USOIL Crude-Oil Futures Stall to Finish the Week Lower

Oil futures give up early gains and settle lower to post their first weekly loss in five weeks. Prices were supported during the week by a bullish U.S. inventories report showing bigger-than-expected drawdowns in crude and gasoline stocks, and by a soft U.S. inflation reading that lifted hopes for a September interest-rate cut by the Fed. Today's producer price index report was above expectations, however, and concerns remain about demand from China. WTI settles down 0.5% at $82.21 a barrel, and Brent falls 0.4% to $85.03. WTI is down 1.1% from a week ago, and Brent is off 1.7%. ([e-mail])