Archived article

Please note that tax, investment, pension and ISA rules can change and the information and any views contained in this article may now be inaccurate.

OPEC’s efforts to wipe out supply glut are undermined by US action

Oil prices have hit a three-month low as rising inventories and increasing activity in the US knocks OPEC’s attempts to shift the balance of the market off course.

Despite two months of reduced output from the producers’ cartel, there are signs North America is stepping in to fill the gap.

As we write European benchmark Brent is just over $51 per barrel and its US counterpart WTI is below $50. Data from US oil services business Baker Hughes shows US producers added more oil rigs for an eighth consecutive week.

‹ Previous2017-03-16Next ›