Oil prices ticked up on Friday as U.S. officials appeared close to striking a debt ceiling deal, and as the market weighed conflicting messages on supply from Russia and Saudi Arabia ahead of the next OPEC+ policy meeting.
Russia was leaning towards leaving oil production volumes unchanged because Moscow is content with current prices and output, three sources with knowledge of current Russian thinking told Reuters.
Bets on falling oil prices have risen.
On the supply side, U.S. oil rigs fell five to 570 this week, according to a report from energy services firm Baker Hughes Co.
In May, the oil count fell by 21 rigs, which was the biggest monthly drop since June 2020.
Persons:
Brent, Alexander Novak, Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, John Kilduff, Baker Hughes, Klaas Knot
Organizations:
. West Texas Intermediate, U.S, Biden, Saudi Arabian Energy Minister, Organization of Petroleum Exporting, OPEC, Again, AAA, Dutch Central Bank, European Central Bank
Locations:
Russia, Saudi Arabia, Vienna, Moscow, U.S, Europe