Oil prices slump amid renewed fears

US crude fell below $83 on Friday, heading for its biggest weekly drop since early May, as fears of a global economic slowdown drive investors to the exits in a commodities sell-off that has erased the benchmark's 2011 price gains.Brent has dropped nearly 11 percent and US oil by about 13 percent this week as concern grows that the world's largest economy is sliding back into recession, putting oil demand growth at risk. Europe's escalating debt crisis also threatens to engulf Italy and Spain, two of the region's top countries.US crude plunged as much as $3.76 to $82.87 a barrel, the lowest price since November 26. It was down at $83.81 at 9.46am UAE time, after plunging almost 6 percent on Thursday, the biggest daily drop since May 5.Brent fell $2.95 to $104.30, the lowest since June 27, after dropping almost $6 in the previous session, and traded at $105.16."The US economy appears headed for a double dip recession," said Monty Guild, chief executive officer of Guild Investment Management."Even though we expect weak economic activity will lead to more money printing from central banks, the markets are going through a rugged period, which makes us want to reduce our exposure."French President Nicolas Sarkozy will discuss financial markets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Sarkozy's office said in a statement, as Thursday's rout also signalled fear Europe's debt crisis is spinning out of control.The announcement came as Australia's Treasurer Wayne Swan said the nation was well equipped, should there be a re-run of the 2009 financial crisis, becoming one of the first leaders to comment on such a step in the latest turmoil.The benchmark 19-commodity Reuters-Jefferies index , fell 2.8 percent on Thursday, its biggest one-day decline since May 11.Asian stocks tumbled as much as 5 percent on Friday, the day after the worst sell-off on Wall Street since the global financial crisis.Barclays Capital, one of the most bullish on oil prices, now sees slower global demand growth this year. In a report to be published in the next few days, the bank sees global oil demand increasing by 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd) this year, down from a previous forecast of 1.56 million bpd.Traders are now awaiting US employment data due later in the day for the latest indication on the health of the economy, after disappointing manufacturing and consumer spending numbers earlier this week.US gasoline futures led oil's slump on Thursday after stockpile data added to evidence that expensive fuel and a weak economy have reduced demand in the world's top user. As crude broke out of a trading range it held for weeks, implied volatility in the options market spiked to the highest since the May 5 meltdown across commodities market. The Oil VIX index , a measure of volatility based on NYMEX options, surged more than 26 percent on Thursday. From / Arabian Business News