Oil prices climb on hopes output cuts will be extended

[TOKYO] Oil futures rose in early trading on Friday on growing optimism that big producing countries will extend output cuts to curb a persistent glut in crude, with key benchmarks heading for a second week of gains.

Brent crude was up 12 cents at US$52.63 at 0006 GMT, after settling up half a per cent on Thursday. The contract is on track for a 3.5 per cent climb this week, a second week of gains.

US crude oil was up 14 cents at US$49.49 a barrel, after finishing the previous session at US$49.35 a barrel, the highest close since April 26. The contract is heading for a weekly increase of 3.4 per cent.

Oil prices have been trapped in a tight range in recent weeks as rising US production has erased the effects of output cuts by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and other countries, including Russia.

But market watchers are growing more confident that Opec, Russia and other big producers will extend cuts of almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) until the end of March 2018. US producers are not party to any agreements capping production.

On May 25, leaders from Opec and other producing countries will meet in Vienna to decide on output policy.

Rosneft, the largest oil producer in Russia will meet agreements with the grouping on oil output reductions, the company's chief executive told reporters in Berlin on Thursday.

REUTERS