EIA forecasts Brent crude oil prices will average $43/b in 2020, down from an average of $64/b in 2019. For 2020, EIA expects prices will average $37/b during the second quarter and then rise to $42/b during the second half of the year. EIA forecasts that average Brent prices will rise to an average of $55/b in 2021, as declining global oil inventories put upward pressure on prices.

Total global oil demand is now assumed at 99.73 mb/d in 2020, with 2H20 forecast to see higher consumption than 1H20. Considering the latest developments, downward risks currently outweigh any positive indicators and suggest further likely downward revisions in oil demand growth, should the current status persist.

Russia has long been seeking to capitalize on its OPEC ties with investment deals, which have been slow to materialize despite official state visits by Saudi King Salman to Moscow in 2017 and Russian President Vladimir Putin to Riyadh in October.

Norway's preliminary production figures for February 2020 show an average daily production of 2 106 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate,

Brent slid $0.41, or 1.1%, to $36.81 a barrel, WTI dropped $0.42, or 1.2%, to $33.94 a barrel.

The clash of oil titans Saudi Arabia and Russia sparked a 25% slump in crude prices on Monday, triggering panic selling on Wall Street and other equity markets that have already been badly hit by the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

U.S. shale companies need prices at least in the low $40s to cover costs,

In 2019, profit attributable to PJSC LUKOIL shareholders amounted to RUB 640.2 bln, 3.4% higher year-on-year. The growth was constrained by higher depreciation and lower non-cash foreign exchange gain.

Brent were up $1.44, or around 4%, to $35.80 a barrel, after hitting a session high of $37.38 a barrel. WTI gained $1.52, or around 5%, to $32.65 a barrel, after hitting a high of $33.73.

On Friday, Russia refused to sign a deal with OPEC and its non-OPEC allies on additional production cuts for the rest of 2020 to counter the fall in demand caused by the spreading coronavirus outbreak.