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
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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 Edges Higher in Holiday Trade; Eyes on Fed's 2025 Plan

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
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Gold Edges Higher in Holiday Trade; Eyes on Fed's 2025 Plan

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 inched higher on Thursday in holiday-thinned trade, as investors focused on the US Federal Reserve's interest rate strategy and anticipated tariff policies under President-elect Donald Trump, both of which could influence the metal's direction in the coming year.

Spot gold rose 0.2% to $2,619.59 per ounce, as of 0023 GMT.

According to Reuters, bullion has surged approximately 27% so far this year, scaling multiple record highs, fueled by significant Fed rate cuts, including a jumbo reduction in September, and heightened geopolitical uncertainties.

Meanwhile, US gold futures steadied at $2,637.10.

In a holiday-curtailed week, trading volumes will likely thin out as the year-end approaches, and Markets are eyeing jobless claims data due later in the day, while preparing for major policy shifts, including tariffs, deregulation and tax changes, in 2025 as Trump returns to the White House in January.

On the geopolitical level, the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel traded blame on Wednesday over their failure to conclude a ceasefire agreement despite progress reported by both sides in past days.

Gold is considered a safe investment option during economic and geopolitical turmoil and tends to thrive in a low interest rate environment.