Crude oil prices were mixed early Monday despite positive talks between the U.S. and China on trade relations.
International benchmark Brent crude was trading at $63.16 per barrel at 0710 GMT for a 0.22% decline after closing Friday at $63.30 a barrel.
American benchmark West Texas Intermediate was at $57.77 a barrel at the same time with a 0.09% gain after ending Friday at $57.72 per barrel.
The phone conversation held Saturday between Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was positive, according to reports from Chinese official state-run Xinhua New Agency on Sunday.
The representatives of the two countries had 'constructive discussions on each other's core concerns' regarding the trade agreement's phase one deal, Xinhua said.
Some of the core issues in the trade war, such as technology transfer and intellectual property rights, remain unresolved after 19-months of tit-for-tat tariffs between China and the U.S.
As the 19-month trade war between the world's two biggest economies prolongs, investors are more concerned that the absence of a deal could roll into 2020 and continue to weigh on global economic growth.
The U.S. and China are the world's two largest oil consumers, and constrained relations have already caused a negative impact on global oil demand and crude prices.
By Ovunc Kutlu
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr