date:Feb 24, 2014
hs at $103.58 a barrel, while Brent hit the steepest point so far this year at $110.82.
Prices then tailed off as poor Chinese manufacturing data heightened concerns about waning demand from the Asian economic powerhouse, the world's top energy consumer. HSBC's preliminary reading for its purchasing managers' index (PMI), tracking manufacturing activity in China's factories, contracted in February to its lowest level in seven months. Singapore's United Overseas Bank said oil prices receded as