REUTERS - International Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were at $60.86 per barrel at 0543 GMT, up 66 cents, or 1.1 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were at $52.22 per barrel, up 57 cents, or 1.1 percent.

PLATTS - Russia will cut its liquids output by 50,000-60,000 b/d in January under the latest agreement with OPEC, energy minister Alexander Novak said Tuesday. "The monthly schedule for the output cut has already been [set]... We expect output will be cut by at least 50,000 b/d-60,000 b/d in January," he said, as reported by Prime news agency.

U.S. EIA - EIA expects Brent spot prices will average $61 in 2019 and that West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices will average about $7/b lower than Brent prices next year. NYMEX WTI futures and options contract values for March 2019 delivery that traded during the five-day period ending December 6, 2018, suggest a range of $36/b to $77/b encompasses the market expectation for March WTI prices at the 95% confidence level.

PLATTS - Russia will invest $5 billion to raise Venezuela's oil production by 1 million b/d under a new economic agreement, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Thursday.

PLATTS - At 11:00 am Singapore time (0300 GMT), ICE February Brent crude futures were up 43 cents/b (0.7%) from Friday's settle at $62.10/b, while the NYMEX January light sweet crude contract inched 2 cents/b (0.04%) lower to $52.59/b.

BHGE - U.S. Rig Count is down 1 rig from last week to 1,075, with oil rigs down 10 to 877 and gas rigs up 9 to 198. Canada Rig Count is down 13 rigs from last week to 186, with oil rigs down 17 to 102 and gas rigs up 4 to 84.

REUTERS - International Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 fell below $60 per barrel early in the session, trading at $59.50 per barrel at 0144 GMT, down 56 cents, or 0.9 percent from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were at $51.24 per barrel, down 25 cents, or 0.5 percent.

WSJ - Russia and Saudi Arabia have agreed to extend OPEC’s efforts to stabilize oil markets, Russian President Vladimir Putin said over the weekend, as the broader coalition of producers inches closer to a deal this week.

SHANA - Asked about potential OPEC production cuts, Mr. Zangeneh said, “Different figures are proposed and we must wait and see what decision OPEC members will make.” He also said that $60 to $70 dollars per barrel would be reasonable for crude oil.

REUTERS - Venezuela has signed deals securing investment from Russia in the South American country’s oil and gold sectors, President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday at the end of a three-day trip to Moscow.