The U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday that crude stockpiles fell by 2.5 million barrels in the week ended Friday. Analysts surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected a 500,000-barrel addition. Gasoline stockpiles fell by 2.7 million barrels. That helped the oil markets recover from losses tied to estimates from the American Petroleum Institute, an industry group, showing gasoline stockpiles rose by 2.2 million barrels.

OPEC revenue has fallen in step with the steep decline in crude oil prices. The monthly average Brent spot price dropped from $112 per barrel in June 2014 to $38/b in December 2015. OPEC revenue is expected to fall further in 2016 to $341 billion before rising to $427 billion in 2017.

In our view, crude prices in the next few months are likely to exhibit a sideways-to-bearish trend, mostly trading in the $35-$45 per barrel range. As North American supply remains strong and demand looks underwhelming, we are likely to experience pressure to the price of a barrel of oil.

Brent crude futures were trading at $48.35 per barrel at 0737 GMT (3:37 a.m. ET), flat from their last close, but over 15 percent higher than the $41.51 low for the month on Aug. 2. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was trading at $45.76 a barrel, up 2 cents from its previous close, and still over 16 percent above its $39.19 monthly low from Aug. 3.

"With regard to the cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the dialogue between our two countries is developing in a tangible way, whether in the framework of a multi-party structure or on a bilateral level," Novak was quoted as saying.

Brent crude oil futures rose to a high for the month of $47.67 a barrel on Monday before dipping back to $47.10 per barrel at 0943 GMT, up 13 cents from their last settlement, and 11.3 percent above the last close in July. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose to a high of $45.15 a barrel before dipping to $44.63 a barrel, still up 14 cents from their last close. WTI has gained more than 7 percent in August.

Средняя цена на нефть Urals за период мониторинга с 15 июля по 14 августа 2016 года составила $41,57667 за баррель, или $303,5 за тонну. Согласно расчетам Минфина России экспортная пошлина на нефть в РФ с 1 сентября 2016 года понизится на $10,1 и составит $80 за тонну.

International Brent crude oil futures were trading at $46.20 per barrel at 8.47 p.m. ET, up 16 cents, or 0.35 percent, from their last close and not far off their $46.30 monthly high reached in the previous session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $43.71 a barrel, up 22 cents, or 0.51 percent, from their last close.

Saudi Arabia didn’t agree to limits on its production back in April because Iran, its regional rival, refused to join in. Several OPEC members want to revive the idea because Iran has regained much of the energy-industry might it lost during the years of Western sanctions.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were trading at $41.34 per barrel at 8.32 p.m. ET, down 37 cents, or 0.9 percent, from their last settlement. International Brent crude futures LCOc1 were at $43.72 a barrel, down 33 cents, or 0.8 percent.