At least eight people died in the massive snowstorm that swept through the US north east and Canada.

Blizzard conditions dumped more than a foot of snow in parts of the US north east, stranding thousands of airline, bus and rail passengers, with lashing winds and low visibility also buffeting workers returning to their post-Christmas routines.

Oil prices slumped to a fresh 18-month low today as the mild winter in the United States and western Europe kept a lid on demand at a time of growing global supplies.