Oil prices remain low despite central bank intervention and market predictions.

Despite central banks stepping in to help troubled lenders in the US and Europe, crude oil prices have continued to fall, with Brent crude trading at $72.27 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate at $66.06 per barrel. The weak start to the week follows the worst week for oil since the start of the year, with prices sinking to the lowest in 15 months due to the demise of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in the US, runs on smaller banks, and liquidity problems at Credit Suisse. The upcoming OPEC meeting is seen as a potential catalyst for the market outlook, with further downside risk to prices increasing the probability of OPEC reducing production to support prices.