West Texas Intermediate (WTI) prices slid on international markets last night as the U.S. government partially shutdown for the first time in seventeen years. As the Congress debate on the budget ended in a deadlock, the constitution imposed a shutdown of non-essential federal services and agencies until the issue is resolved.
The shutdown came at a time when oil prices are already extremely sensitive to political changes across the world. WTI fell 71 cents since yesterday through the night as the market anticipated the shutdown.


