Global oil price gains on hopes for China loosening Covid controls             

Rare street protests in cities across China over the weekend were a vote against President Xi Jinping's zero-Covid policy and the strongest public defiance of his political career, China analysts said. Picture: Ng Han Guan/PA

The price of crude oil steadied as gains on hopes for a loosening of China's strict Covid-19 controls were later offset by concerns that Opec+ would keep its output unchanged at its upcoming meeting.

Brent crude rose 48 cents to $83.67 (€80.91) a barrel as Chinese health officials said the country plans to speed up Covid-19 vaccinations for elderly people, aiming to overcome a key stumbling block in efforts to ease unpopular "zero-Covid" curbs.