The cushion could protect the country from any short-term supply disruptions related to new U.S. sanctions on Russian crude.
Escalating U.S. tensions with Venezuela and an upcoming monthly decision by major oil producers on crude output targets were the focus of traders heading into the weekend.
Exxon Mobil on Friday reported third quarter earnings that fell year over year, as oil prices tumbled due in large part to OPEC+ increasing production.
Oil fell in the early Asian session. “The market is now watching this weekend's OPEC+ meeting and discussions of its output policy,” ANZ Research said.
Crude oil slips near $60 as oversupply fears persist. Traders eye the Nov 2 OPEC+ meeting and natural gas consolidation ahead of a possible breakout.
Oil prices held on to most gains from the previous session in early trading on Thursday as investors awaited U.S.-China trade talks later in the day, hoping for signs that tensions clouding the economic growth outlook will ease.
Oil edged lower in the early Asian session as traders assess various geopolitical risks.
U.S. crude oil inventories posted a bigger-than-expected decline of 6.9 million barrels last week as imports fell and exports rose, said the EIA.
Norway's sovereign-wealth fund returned 5.8% in the third quarter, driven by particularly strong returns in basic materials, telecommunications and the financial sector.
Enforcing tough measures against one of the world's top oil producers risks triggering a supply shock.
Crude oil dropped to $60.12, testing the 20-day average, with a close below $60.23 eyeing $59.72.
The crude oil market has fallen again in the early hours of Tuesday, as we continue to see a lot of volatility out there. With this, the oil market sees a lot of selling pressure after the knee-jerk reaction to the Russian sanctions.