Oil prices rise after Jeddah summit

World oil prices rose in Asian trading on Monday after Saudi Arabia said at a weekend summit that it had raised output, and said speculators were partly to blame for higher prices.

SINGAPORE: World oil prices rose in Asian trading on Monday after Saudi Arabia said at a weekend summit that it had raised output, and said speculators were partly to blame for higher prices.

New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for August delivery, was 29 cents higher at $135.65 per barrel.

The July contract leapt $2.69 to close at $134.62 per barrel before expiring on Friday.

Brent North Sea crude for August was 22 cents higher at $135.08 a barrel after rising $2.86 to settle at $134.86 per barrel on Friday in London.

At an unusual weekend summit of producer and consumer nations called to discuss soaring oil prices, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah condemned oil "speculators".

The summit in Jeddah called for greater transparency in market dealings, and for an increase in investment to ensure
ADVERTISEMENT
that the markets are adequately supplied.

Saudi output has risen to 9.7 million barrels a day, the king said, vowing to further increase production if necessary to defuse market tensions which have sent the price of a barrel of oil up to almost $140 sparking angry protests in several countries.

The monarch, who said Saudi Arabia would give $1.5 billion to efforts to ease energy shortages in poor nations, told the 36-nation summit his country was "very concerned" about consumers worldwide.

He blamed increased oil consumption and taxes on fuel, but added: "Among other factors behind this unjust increase in oil prices is the abhorrent act of speculators acting for their own selfish interests."

ADVERTISEMENT
Saudi Arabia, the largest oil producer in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cartel, was producing 9.45 million barrels per day before its announced increase.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App
for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App
for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
READ MORE
ADVERTISEMENT

LOGIN & CLAIM

50 TIMESPOINTS

More from our Partners

Loading next story
Business News › News › Economy › Indicators › Oil prices rise after Jeddah summit
Text Size:AAA
Success
This article has been saved

*

+