Oil hits almost 14-month high after OPEC+ extends output cuts

LONDON (Reuters) – Oil prices jumped more than 2% on Friday, hitting their highest in nearly 14 months after OPEC and its allies agreed not to increase supply in April as they await a more substantial recovery in demand.

Brent crude futures were up $1.52, or 2.3%, at $68.26 a barrel by 1008 GMT and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbed $1.30, or 2%, to $65.13 as both remained on track for weekly gains.

Both contracts surged more than 4% on Thursday after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies, together known as OPEC+, extended oil output curbs into April, granting small exemptions to Russia and Kazakhstan

“OPEC+ settled for a cautious approach … opting to increase production by just 150,000 barrels per day (bpd) in April while market participants looked for an increase of 1.5 million bpd,” said UBS oil analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

Investors were surprised that Saudi Arabia had decided to maintain its voluntary cut of 1 million bpd through April even after the oil price rally of the past two months on the back of COVID-19 vaccination programmes around the globe.

“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,” Citigroup said in a note.

Analysts are reviewing their price forecasts to reflect the continued supply restraint by OPEC+ as well as U.S. shale producers, who are holding back spending to boost returns to investors.

Goldman Sachs raised its Brent crude price forecast by $5 to $75 a barrel in the second quarter and $80 a barrel in the third quarter of this year. UBS raised its Brent forecast to $75 a barrel and WTI to $72 in the second half of 2021.

Reporting by Noah Browning in London, Sonali Paul in Melbourne and Koustav Samanta in Singapore; Editing by David Goodman

 

Panorama Hispano is the regional news and information newspaper for Hispanic and other diverse communities.

US Hispanics are now the largest ethnic minority in the United States numbering 54.2 million as of July 2014. Serving: Buffalo, Rochester, Fredonia, Niagara Falls, NY and Erie, PA. Outside our Market area: Visit our affiliate at: http://www.impremedia.com/

Contact us: Contact@PanoramaHispanoNews.com

Featured News

Apr 21, 2026
Bruins vs. Sabres Prediction, Odds, Best Prop Bet for NHL Playoffs Game 2

Morgan Geekie and the Bruins are road underdogs in Buffalo. The Buffalo Sabres returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs with […]

Read More
Apr 21, 2026
Stocks stall as doubts emerge over Iran/US talks; AI mania back in vogue

By: Amanda Cooper LONDON, April 21 (Reuters) – Stocks wobbled on Tuesday as doubts grew about peace talks taking place […]

Read More
Apr 21, 2026
Many Americans question Trump’s temperament amid Iran war, pope spat: Reuters/Ipsos poll

By Jason Lange WASHINGTON, April 21 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s approval rating held at the lowest of his term […]

Read More

popular categories

Featured (5,509)
Mundo Latino (2,109)
Locales / Regional (1,266)
Buffalo (2,139)
Dunkirk (1,689)
Rochester (1,656)
PA (1,244)
Negocios / Tecnología (1,089)
Tecnología y Science (219)
Salud (570)
Deportes (958)
Entretenimiento (811)
Extras (456)
Movies (231)
Viajes, Vida y Estilo (724)
Copyright © 2026 Panorama Hispano News. All Rights Reserved.
crossmenuchevron-downmenu-circlecross-circle
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram