OPEC Extends Production Cut Deal to 2018 Crude Stable

Oil fell on Thursday, giving up earlier gains after OPEC members agreed to extend curbs on output to the end of next year at a meeting in Vienna, though a final deal hinges on the decision of non-OPEC producers, expected towards the end of the day.

The deal, due to expire in March 2018, saw the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers such as Russia cut 1.8 million barrels per day from the market in an attempt to tackle global oversupply and bolster prices.

OPEC agreed to extend cuts on Thursday for a further nine months, two delegates at the meeting in the Austrian capital told Reuters, a move largely anticipated by the market.

The most-active February Brent contract was trading 10 cents down at $62.43 a barrel at 1533 GMT. The front-month January contract expires later on Thursday.

U.S. light crude for February delivery was at $57.07 a barrel, down 23 cents.

“The price is surprisingly stable. I can’t remember an OPEC meeting where prices traded in such a narrow range after a decision like today’s. I’m very surprised about that,” said Carsten Fritsch, an analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt.

“We have to wait for the OPEC press conference, maybe prices will move when we get some more details,” he said, adding that he expected prices to drop as they did after the last OPEC output cuts decision.

Though the deal looks set to go through, a final decision involving non-OPEC producers, including Russia, has yet to be announced.

via Globe and Mail

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