PLATTS - Angola's crude oil exports rebounded to a four-month high of 1.63 mil b/d in June even as the OPEC member struggles to arrest declines at some of its ageing deepwater oil fields, finance ministry data showed.

REUTERS - Front-month Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were at $71.88 per barrel at 0646 GMT, down 19 cents, or 0.3 percent from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were down by 22 cents, or 0.3 percent, at $66.59 a barrel.

PLATTS - Saudi Arabia pumped 10.63 million b/d in July, according to the latest S&P Global Platts OPEC survey, far above its quota of 10.06 million b/d, though kingdom officials say their July output was 10.29 million b/d. Russia produced 11.22 million b/d in July, according to official data, basically erasing its 300,000 b/d pledged cut.

REUTERS - “U.S. decisions on sanctions do not affect the legal situation in Switzerland with regard to Iran,” said Fabian Maienfisch of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

PLATTS - Iraqi crude oil production hit its highest in 13 months in July of 4.46 million b/d, the country's State Oil Marketing Organization said Thursday.

OG.COM - “For more than four decades, the UAE and Japan have enjoyed a deep rooted and successful strategic relationship, underpinned by long standing energy partnerships,” Dr Al Jaber said. “ADNOC is keen to further strengthen the relationship, deepen partnerships and seize growth opportunities along the full oil and gas value chain.

REUTERS - Front-month Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were at $74.50 per barrel at 0651 GMT, down 15 cents, or 0.2 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were at $69.15 per barrel, down 2 cents.

ARAB NEWS - US President Donald Trump warned the world against doing business with Iran on Tuesday as he hailed the “most biting sanctions ever imposed,” triggering a mix of anger, fear and defiance in Tehran.

EIA - Brent crude oil spot prices averaged $74 per barrel (b) in July, largely unchanged from the average in June. EIA expects Brent spot prices will average $72/b in 2018 and $71/b in 2019. EIA expects West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices will average about $6/b lower than Brent prices in 2018 and in 2019.

REUTERS - Crude shipments came in at 36.02 million tonnes last month, or 8.48 million barrels per day, up from 8.18 million bpd a year ago, and just up on June’s 8.36 million bpd, data from the General Administration of Customs showed.

REUTERS - Indian refiners’ interest in U.S. crude will be welcome news to shale producers looking for buyers outside of China, which is likely to scale back imports as the trade dispute between the administration of President Donald Trump and Beijing escalates.

ROSNEFT - 2Q 2018 net income attributable to Rosneft shareholders jumped by 2.8 times QoQ and reached RUB 228 bln (USD 3.6 bln) on the back of operating income growth, FX impact and one-off gain from recognizing net income from the share acquisition in upstream JV with a foreign partner and recognition of fair value of previously held interest in JV.

ROSNEFT - In line with strategic initiatives announced by Rosneft on April 25, 2018, the Board of Directors of Rosneft Oil Company approved the terms and launch of the open market share buyback program, which would also cover the holders of depositary receipts, in the amount of up to US$2bn (the "Program").

PETROBRAS - Petrobras reported net income of R$ 17 billion in the first half of 2018. The positive result was mainly influenced by the increase in international oil prices, associated with the depreciation of the Brazilian Real against the US dollar. In the same period, net debt fell 13% compared to December 2017, to US$ 73.66 billion.

REUTERS - Brent crude oil futures were up 31 cents on the day at $73.52 a barrel by 0903 GMT, while U.S. futures rose 35 cents to $68.84 barrel.