PLATTS - "Prices are continuing to rise and I think that proves the point that it is not the fundamentals of oil supply and demand that is behind this price increase," Saudi energy minister Khalid al-Falih said, during a key session of the forum Thursday.

SHANA - In sum, Iran and Russia know what to do under the current circumstances…We have good prospects for cooperation. The five committees that were set up between Iran and Gazprom met in Tehran and drew up minutes. Committees and their members were identified, and now there is a relationship between the two countries in terms of technology transfer. Gazprom is interested in investing in Iran's oil and gas sector.

REUTERS - India will buy 9 million barrels of Iranian oil in November, two industry sources said, indicating the world’s third-biggest oil importer will continue purchasing crude from the Islamic republic despite U.S. sanctions coming into force on Nov. 4.

IMF - We project real GDP growth at 4.2 percent in 2018 and 3.5 percent in 2019. Full implementation of the structural reform agenda will further boost growth potential. Headline inflation has increased to 2.6 percent in August and is expected to remain close to the center of the inflation target range of 3 percent over 2018 and 2019.

REUTERS - Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the kingdom’s main sovereign wealth fund (PIF) will surpass its target of increasing its assets to $600 billion by 2020, as part of a plan to reduce the economy’s dependence on oil.

U.S. BEA - The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $53.2 billion in August, up $3.2 billion from $50.0 billion in July,

U.S. BLS - The unemployment rate declined to 3.7 percent in September, and total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 134,000, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job gains occurred in professional and business services, in health care, and in transportation and warehousing.

BAKER HUGHES A GE - U.S. Rig Count is down 2 rigs from last week to 1,052, with oil rigs down 2 to 861, gas rigs unchanged at 189, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 2. Canada Rig Count is up 4 rigs from last week to 182, with oil rigs down 3 to 119 and gas rigs up 7 to 63.

REUTERS - The United States on Thursday charged seven Russian intelligence officers with conspiring to hack computers and steal data from the nuclear energy company Westinghouse Electric Co as well as anti-doping watchdogs, sporting federations and an international agency probing the use of chemical weapons.

BAKER HUGHES A GE - The worldwide rig count for September 2018 was 2,258, down 20 from the 2,278 counted in August 2018, and up 177 from the 2,081 counted in September 2017.

REUTERS - Benchmark Brent crude oil was up 10 cents a barrel at $84.68 by 0820 GMT. On Thursday, Brent fell by $1.34 a barrel or 1.6 percent. The contract is on course for a gain of around 2.5 percent for the week. U.S. light crude was up 30 cents at $74.63, a gain of more than 2 percent since last Friday.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - Говоря о динамике цен на энергоресурсы, Александр Новак подчеркнул, что главной задачей как для России, так и для других участников договоренностей о регулировании добычи нефти всегда было балансирование рынка, а не рост стоимости до определенных уровней.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - цифры были названы президентом РФ: мы в краткосрочном периоде можем увеличить еще на 200-300 тысяч баррелей, если при этом будет необходимость и целесообразность, потому что основная задача — баланс спроса и предложения, чтобы не нарушить равновесие на рынке, а наоборот его сохранить.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - «Уже привлечены инвестиции в ряд российских компаний на сумму более 2,5 млрд долл. США. На стадии рассмотрения находятся проекты на сумму свыше 12 млрд долл. США. Высоко ценим участие Катарского суверенного фонда в акционерном капитале «Роснефти», - добавил Александр Новак.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - «Документ предусматривает поэтапную реализацию проектов в области геологоразведки на суше и на шельфе Сирии, добычи нефти и газа, восстановлении и модернизации нефтегазовой инфраструктуры. Кроме того, речь идет о подготовке национальных сирийских квалифицированных кадров и проведении совместных научно- исследовательских работ в области геологии», - сказал Александр Новак.