Brent crude has edged lower during the..........>

OIL: Brent crude has edged lower during the session, eradicating the modest

gains posted earlier in the day. The front month trades at USD63.08/bbl, down

from a morning high of USD63.35/bbl. WTI trades at USD55.99/bbl and near the

bottom of the day's range.

- Iran has questioned the 'sincerity' of US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo's

suggestion that he could travel to Tehran to address the Iranian people. 

- Tensions between Iran and the UK similarly show few signs of alleviating with

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi linking the seizure of an Iranian

oil tanker by the UK to Iran's shaky nuclear deal. 

- The UK, for its part, has sent a Royal Navy Destroyer to the Strait of Hormuz,

which has quickly become a new flashpoint. 

- In light of the escalation in geopolitical risk, an expected resumption of

US-China trade talks and potential monetary easing from the US Fed may do little

to propel oil higher in the near term.