signs the OPEC cartel is divided ahead of a meeting on whether to
maintain or slash its high output levels.
The US benchmark West Texas Intermediate closed below $40 a barrel
for the first time since late August on Wednesday after data showed an
increase in US commercial stockpiles and production, adding to anxiety
about a long-running supply glut.
Focus is now on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
meeting in Vienna Friday. Analysts say the 12 members appear to be
divided, with Saudi Arabia and its Gulf partners at odds with others
pushing for a cut in output in a bid to perk up prices.
WTI for delivery in January was up 70 cents at $40.64 and Brent crude
was trading 85 cents higher at $43.34 at around 0630 GMT.
WTI fell 4.6 percent Wednesday while Brent sank 4.4 percent.
Bloomberg News said Venezuela and Ecuador — which have been badly
hit by the plunge in prices — would seek production cuts during the
meeting.
IHS Energy said Saudi, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will
have great influence on the tone of the meeting as they account for more
than half of OPEC’s 31.5 million barrels per day output.
“Without the Gulf group, there can be no effective OPEC agreement,”
IHS Energy said in a report ahead of Friday’s meeting.
OPEC has been pumping above its collective target of 30 million barrels
per day as its influential members led by Saudi Arabia try to maintain
their share of a highly competitive market.
Prices have plunged by more than half from peaks of above $100 a
barrel in mid-2014 largely because of the oversupply.
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