Oil tumbles to four-year low below $79, awaits OPEC

Africa oil industry refocuses priorities as price falls and setbacks bedevil groups

With less than three weeks to go before OPEC meets in Vienna and the selloff in oil showing few signs of letting up, speculation is mounting the group will take action to try to stem the decline.

A growing list of delayed or cancelled projects, seen by some investors as a healthy move by majors to rein in capital spend after a poor history of returns is working its way through corporate earnings; it has already pummelled the share price of some European suppliers seen as financially fragile.

West Texas Intermediate and Brent oils increased after U.S. employment gains exceeded 200,000 for a ninth month and the jobless rate dropped to a six-year low, bolstering the fuel demand outlook.

Transocean Ltd. (RIG), owner of the biggest fleet of deep-water drilling rigs, is feeling the effect of an industrywide glut in the expensive vessels just as crude-oil prices tumble.

Libyan state security guards have started a protest at the 120,000 barrel per day Hariga oil port in the east, halting all oil exports from the terminal, a Libyan oil official said on Saturday.

OPEC Head Tells Oil Market to Stop Panicking About Prices

North Atlantic Drilling Ltd. (NADL), the rig company controlled by billionaire John Fredriksen, will extend a deadline to complete deals with Russia’s OAO Rosneft (ROSN) that include $4.25 billion in contracts amid concern over trade sanctions, a person familiar with discussions said.

As Oil Plunges Further, Why It Might Be 'Game Over' For The Fracking Boom