Crude oil fell for a second day, dropping below $50 a barrel, on concern that the swine-flu outbreak will curtail travel and delay a recovery from the global recession. Oil declined as the World Health Organization raised its global pandemic alert to the highest since the warning system was adopted in 2005, saying the disease is not containable. U.S. crude supplies probably rose last week by 1.8 million barrels from their highest level since September 1990, according to a Bloomberg survey of analysts. “From the oil market point of view, it’s the impact on travel and economic activity from swine flu that could affect prices,” said David Moore, a commodity strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd. in Sydney. “The market has been clanging around the high $40’s to the low $50’s for a while now and can’t get past the top side because the inventories are so high.” Crude oil for June delivery fell as much as $1.06, or 2.1 percent, to $49.08 a barrel in after-hours electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was at $49.25 a barrel at 2:35 p.m. Singapore time. Prices are up 10 percent this year. Futures declined $1.41 to $50.14 yesterday.

Brent crude for June settlement fell as much as $1.05, or 2.1 percent, to $49.27 a barrel on London’s ICE Futures Europe exchange, and traded at $49.40 at 2:35 p.m. Singapore time. The contract dropped $1.35, or 2.6 percent, to end yesterday’s session at $50.32 a barrel.

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