The worldwide rig count for September 2016 was 1,584, up 37 from the 1,547 counted in August 2016, and down 587 from the 2,171 counted in September 2015.

U.S. Rig Count is down 271 rigs from last year's count of 795, with oil rigs down 177, gas rigs down 95, and miscellaneous rigs up 1. Canadian Rig Count is down 15 rigs from last year's count of 180, with oil rigs up 13, and gas rigs down 28.

Brent LCOc1 traded at $52.11 at 1000 GMT, 40 cents down, after touching $52.84 earlier, two cents below the 2016 high. U.S. oil futures traded as high as $50.74 a barrel, a three and a half month high, before falling by 30 cents to $50.14 a barrel. On Thursday they settled at $50.44 per barrel - the first settlement above $50 since June 23.

If Nigeria and Libya restore production, the kingdom may need to cut twice as much. U.S. shale drillers also stand ready to fill any supply gap.

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that the goods and services deficit was $40.7 billion in August, up $1.2 billion from $39.5 billion in July, revised. August exports were $187.9 billion, $1.5 billion more than July exports. August imports were $228.6 billion, $2.6 billion more than July imports.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were trading at $49.22 per barrel at 0649 GMT, up 53 cents, or 1.1 percent, from their last settlement. In international oil markets, benchmark Brent crude was trading at $51.38 per barrel, up 51 cents, or 1.0 percent.

Paolo Scaroni, the former chief executive of Italy’s Eni SpA, said Iran is able to pump as much as 4.1 million to 4.2 million barrels daily.

Russian oil production continuing its slow climb for at least the next five years.

The upcoming IMF bank resolution workshop provides an opportunity to discuss options to address NPLs. The IMF is ready to provide further assistance to define and implement a financial sector reform plan.

December Brent crude futures LCOc1 were last up 42 cents at $50.61 a barrel by 0913 GMT, off a session low of $49.74, while U.S. crude futures CLc1 rose 37 cents to $48.61 a barrel, above the day's low at $47.78.

Средняя цена нефти марки Urals по итогам января-сентября 2016 года составила $39,92 за баррель.

U.S. Rig Count is down 287 rigs from last year's count of 809, with oil rigs down 189, gas rigs down 99, and miscellaneous rigs up 1. Canadian Rig Count is down 17 rigs from last year's count of 179, with oil rigs up 14, and gas rigs down 31.

Demand for land rigs will rise 29 percent next year to 579, the S&P Global Platts unit said in a report released at the Benposium East conference in New York on Wednesday. Platts RigData forecasts average West Texas Intermediate crude prices to climb 23 percent to $52.18 a barrel in 2017. The Henry Hub natural gas benchmark is seen increasing 26 percent to $3.05 per million British thermal units.

The November contract for global crude benchmark Brent was up 0.78% at $46.33 while its U.S. counterpart West Texas Intermediate gained 0.58% to hit $44.94.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude had fallen 38 cents to $45.55 a barrel by 0103 GMT, after rising $1.45, or 3.3 percent, in the previous session. Brent crude futures slipped 43 cents to $46.91 a barrel after closing up $1.46, or 3.2 percent.