Today, Crude oil prices gave up early gains and slid for a fourth day as fears of a coronavirus pandemic deepened as the outbreak spread in several countries outside China.

Brent crude fell 31 cents, or 0.6%, to $54.64 a barrel by 07:53 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 16 cents, or 0.3%, to $49.74.

Fears of a pandemic have escalated as authorities around the world battle to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which has now been found in about 30 countries.