Oil prices surge as OPEC+ extends output cuts into April

SINGAPORE (news desk) – Oil prices rose on Friday, extending gains from the previous session, after OPEC and its allies agreed not to increase supply in April as they await a more substantial recovery in demand amid the coronavirus pandemic.Brent crude futures for May rose 60 cents, or 0.9%, to $67.34 a barrel at 0337 GMT, and was on track for a near 2% gain in the week.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 56 cents, or 0.9%, to $64.39 per barrel.Both contracts surged more than 4% on Thursday after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, together called OPEC+, extended oil output curbs into April, with small exemptions to Russia and Kazakhstan.“It just goes to show how much of a surprise the OPEC+ discipline is,” said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets.“What makes the gain even more impressive is that it comes against a risk-off backdrop and a higher U.S. dollar,” he said.Oil prices usually fall when the dollar rises as a higher greenback makes oil more expensive for buyers with other currencies.Investors were surprised that Saudi Arabia had decided to maintain its voluntary cut of 1 million barrels per day through April even after oil prices rallied over the past two months.“An array of factors coalesced to bring the parties together, but the resultant price increase will almost certainly push the parties to change their minds when they meet again on April 1, 2021,” commodity analysts at Citigroup said in a note.



Latest News
Cop martyred, 4 terrorists killed as operation continues in Swat’s Matta: security sources
Re-polling demand, Form-47 jibe and doomsday talk — PPP, PML-N continue to trade barbs over Mirpur election results
Security forces kill 32 terrorists during operations in KP, Balochistan: ISPR
Situation in Middle East comes under discussion as DPM Dar meets Kuwait FM
AJK police accuse JAAC of working under an ‘agenda’, say sophisticated weapons seized from arrested suspects
US, Saudi forces strike ‘Iran-aligned terrorists’ in Iraq in retaliation for recent attacks
Govt increases petrol price by Rs1.63, HSD price by Rs1.55
SHO among 11 cops booked over raid on AGP Mansoor Awan’s house in Lahore




Multi Media   
Pakistan Exposes India’s Human Rights Record in IIOJK at UNHRC
 Multi Media
2025 in Review: A Year of Impact and Progress in Brussels
 Multi Media
DPM-FM Senator Ishaq Dar’s High-Level Brussels Visit: Key Highlights
 Multi Media
Embassy of Pakistan 🇵🇰 in Brussels || Quarterly Recap of Activities, Engagements & Outreach
 Multi Media
DPM Dar sends Trump peace prize nomination to Nobel Committee