in nations including Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. Stock markets were also weaker, adding to the pressure on oil. After rallying in the first half, crude prices have stuttered since mid-July. The spread of delta, including in key consumer China, has undermined the outlook for consumption as restrictions on mobility are reintroduced. At the same time, OPEC+ has proceeded with plans to gradually increase production, rolling back the supply curbs it imposed in the early days of the pandemic. “Crude oil and other growth dependent commodities such as industrial metals […]