Oil down slightly in subdued trade after failed North Korean missile test

[TOKYO] Crude oil futures fell slightly in quiet trading on Monday, after a three-day Easte r break, as investors digested a third consecutive weekly gain in prices along with North Korea's failed missile launch on Sunday.

Benchmark Brent crude futures were down 18 cents at US$55.71 at 0047 GMT. On Thursday, before the break closed most major markets, they settled up 3 cents at US$55.89 a barrel.

US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were also down 18 cents at US$53. They rose 7 cents to US$53.18 a barrel on Thursday.

Both benchmarks closed out the Easter holiday eve higher for a third consecutive week, with Brent adding 1.2 per cent over the four days and WTI up 1.8 per cent.

The subdued start to this week came as markets braced for more geopolitical tensions over North Korea, after its attempted launch on Sunday of a ballistic missile failed as the projectile blew up almost immediately.

The United States is working with allies and China on responses to the failed test, US President Donald Trump's national security adviser said on Sunday.

Crude traders and investors in Asia also had their first chance to assess a 13th consecutive increase in the rig count by drillers of US shale oil.

Energy services firm Baker Hughes said on Thursday that drillers added 11 oil rigs in the week to April 13, bringing the total count up to 683.

AFP