Crude oil futures ease further as risk-off mood lingers

Crude oil futures were lower in mid-morning Asian trade Feb. 18, tracking the overall bearish tone in equity markets as heightened tensions in the Russia-Ukraine crisis sparked a widespread sell-off of risk assets. At 9:45 am Singapore time (0145 GMT), the ICE April Brent futures contract was down 49 cents/b (0.53%) from the previous close at $92.48/b, while the NYMEX…