Oil slides, gold prices steady

London

OIL prices tumbled last week to four-year lows on expectations that Opec will likely maintain its production ceiling at the cartel's upcoming meeting, despite ample global supplies of crude.

Crude futures will keep sliding well into 2015, held down by weak demand and increased shale production, the International Energy Agency forecast on Friday, as Brent North Sea crude struck US$76.76 a barrel - the lowest level since September 2010.