Oil rises on hopes for deeper OPEC output cuts, U.S.-China trade talks

Oil prices climbed early on Friday, building on gains in the previous session, after producer club OPEC hinted at making deeper cuts in supply while optimism was revived over talks between the U. S. and China to end their trade war.

International benchmark Brent crude futures LCOc1 were at 59.26 dollars a barrel by 0251 GMT, up 16 cents, or 0.3 per cent, from their previous settlement. Brent settled up 1.3 per cent at 59.10 dollars a barrel on Thursday.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 futures rose 16 cents, also up 0.3 per cent, from their last close to 53.71 dollars per barrel. In the previous session, WTI settled 1.8 per cent higher at 53.55 dollars a barrel.

On Thursday Mohammad Barkindo, Secretary-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), said all options were on the table, including a deeper supply cut to balance oil markets.

A decision would be taken at a December meeting between the OPEC and its partners, he said.

OPEC lowered its 2019 global oil demand growth forecast to 0.98 million barrels per day (bpd), while leaving its 2020 demand growth estimate unchanged at 1.08 million bpd, according to OPEC’s monthly report.

Beyond OPEC, trade talks between the United States and China also remained on the market’s radar as the world’s top two economies seek to resolve a more-than-a-year-long trade row that has slowed global economic growth and curbed fuel consumption.

“Oil bought into the upbeat tone from the bilateral talks as well, for better or for worse, and was also boosted by fighting talk on prices by the OPEC secretary-general,” said Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst at OANDA in Singapore.

Top U.S. and Chinese negotiators wrapped up the first of two days of scheduled trade talks on Thursday, with business groups expressing optimism that the two sides might be able to ease tensions and delay a U.S. tariff hike set for next week.

“The United States is the largest global consumer of oil while China, the biggest driver of year-on-year oil demand growth,” said Stephen Innes, Asia Pacific market strategist at AxiTrader.

“The most significant sentiment driver hinges on the outcome of the trade talks which, if (they) end on a positive note, could go along way to begin to repair the economic damage done and these economic powerhouses would need more oil,” said Innes.

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet Chinese Vice Premier Liu He at 1845 GMT on Friday, the White House said.