Gross Australian LNG production increased by 53.2% in the March quarter to 10.1 MMt with the ramp-up of production from Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) and Golar LNG (GLNG) projects in Queensland and the first cargo from the Gorgon project in Western Australia. The country's LNG exports reached 3.8 MMt during the same period, while Russia's LNG exports totaled 2.5 MMt.

U.S. crude was down 23 cents at $46.37 a barrel at 0158 GMT. The contract fell 5 percent to end at $46.60 on Tuesday as U.S. investors digested news of an OPEC increase in production after the July 4 holiday on Monday closed trading. Brent futures were down 18 cents at $47.78. On Tuesday they settled down 4.3 percent at $47.96 a barrel.

In the week ending Monday, the average UK pump price of unleaded gasoline (ULSP) was 111.65p/liter, up 0.21 p/liter week on week. The price of diesel (ULSD) was 112.86 p/liter, up 0.30 p/liter on the week.

Russia is on course to post its widest budget deficit since 2010 after oil prices tumbled to a 12-year low in January, reducing revenue for the state budget in the world’s largest energy exporter.

Directors emphasized the need for continuing structural reforms to support a successful transition and improve the efficiency of the economy. They saw merit in continued restraint in wage settlements and further reforms to reinvigorate productivity growth. Aligning public sector pensions with recent private sector reforms and reforms to sickness and disability pensions could increase labor force participation. Directors also saw scope for efficiency gains from reducing tax preferences for owner-occupied housing and relaxing supply restrictions in the housing market.

Kuwait's budget deficit reflects the impact lower oil prices have had on crude exporters, particularly Gulf Arab monarchies that rely on oil revenues to support generous subsidies, welfare benefits and public sector wages.

Monthly average crude oil prices for April rose in all categories of sale. The average domestic crude oil first purchase price increased $3.72 (11.7%), to $35.59 per barrel.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 were trading at $50.31 per barrel at 0441 GMT, almost unchanged from their last settlement. U.S. crude CLc1 were down 5 cents at $48.94.

“Indeed, youth seeds yield high crops. Our program activities were developed as pilots, but they are also a source of good practices and lessons to be used as a rich ground for the development of new joint World Bank and donor partners projects,”

Brent crude LCOc1 was down 48 cents a barrel at $50.13 as of 0856 GMT, having risen in the two previous sessions. U.S. crude CLc1 was down 48 cents to $49.40.

Brent crude futures were trading at $48.84 per barrel at 0422 GMT, up 26 cents from their last settlement. U.S. crude was up 35 cents at $48.20 a barrel.

Brent crude futures were down 15 cents at $48.26 a barrel by 0238 GMT on Monday, after settling down $2.50, or 4.9 percent, at $48.41 on Friday. U.S. crude was down 25 cents at $47.39 a barrel, after closing down $2.47, or 4.9 percent, on Friday.

U.S. crude was down $2.77 at $47.34 a barrel at around 0314 GMT. Brent crude was down $2.75 at $48.16 a barrel.

"We have such low production costs that we will always be able to cut the selling price by a dollar or two when it comes to fighting off a rival," said a senior source at Gazprom.

Supply and demand for oil are coming back into balance, and the response of shale producers to rising prices will help determine how high crude can go, Christof Ruehl, the global head of research at Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, said Wednesday in an interview in Dubai. Ruehl’s view that the re-balancing will take until at least the middle of 2017 contrasts with the more optimistic outlook of some industry leaders and analysts who foresee demand nearing supply by the end of this year.