Oil prices extended losses early on Wednesday as worries of slowing demand from top oil importer China after the release of weaker-than-expected economic data outweighed some positive progress on the U.S. debt ceiling bill. Brent crude futures for August delivery fell 28 cents to $73.43 a barrel by 0250 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) slipped 26 cents to $69.20 a barrel, with earlier gains reversed after China manufacturing data was released. Both benchmarks fell by more than 4 per cent on Tuesday. Brent's July contract, which expires on Wednesday, and the U.S. benchmark were on track for monthly ... (full story)