Brent crude futures have risen 45 percent. If that is sustained or even increased throughout this year, inflation next year could rise significantly, posing questions for policymakers largely committed to ultra-loose policy.

Fair and stable oil prices will benefit producers and consumers, allowing global supply and demand to grow at a steady pace, Saudi Arabia's Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said on Tuesday.

EIA expects the United States to be a net natural gas exporter by 2017.

Two of the world’s leading energy companies weathered plunging oil prices in the first quarter of this year by making increased profits from refining and trading, suggesting large groups are better placed than smaller rivals to cope with the slump.

U.S. Rig Count is down 22 rigs from last week to 932, with oil rigs down 31 to 703, gas rigs up 8 to 225, and miscellaneous rigs up 1 to 4.

OAO Gazprom says antitrust allegations by the European Commission regarding territorial restrictions and an unfair pricing policy are “unsubstantiated.”

If there was one thing guaranteed to follow low oil prices (other than the loss of thousands of jobs) it was mergers and acquisitions. This has certainly rung true as companies consolidate their portfolios or use their war chests to snap up competitors while prices are down. The recent deal between Royal Dutch Shell and BG Group has many expecting a renewed wave of major business decisions. The buzz has fueled rumors that BP Plc will be susceptible to a takeover by fellow oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp.

Total said it may take advantage of the slump in crude to make acquisitions that build on the strengths of Europe’s third-biggest oil company in deepwater offshore fields and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Weatherford International raised its layoff target to 10,000 positions on Thursday after booking an over 50 percent income drop in the first quarter.

Global oil demand is set to rise by 1 million or even 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2015, according to a range of forecasters.

While the U.S. rig count keeps falling, weak oil prices won’t stop the United States from becoming a net energy exporter in the coming decades, the Energy Information Administration’s 2015 annual energy outlook said.

North Dakota Democrats are predicting a “nightmare scenario” for future state revenues if the Republican-led Legislature radically restructures oil taxes as a hedge against falling crude prices.

Baker Hughes Inc (BHI.N), which is being bought by Halliburton Co (HAL.N) for $35 billion, said it expects "unfavorable market conditions" to persist in the second quarter as drillers turn off more rigs, intensifying a glut in oilfield services.

The US should remove the national interest demonstration requirement for LNG exports to countries with which it does not have a free-trade agreement before it loses one of its biggest energy and economic opportunities in its history, anExxonMobil Corp. executive said.

Turkey's relationship with Russia is changing significantly. A domestic economic crisis, low energy prices and European energy diversification efforts have weakened Russia.