The price of Brent crude, the leading international oil contract, fell below $80 per barrel for the first time since July on Wednesday as concerns about demand mount given the lacklustre economic outlook in China and Europe.
Around 1600 GMT Brent crude fell by 2.0 percent to $79.99 per barrel, while the main US contract, WTI, tumbled 2.2 percent to $75.67 per barrel, hitting their lowest levels since July.