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The Financial Express

Oil prices steady on lingering oversupply


File Photo (Reuters) File Photo (Reuters)

Oil prices were steady on Friday but on track for the first weekly fall in six weeks, under pressure from surging US supplies and creeping doubts over Russian support for continuing a cut in crude output.

Brent crude futures LCOc1, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $61.23 per barrel at 0746 GMT, down 3 cents from their last close.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $55.36 a barrel, up 22 cents. Traders said strong US crude exports were lifting WTI, reports Reuters.

Still, crude was set to fall around 2-4 per cent for the week on worries about growth in US production and inventories, after both benchmarks touched 2015 highs last week.

Crude markets have received general support in the past months by the OPEC, which together with some non-OPEC producers including Russia has been withholding production since January to tighten the market and prop up prices.

This has led to an almost 40-per cent rise in Brent prices since June.

The deal to restrain output is due to expire in March 2018, but OPEC will meet on Nov. 30 to discuss policy.

Analysts said more production restraint is needed to reduce the supply overhang.

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