U.S. crude extends rise on hopes of supply cuts to tackle glut

SEOUL, Jan 29 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures extended
gains on Friday to take their weekly rise to more than 4 percent
on hopes of a global deal between oil-producing countries to
help tackle a growing supply glut.
U.S. crude CLc1 climbed 32 cents at $33.54 a barrel as of
2338 GMT, after it settled up 92 cents, or 2.9 percent, at
$33.22 per barrel, down from a high of $34.82.
Global benchmark Brent LCOc1 ended up 79 cents, or 2.4
percent, at $33.89 a barrel, after trading as high as $35.84.
"Despite the unlikely scenario of supply cutbacks in the oil
market, prices have found some support above $30 a barrel. We
believe this basis is fragile, with fundamentals expected to
weaken in the coming weeks," ANZ said on Friday.
"We think the likelihood of an agreement between producers
is extremely low. In the absence of a supply cut, there is
further downside risk to prices in the short term."
Brent futures rallied as much as 8 percent after Russia said
on Thursday that OPEC's largest producer Saudi Arabia, had
proposed oil production cuts of up to 5 percent in what would be
the first global deal in over a decade to help clear a glut of
crude and prop up sinking prices.
"We remain highly sceptical that such a meeting will result
in credible cuts in supply; thus, we see this as nothing more
than an attempt to shift market sentiment, and we do not expect
that it will change the physical market imbalance," Barclays (L:BARC)
said, referring to meetings between OPEC members and Russia.
"In our view, the price path implied by our forecasts, of
Brent trading less than $40 a barrel for at least two quarters,
is required for the balancing process to take place, paving the
way for a more sustainable increase in prices."
The rebound in the oil market lifted share prices on Wall
Street and other stock markets in another rollercoaster session.
European stocks fell on disappointing earnings reports. The
dollar slipped on bets that interest rate hikes by the Federal
Reserve would be more gradual than it has suggested. MKTS/GLOB