Oil up over demand recovery signs

By Zeynep Beyza Kilic

ANKARA (AA) - Oil prices increased on Friday amid signs of better demand appetite and possible OPEC+ action to lower output and stem price falls.

International benchmark Brent crude traded at $100.34 per barrel at 09.15 a.m. local time (0615 GMT) for a 1.01% increase from the closing price of $99.34 a barrel in the previous trading session.

American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at $93.50 per barrel at the same time for a 1.06% gain after the previous session closed at $92.52 a barrel.

Markets are focused on reports of a possible oil output cut by Saudi Arabia. The OPEC+ group is expected to lower production to curtail weak oil prices.

On Monday, Abdulaziz bin Salman, the energy minister of Saudi Arabia, warned of a potential supply cut to stabilize prices.

Fuel demand in the world's largest economies eased demand concerns and supported the upward price movement.

Meanwhile, experts await US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's speech for clues on rate hikes to combat inflation due later in the day.