Oil down 3% as virus spreads in Europe, Mideast; new U.S. cases suspected

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices fell 3% on Wednesday after hundreds of new coronavirus cases reported in Europe and the Middle East stoked fears that energy demand would decline, and on concerns that the virus would become a pandemic in the United States.Brent crude was down $1.77, or 3.2%, to $53.18 a barrel by 2:04 p.m. EST (1904 GMT) while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude shed $1.45, or 2.9%, $48.45 a barrel.Both benchmarks were on track to end the session at their weakest in more..