Oil prices jumped as much as 3 percent on Monday, with Brent hitting a one-year high, after Russia said it was ready to join Opec in curbing crude output and Algeria called for similar commitments from other non-Opec producers. Sentiment was also boosted by a rally in Wall Street shares and news that work was underway for the launch of the first sovereign bond issue of No 1 crude exporter Saudi Arabia before the eventual listing of the kingdom's state-oil company Aramco.
Brent crude hit its highest level since October 9, 2015, reaching $53.73 a barrel, before paring gains to settle $1.21, or 2.3 percent higher at $53.14 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose to its highest since June 9 at $51.60, before easing to end the session at $51.35, up $1.54, or 3.1 percent. Russian President Vladimir Putin said an output freeze or even a production cut were likely the only right decisions to maintain energy sector stability.
"Russia is ready to join the joint measures to cap production and is calling for other oil exporters to join," Putin said, speaking at an energy congress in Istanbul. The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries aims to agree on cutting about 700,000 barrels per day, bringing its output to 32.5-33.0 million bpd by the time it meets in Vienna for its policy meeting on November 30. It will be Opec's first output reduction in eight years and comes two years after prices crashed from highs above $100 a barrel. Opec has also asked Russia and other non-members to join in making cuts.
"Putin coming out to say Russia will be part of the initiative has added another layer of credence to the speculation there will be a co-ordinated cut," said John Kilduff, partner at New York energy hedge fund Again Capital. "At some point, the market will call them on it and say 'show us the cuts.' And at that point, the Saudis might be willing to underwrite the cuts on their own because they really want these high prices. To me, $55 Brent is without doubt the next target," he said.
Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said he was optimistic of deal by November. His Algerian counterpart Nouredine Bouterfa said he expected to see "commitments" on cuts from non-Opec oil producers at meetings in Istanbul this week. Money managers are holding the largest bullish position in US crude since June, data showed Friday. "History would suggest that a large amount of room still exists for additional speculative entry into the long side," said Jim Ritterbusch of Chicago-based oil markets consultancy Ritterbusch & Associates, which eyes WTI at $52.
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