Saudi Arabia to Increase Oil Output in July to Record Rate

An oil tanker is being loaded at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo
An oil tanker is being loaded at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo
TT

Saudi Arabia to Increase Oil Output in July to Record Rate

An oil tanker is being loaded at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo
An oil tanker is being loaded at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo

State oil company Saudi Aramco is aiming to boost production next month to about 10.8 million barrels a day, the people said, asking not be named discussing confidential information. That would surpass the previous high of 10.72 million barrels a day in November 2016.

OPEC and other producers, Russia in the lead, stroke a deal on Saturday to increase the output after being urged by consuming states, including US, to increase product. Saudi Arabia said that the agreement will result in an increase of around one million barrel per day, or 1 percent of the global crude supplies.

It seems clear that Riyadh has been preparing for raising the output in the beginning of this month, based on what has been stated by Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih in Vienna on Saturday when he said that Aramco received instructions to get ready to raise output.

Despite the deal, the US seems unsatisfied with the raise in which United States Secretary of Energy Richard Perry notified journalists on Monday that he sees the reached deal by OPEC and oil producing states in the beginning of the week might not be sufficient to alleviate pressures on the global oil markets resulting from supplies obstacles.

Perry stated that this deal might be a bit less than what the market needs.

The lion's share of the oil production increases agreed to by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC oil producers will come from Saudi Arabia and its exports likely will be biased toward light crude, Energy Aspects said in a note on Monday.

Saudi Arabia and Russia to compensate for any additional future supply declines elsewhere, adding up to another 400,000 bpd.

Saudi Arabia's production is expected to average about 10.5 million bpd in Q3, with some months possibly averaging close to record highs above 10.6 million bpd.



Gold Firms in Thin Trade as Investors Weigh Fed Outlook

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
TT

Gold Firms in Thin Trade as Investors Weigh Fed Outlook

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo

Gold prices firmed on Monday, although trading was thin due to the holiday season and as investors looked for cues on the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy trajectory for next year after it signaled gradual easing in its latest meeting.
Spot gold added 0.3% at $2,628.63 per ounce, as of 0941 GMT, trading in a narrow $16 range. US gold futures eased 0.1% to $2,643.10.
"(It's a) Quiet day with lower liquidity and limited data releases during the holiday season," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.
"We retain a constructive outlook for gold in 2025, targeting a move to $2,800/oz by mid-2025."
The Fed cut rates by 25 basis points on Dec. 18, although the central bank's predictions of fewer rate cuts in 2025 resulted in a decline in gold prices to their lowest level since Nov. 18 last week.
US consumer spending increased in November, supporting the Fed's hawkish stance, a sentiment that was also shared by San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly.
Higher interest rates dull non-yielding bullion's appeal.
"Presently, we are in a lull for Christmas week with the gold price trending sideways. Federal Reserve policy is clear with expectations of rising interest rates in the second half of the year," said Michael Langford, chief investment officer at Scorpion Minerals.
"The next big impact is the incoming presidency of (Donald) Trump and the initial presidential decrees that he might declare. This has the potential to add to market volatility and be bullish for gold prices."
Gold, often considered a safe-haven asset, typically performs well during economic uncertainties.
Spot silver rose 0.8% to $29.75 per ounce and platinum climbed 1.3% to $938.43. Palladium steadied at $920.53.