Russian assets are under pressure as concerns resurface that the global oil market is over supplied. After rallying from a record low at the start of the year as crude rebounded, the ruble is the third-worst performer in emerging markets so far this quarter.

Progress will be slow. The crude glut will take a long time to dissipate, meaning only gradual price gains, said Michael Hsueh, a strategist at Deutsche Bank AG. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark, will average $49.50 in the fourth quarter before breaking decisively above $50 next year, the analysts say.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was at $40.15 a barrel at 0433 GMT (12:33 a.m. ET) , up 9 cents from its last close after dipping below $40 for the first time since April the previous session. International Brent crude oil futures were trading at $42.34 per barrel, up 20 cents from their last close.

State-owned Saudi Arabian Oil Co. said Sunday it will sell cargoes of Arab Light in September at $1.10 a barrel below Asia’s regional benchmark. That is a pricing cut of $1.30 from August, the biggest drop since November, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The company was expected to lower the pricing by $1 a barrel, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of eight refiners and traders.

With the oil market entering a new normal of lower prices, the price per barrel is projected to settle in the range of $53 to $60 by 2020, when supply and demand are expected to be in balance.

International Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were trading at $42.51 at 0617 GMT, down 19 cents, or 0.4 percent, from their previous close, the lowest since April. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 fell 26 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $40.88 a barrel, slipping below $41 for the first time since April.

Brent crude oil prices averaged at the lowest level since 2004, significantly reducing profits and cash flow for energy companies.

"Our portfolio continues to perform exceptionally well, and we've continued to significantly reduce our cost structure throughout the year," said Al Walker, Anadarko Chairman, President and CEO.

The World Bank is raising its 2016 forecast for crude oil prices to $43 per barrel from $41 per barrel due to supply outages and robust demand in the second quarter.

Venezuela and state oil company PDVSA face heavy debt payments this year amid weak oil markets and continuing decay of its socialist economic model. Neither have been able to borrow in recent years because the extremely high yields have made such operations too costly.