Dollar gains for 2nd day on Afghanistan, Delta variant worries

NEW YORK, Aug 17 (Reuters) – The dollar advanced for a second straight session on Tuesday, bolstered by safe-haven demand, as investors fretted about Afghanistan, a slowing Chinese economy, and the rapid spread of the Delta coronavirus variant which forced some lockdowns.

Oil prices weighed down by weak Asian demand

Oil prices fell on Tuesday, with both contracts heading for a fourth straight session of losses, weighed down by a weak demand picture in Asia and OPEC and its allies saying the market does not need more crude.

Oil prices drop amid faltering demand outlook in China

Oil prices fell by about 2% on Monday, dropping for a third session, after official data showed that refining throughput and economic activity slowed in China in an indication that COVID-19 outbreaks are crimping the world’s second-largest economy.