# Uptick in COVID Cases & Strengthening Dollar Push Prices Down

> Oil fell intraday to three-month lows, with WTI settling at $63.69 per barrel, as rising COVID-19 cases and a stronger dollar weighed on prices. Goldman Sachs cut its third-quarter GDP forecast on expected Delta-driven slowing, and ULSD and RBOB also settled lower.

- Date: 2021-08-19 · published 2021-08-19T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: macro · region Global · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/11405-uptick-in-covid-cases-and-strengthening-dollar-push-prices-down
- Commodities: [Crude Oil (WTI)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WTI.md), [ULSD / Diesel](https://feedsoft.ai/c/DIESEL.md), [US Dollar (Broad)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/DXY.md)

## Why it matters

Lower expected fuel demand and a firmer dollar both reduce crude and diesel prices, which lowers energy costs for feed mills and transport. OPEC+ is seen keeping its planned output increases, which limits any supply-driven recovery.

## Read by commodity

- DXY: bullish ▲
- WTI: bearish ▼
- DIESEL: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WTI | 2018-02-02 | [Oil prices fall as US stock market slumps and dollar strengthens](https://feedsoft.ai/events/66659-oil-prices-fall-as-us-stock-market-slumps-and-dollar-strengthens.md) | -7.0% | -7.1% |
| WTI | 2026-08-28 | [Dollar Strength and Increased Middle East Oil Flows Weigh on Crude Prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18056-dollar-strength-and-increased-middle-east-oil-flows-weigh-on-crude-prices.md) | +9.2% | +13.1% |
| WTI | 2023-05-18 | [Oil prices settle down 1%; strong US data boosts dollar \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/36137-oil-prices-settle-down-1-strong-us-data-boosts-dollar-reuters.md) | +2.1% | -3.0% |
| WTI | 2018-06-17 | [The Fed Is Driving Down Oil Prices \| OilPrice.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/64443-the-fed-is-driving-down-oil-prices-oilprice-com.md) | +5.9% | +4.8% |
| WTI | 2021-02-28 | [Metals smashed as dollar strengthens](https://feedsoft.ai/events/48548-metals-smashed-as-dollar-strengthens.md) | +7.4% | -1.0% |
| DIESEL | 2018-12-22 | [The FreightWaves oil report: a tumbling market pushes prices down to levels of mid-2017 - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61736-the-freightwaves-oil-report-a-tumbling-market-pushes-prices-down-to-levels-of.md) | -3.5% | +8.7% |
| DIESEL | 2021-04-21 | [Oil prices drop as India’s COVID-19 surge dents demand outlook \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/47759-oil-prices-drop-as-india-s-covid-19-surge-dents-demand-outlook-reuters.md) | +1.6% | +9.6% |
| DIESEL | 2024-05-30 | [Crude Prices Weighed Down by Energy Demand Concerns](https://feedsoft.ai/events/30418-crude-prices-weighed-down-by-energy-demand-concerns.md) | -5.6% | +4.9% |

## Sources

- burkeoil.com: https://www.burkeoil.com/value-added-services/energy-market-updates/uptick-in-covid-cases-strengthening-dollar-push-prices-down

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.