Oil ends slightly lower in choppy session as Russia cuts pipeline flows

Oil futures ended slightly lower after flipping between gains and losses after Russia halted oil flows along the southern portion of the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. News reports said the move came after sanctions prevented the payment of a transfer fee. Crude was lifted after the pipeline halt was reported, but saw renewed pressure tied to uncertainty over the oulook for crude demand. West Texas Intermediate crude for September delivery fell 26 cents, or 0.3%, to end at $90.50 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.