據路透社5月17日東京報道，隨著美國主要輸油管網的恢復緩解了對供應的擔憂，而亞洲新一波COVID-19限制措施加劇了對需求下降的擔憂，周一油價小幅下跌。

　　周日，困擾美國東海岸的汽油短缺問題逐漸緩解，隨著洛尼爾管道運輸公司 5500英里(8900公里)的系統從嚴重的網絡攻擊中恢復過來，又有1000多個加油站接受供應。

　　截至格林威治時間0036，布倫特原油期貨下跌8美分，跌幅0.1%，至每桶68.63美元；西德克薩斯中質原油（WTI）下跌7美分，跌幅0.1%，至65.30美元。

　　這兩份合約上周五上漲近2.5%，并在上周實現小幅上漲，標志著連續第三周上漲。

　　大宗商品經紀商Fujitomi Co.首席分析師Kazuhiko Saito表示:“隨著COVID-19疫情的高峰正從印度蔓延至亞洲其他地區，油價面臨壓力，這加劇了人們對燃料需求復蘇放緩的擔憂。”

　　他表示:“我們預計布倫特原油價格本周將保持在一個交易區間內，支撐價格預計在每桶63美元左右。”

　　由于擔心首次在印度發現的高傳播性冠狀病毒變異正在向其他國家蔓延，投資者仍然保持謹慎態度。

　　印度一些州周日表示，他們將延長COVID-19的封鎖期，以幫助遏制這場已導致27萬多人死亡的大流行。有人擔心，由于沒有考慮到造成嚴重后果的第二波COVID-19感染，國家的年度預算可能會落空。

　　新加坡將從周三開始關閉大部分學校，原因是這個城市國家報告的COVID-19感染人數達到數月來的最高水平。日本也宣布另外三個受疫情嚴重影響的縣進入緊急狀態。

　　與此同時，能源服務公司貝克休斯公司（Baker Hughes Co.）周五表示，由于原油價格上漲促使一些鉆井公司重返井場，美國能源公司連續第三周增加了石油和天然氣鉆井平臺。

　　"只要這場斗爭不蔓延到該地區的產油國，對石油市場的影響將有限，" Fujitomi的Saito表示。

　　沈韓曄 摘譯自 路透社

　　原文如下：

　　Oil edges lower as COVID-19 restrictions in Asia fuel demand concerns

　　Oil prices edged lower on Monday as the recovery of a major U.S. pipeline network eased concerns over supply and a new wave of COVID-19 restrictions in Asia fuelled fears of lower demand.

　　Gasoline shortages that have plagued the U.S. East Coast slowly eased on Sunday, with 1,000 more stations receiving supplies as Colonial Pipeline's 5,500-mile (8,900-km) system recovered from a crippling cyberattack.

　　Brent crude oil futures were down 8 cents, or 0.1 per cent, at $68.63 a barrel as of 0036 GMT, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down 7 cents, or 0.1 per cent, at $65.30.

　　The two contracts jumped nearly 2.5 per cent on Friday and managed to book a small gain last week, marking a third consecutive weekly increase.

　　"Oil prices are under pressure as a spike in the COVID-19 pandemic is spreading from India to other parts of Asia, which increased concerns over slower recovery in fuel demand," said Kazuhiko Saito, chief analyst at commodities broker Fujitomi Co.

　　"We expect Brent prices to stay in a trading range this week, with support expected at around $63 a barrel," he said.

　　Investors remained cautious on worries that the highly transmissible coronavirus variant first detected in India is spreading to other countries.

　　Some Indian states said on Sunday they would extend COVID-19 lockdowns to help contain the pandemic, which has killed more than 270,000 people in the country. There are fears that the nation's annual budget may fall flat as it did not account for a crippling second wave of COVID-19 infections.

　　Singapore will shut most schools from Wednesday after the city-state reported the highest number of COVID-19 infections in months, while Japan has declared a state of emergency in three more prefectures hit hard by the pandemic.

　　Meanwhile, U.S. energy firms added oil and natural gas rigs for a third week in a row as higher crude prices prompt some drillers to return to the wellpad, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said on Friday.

　　In the Middle East, Israel and Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group faced mounting international calls for a ceasefire in hostilities that entered their second week on Monday with no end in sight.

　　"As long as the fight does not spill over to oil-producing countries in the region, there will be limited impact on the oil market," Fujitomi's Saito said. (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Stephen Coates)