Oil holds breath ahead of OPEC+ supply cut expectations
By Paul Carsten
LONDON (Reuters) -Oil prices were stable on Monday amid expectations that major producers would keep supplies tight, as hopes grew for the Federal Reserve to leave interest rates unchanged to avoid dampening the U.S. economy.
Brent crude futures for November crept 5 cents higher to $88.60 a barrel by 1110 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) October futures rose 2 cents to $85.57 a barrel.
Both contracts ended last week at their highest in more than half a year, after two previous weeks of losses.
"Crude oil prices have been primarily driven by the anticipation of additional supply cuts from major oil-producing nations, Russia and Saudi Arabia," said Sugandha Sachdeva, executive vice president and chief strategist at Acme Investment Advisors.
Sachdeva added, however, that the steady increase in U.S. oil production could limit further significant gains in price.
Saudi Arabia is expected to roll over a voluntary 1-million-barrel per day (bpd) cut into October. Saudi Arabia's previous announcements on its voluntary cut extension came ahead of its official selling prices, which typically come out in the first week of the month.
Russia has already announced September export cuts of 300,000 bpd, following a 500,000-bpd cut in August.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday Russia had agreed with partners in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries on the parameters for continued export cuts,
An official announcement detailing the planned cuts is expected this week.
Vitol CEO Russell Hardy said on Monday the global crude market should ease in the next six to eight weeks because of refinery maintenance, but supplies to complex refineries in India, Kuwait, Jizan
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