Oil Steady Ahead of OPEC+ Meeting, EU Russian Oil Ban

LONDON–Oil futures were broadly stable on Friday, but were poised to end the week up, ahead of a meeting by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) on Sunday and an EU ban on Russian crude oil kicking in on Monday.

Brent crude futures were up 14 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $87.02 per barrel by 1008 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures inched up 5 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $81.27 per barrel.

Both Brent and WTI had dipped earlier in the session, but were on track for their first weekly gains—the biggest in two months at around 4 percent and 6 percent, respectively—after three consecutive weeks of decline.

Also underpinning oil prices, the U.S. dollar, which typically trades inversely with oil, hit five-month lows.

OPEC+ is widely expected to stick to its latest target of reducing oil production by 2 million barrels per day (bpd) when it meets on Sunday, but some analysts believe that crude prices could fall if the group does not make further cuts.

“This week’s price rebound has taken Brent to within touching distance of the $90/bbl threshold and may temper appetite among (OPEC+’s) leadership for fresh price-supportive cuts,” said PVM analyst Stephen Brennock.

“That being said, the prospect of subdued Chinese oil demand and more U.S. (strategic petroleum reserve) releases could prompt pre-emptive action by the alliance. Either way, the ingredients are there for price fireworks come Monday morning.”

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