MELBOURNE, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Oil prices dipped on Friday, putting the market on track to end the week roughly unchanged, as surging cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant raised fears new curbs may hit fuel demand, while a weaker dollar supported commodity markets broadly.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 17 cents, or 0.2%, to $72.21 a barrel at 0155 GMT.
Brent crude futures fell 11 cents, or 0.2%, to $74.91 a barrel.
"Look at what's happening with Omicron - that's a negative which people are trying to digest. Are we going to be in line for some new restrictions? That's what the market's trying digest," said Commonwealth Bank commodities analyst Vivek Dhar.
In Denmark, South Africa and the United Kingdom, the number of new Omicron cases has been doubling every two days. Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Thursday warned the government may impose further curbs to limit the spread of Omicron. read more
In the United States, the rapid spread of the Omicron variant has led some companies to pause plans to get workers back into offices. read more
In Denmark, South Africa and the United Kingdom, the number of new Omicron cases has been doubling every two days. Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Thursday warned the government may impose further curbs to limit the spread of Omicron. read more
In the United States, the rapid spread of the Omicron variant has led some companies to pause plans to get workers back into offices. read more
Source Reuters