Brent oil jumps to four-year high near $81

LONDON

Brent oil soared on Sept. 24 close to $81, reaching the highest level since November 2014 after OPEC and other global producers snubbed pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to dampen prices.

Early on Sept. 24, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in November soared to a peak of $80.94 per barrel. That was the highest level since November 12, 2014.

The benchmark Brent contract later stood at $80.85, up $2.05 from the close on Sept. 21.

New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) or light sweet crude for delivery in November, added $1.52 to $72.30 after earlier striking a two-month pinnacle.

Oil leapt after the world’s top producers decided to maintain output during a meeting in Algeria at the weekend.

A committee comprised of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cartel and non-OPEC producers said it was satisfied with the current market outlook, which represented “an overall healthy balance between supply and demand.”

However, Saudi Arabia’s influential oil minister Khalid al-Falih left the way open to a future production hike, as supplies tighten due to the U.S. imposing sanctions on Iranian oil from November this year.

“Saudi Arabia and Russia confirmed that they not raising output -- and this is bad news for President Trump as he wants a lower oil price that is good for business,” said CMC Markets David Madden.

“Last week, Mr Trump verbally attacked OPEC and some traders thought we might see an increase in supply from the United States’ Middle Eastern allies.

“The Algiers meeting did not bring about an increase in output -- and that is fuelling the rally.

“Fears that supply will be hit when the U.S. sanctions on Iran kick in come November are pushing up oil prices.”

OPEC in December 2016 concluded an agreement with non-member states - including Russia - to reduce output in order to arrest sliding prices.

The Sept. 23 meeting in Algiers brought together OPEC oil ministers and non-OPEC signatories to the 2016 agreement, as they seek to extend their cooperation.

Trump has repeatedly called for a hike in production by countries other than Iran to reduce oil prices.