OPEC and allies extend oil supply cut in bid to boost prices

VIENNA: OPEC and its allies led by Russia agreed to extend oil output cuts until March 2020 on Tuesday, seeking to prop up the price of crude as the global economy weakens and US production soars.

The alliance, known as OPEC+, has been reducing

oil supply since 2017 to prevent prices from sliding amid increasing
competition from the United States, which has overtaken Russia and Saudi Arabia
to become the world’s top producer.

Asked by reporters whether agreement had been

reached, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said: “Yes.”

Benchmark Brent crude LCOc1 has climbed more

than 25pc so far this year after Washington tightened sanctions on OPEC members
Venezuela and Iran, causing their oil exports to drop.

The approval of the pact extension on Tuesday

follows a decision by OPEC producers the previous day.

Fears about weaker global demand as a result of

a US-China trade spat have added to the challenges faced by the 14-nation
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Prolonging the output pact is likely to anger

US President Donald Trump, who has demanded OPEC leader Saudi Arabia supply
more oil and help reduce fuel prices if Riyadh wants US military support in its
standoff with arch-rival Iran.

A jump in oil prices might lead to costlier

gasoline, a key issue for Trump as he seeks re-election next year.

Brent was trading slightly weaker at just below

$65 per barrel.

The OPEC+ extension comes after Russian

President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday he had agreed with Saudi Arabia to
prolong the pact and continue to cut combined production by 1.2 million barrels
per day, or 1.2pc of world demand.