Japan is putting together a package of plans for Japanese companies to invest in infrastructure and job-creation projects in the United States. Japan is the world's biggest buyer of the gas cooled to liquid form for transport on ships and takes in nearly a third of global shipments.

With India's oil demand showing no signs of slowing, which in turn is attracting a lot of multinational firms to set up shop in the country, the government is stepping up efforts to ensure that state-run oil companies are on equal footing to compete, not just with domestic private players but also with global oil firms.

U.S. Rig Count is up 158 rigs from last year's count of 571, with oil rigs up 116, gas rigs up 41, and miscellaneous rigs up 1. Canadian Rig Count is up 101 rigs from last year's count of 242, with oil rigs up 66 and gas rigs up 35.

China will launch the trading of green certificates for solar and wind power on July 1 in a bid to help reduce government subsidies to the renewables sector, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said.

Brent crude LCOc1 was up 25 cents at $55.83 a barrel at 0954 GMT, having traded in a narrow 53-cent range so far in the session. U.S. crude CLc1 rose 26 cents to $53.07.

Российская сторона гарантировала надежность поставок энергоресурсов в Венгрию, отметив технологическую возможность для Венгрии покупать газ, в частности, по "Северному потоку 2" и "Турецкому потоку", при этом РФ не исключила дальнейший транзит газа в Венгрию через Украину в случае экономической целесообразности и надежности этих поставок.

Light, sweet crude oil prices on the New York market and Brent crude oil prices on the London market surged by more than $1/bbl on Feb. 1 as traders and analysts shrugged off a big jump in the US oil inventory report.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest crude exporter, raised pricing for March sales to buyers from the U.S. to Asia as output cuts by OPEC and other producers shore up oil prices.

Weatherford International plc (NYSE: WFT) and Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE: NBR) announced today they have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form an alliance focused on delivering enhanced drilling solutions to the oil and gas land market in the lower 48 states of the United States.

Full-year 2016 earnings were a net loss of $3.6 billion, or ($2.91) per share, compared with a full-year 2015 net loss of $4.4 billion, or ($3.58) per share. Excluding special items, full-year 2016 adjusted earnings were a net loss of $3.3 billion, or ($2.66) per share, compared with a full-year 2015 adjusted net loss of $1.7 billion, or ($1.40) per share.

Weatherford International plc (NYSE: WFT) reported a net loss of $549 million, or a loss of $0.59 per share, and non-GAAP net loss of $303 million before charges and credits ($0.32 non-GAAP loss per share) on revenues of $1.41 billion for the fourth quarter of 2016.

Brent crude was up 50 cents at $57.30 a barrel by 1115 GMT (6:15 a.m. ET) after settling up $1.22 in the previous session. U.S. light crude gained 30 cents to $54.18 after climbing by $1.07 on Wednesday.

"За январь статистика показывает, что колебания цен были в диапазоне примерно 5 долларов относительно средней, 55 долларов. Можно говорить и о постепенном восстановлении инвестиционной привлекательности отрасли, в этом году впервые за последние три года все участники рынка ожидают увеличения инвестиций в отрасль, что позволит в будущем избежать обвала добычи"

Средняя цена нефти марки Urals в январе 2017 года составила $53,16 за баррель, что в 1,8 раза выше, чем в январе 2016 года. В январе 2016 года средняя цена нефти марки Urals составила $ 28,75 за баррель.

A measure of oil volatility last month averaged the lowest in more than two years and futures in New York have been stuck between $50 and $55 a barrel since OPEC and other producing nations agreed Dec. 10 to reduce output. Price estimates compiled by Bloomberg show crude will average $52 during the first quarter this year, rising to $58 in the last three months of 2017.