Oil ends slightly lower as expectations fade for progress in U.S.-China trade talks

Oil futures ended slightly lower Tuesday as optimism faded over prospects for progress in high-level U.S.-China trade talks set for later this week. West Texas Intermediate crude for November delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 12 cents, or 0.2%, to settle at $52.63 a barrel. Analysts said optimism around the trade talks took a hit after the U.S. late Monday blacklisted 28 Chinese companies, citing their alleged role in enabling human-rights violations against Muslim minorities in China.

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