LONDON: Oil prices fell for a sixth session to trade near 12-year lows on Monday as concerns about China’s economic slowdown, reflected in a renewed slide in its stock markets, weighed on the outlook for demand this year.

Traders increased bets against any near-term recovery in the oil price and Brent crude futures were down 82 cents on the day at $32.73 a barrel by 1500 GMT, having fallen by 15 percent in the space of a week. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 71 cents at $32.45.

Speculators increased their net short positions to a record high in the week to last Tuesday, data showed on Friday, in a sign that they are losing faith in a price rise any time soon.