BCN-38 Oil prices decline amid rising OPEC supply

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ZCZC

BCN-38

US-ENERGY-OIL-PRICE

Oil prices decline amid rising OPEC supply

NEW YORK, Aug 1, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – Oil prices went down on Tuesday as a
survey showed that the total output of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries) in July hit its highest level this year.

The Reuters survey released on Monday suggested that OPEC increased
production this month by 70,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 32.64 million bpd, a
new high for the year.

Meanwhile, Russian energy minister Alexander Novak said last week that
Russia’s output will hit a new 30-year high of 11.02 million bpd this year.

Analysts said the latest news from Russia and OPEC signaled that the
global market would be less tight later this year, which weighed on the oil
prices.

The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for September delivery lost 1.37 U.S.
dollars to settle at 68.76 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile
Exchange, while Brent crude for September delivery erased 0.72 dollar to
close at 74.25 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.

BSS/XINHUA/HR/1235