A recent oil-price slide reflects fears of economic slowdown and masks physical market fundamentals, OPEC’s new secretary general told Reuters, as he took a relatively optimistic view on the outlook for 2023 as the world tackles rising inflation. Haitham al-Ghais, who took office on Aug. 1, said oil demand was robust in the physical market, concern of Chinese economic slowdown was exaggerated and demand was likely to find support from jet fuel use as people travel more. The price of Brent crude came close to an all-time high of $147 a barrel in March after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine exacerbated supply concerns. Prices have since declined and hit a six-month low below $92 this week. “There is a lot of fear,” […]