Oil prices struggled for direction on Friday, but headed for a weekly decline as fresh signs of expectations for weak demand and a forecast for strong supply growth next year more than offset the tension caused by suspected attacks on tankers off the coast of Iran.

New York-traded West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 19 cents, or 0.4%, to $52.09 a barrel by 8:15 AM ET (12:15 GMT), while Brent crude futures, the benchmark for oil prices outside the U.S. edged forward 7 cents, or 0.1%, to $61.38.

The two blends were headed for a weekly decline of 3.4% and 2.9%, respectively.

The outlook for oil demand growth in 2019 has dimmed due to worsening prospects for world trade, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Friday in its monthly report.

Although the IEA said that economic stimulus packages should support demand, it noted that “the worsening trade outlook (is) a common theme across all regions."

Source : Investing.com