Oil prices climb on expectation of OPEC-led output cut
| SINGAPORE
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 was up 0.98 percent, or 44 cents, at $46.14 a barrel.
Such a deal has proved tricky to agree as some producers, most notably Iran, have been reluctant to cut output.
But an agreement has become more likely as Iran, keen to increase output after international sanctions against it were lifted last January, was expected to be given an exemption if it agrees to cap its production rather than cutting it, leaving the onus of a an outright reduction on other OPEC-members, including its political rival and de-facto OPEC-leader Saudi Arabia.
As a result, Barclays said that some form of production cut deal was likely, but the bank added that any such agreement might have little impact on markets.
"We expect OPEC to agree to a face-saving statement," the British bank said, but added that "U.S. tight oil producers can grow production at $50-55 (per barrel) and will capitalize on any opportunity afforded to them by an OPEC cut".
Beyond the talk of a potential production cut, there were also signs of ongoing market weakness.
Japan, the world's fourth biggest oil consumer, on Monday reported a fall of 9.5 percent in crude oil imports in October from the same month a year earlier, to 2.78 million barrels per day.
(Reporting by Henning Gloystein; Editing by Joseph Radford)
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