Agency :
Oil prices rose on Friday after the OPEC+ group’s decision to keep its production policy unchanged, but benchmarks remained on track for weekly losses on China demand growth fears.
Brent crude futures were up 50 cents, or 0.6%, at $79.20 a barrel by 1001 GMT and US West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 47 cents, or 0.6%, to $79.20.
The Brent benchmark had approached $85 a barrel in Monday trading.
Two OPEC+ sources said on Thursday that the group has kept its output policy unchanged and will decide in March whether to extend the voluntary oil production cuts in place for the first quarter.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia, together known as OPEC+, has output cuts of 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in place for the first quarter, as announced in November.
“What has been already been made clear last year is that the reversal of those cuts will be gradual,” said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo, adding that the bank expects an extension into the second quarter.
Also supporting oil prices was the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to keep the benchmark overnight interest rate in the 5.25-5.50% range and comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell, saying interest rates had peaked and would move lower in the coming months.
Lower interest rates would reduce consumer borrowing costs, which can boost economic growth and oil demand.