Crude oil prices edges down on glut worries

[TOKYO] Crude prices inched down on Monday in Asia, paring 3 per cent gains in the previous session amid worries over a global oil glut.

London Brent crude for November delivery was down 18 cents at US$46.65 a barrel by 2245 GMT on Sunday.

The global benchmark settled up US$1.38 on Friday after a weak US jobs report hurt the dollar. It was also helped by a report that Russian President Vladimir Putin supports Opec's attempts to implement an output freeze with other producers.

NYMEX crude for October delivery was down 18 cents at US$44.26 a barrel, after closing up US$1.28 on Friday. The trading in US crude is likely to be limited on Monday because of the US Labour Day holiday.

Brent rallied to above US$50 a barrel by late August helped by growing talk of a coordinated production freeze, but the prices have since fallen as few believe Opec will cut output.

Cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia will bring benefits to the global oil market, Saudi Arabia's powerful deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman told Putin on Sunday.

Russia and Saudi Arabia, the world's leading oil producers, are seeking ways to prop up a weak oil market.

Iran is ready to support any decision to help restore balance to the oil market after it regains its pre-sanctions market share, the Iranian Oil Ministry's Shana news agency reported on Saturday, quoting a minister.

Iran, Opec's third largest producer, has been sending positive signals that it may support joint action to prop up the oil market, potentially aiding efforts to revive a global deal on freezing production levels.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Saturday that an oil production freeze would be one of the issues discussed by crude producers at their meeting later this month in Algiers.

Yemen's 150,000 barrels-per-day Aden oil refinery resumed operations on Sunday after being shut for more than a year as the conflict in the country worsened, an industry official at the refinery said.

Money managers cut their net long US crude futures and options positions in the week to Aug 30, the first time in nearly a month, data from the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed on Friday.

REUTERS