Oil falls as crude flows remain 'surprisingly strong'

Oil fell Monday, as traders keep watch for a recovery in shipments from Saudi Arabia even after attacks by Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones on Saturday. Futures for international benchmark Brent crude for November delivery fell 1.66% to $102.15 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for October dropped 1.83% to $98.46 per barrel. "Middle East oil flows remain surprisingly strong despite the disruption to Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline," according to JPMorgan analysts in a Sept. 18 note. The total oil flows averaged 17.1 million barrels per day in the past 10 days, 6.1 million bpd below the 2025 average, it added. However, potential supply issues continue to present themselves. U.S.