Oil steady as virus infections rise, but hopes for vaccine lends support

Oil prices were little changed on Monday as coronavirus cases increased in many countries, though cautious investor optimism about a potential COVID-19 vaccine and ongoing talks over a European Union fund to revive economies hit by the pandemic curbed losses.

Brent crude LCOc1 was down 6 cents, or 0.1%, at $43.08 per barrel by 11:34 a.m. ET (1534 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) CLc1 was up 1 cent at $40.60.