Oil prices traded down today after punching up to seven-week highs with WTI back to a $79 handle after weak 'soft' survey data poured more cold water on the idea of a 'soft landing'., along with disappointing results from a handful of economic-activity bellwethers, such as Union Pacific and 3M. These results have tempered optimism for the economy in the near-term. Oil prices declined on "uncertainty about how much of a demand boost we'll see, and concerns over a weakening U.S. economy constrains the upside," said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets U.K. "With the latest PMI numbers in US, Europe and ... (full story)