SINGAPORE: Crude prices fell in Asian trade Friday as supply fears eased with oil cartel OPEC promising
to boost output to make up for any production loss in revolt-hit Libya, analysts said.
New York's main contract, light sweet crude for April delivery, dipped 40 cents to $96.88 per barrel.
Brent North Sea crude for delivery in April was down 47 cents to $110.89.
"The fact that Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Saudi Arabia were willing to
increase oil production, has lowered oil prices," said Ong Yi Ling, investment analyst for Phillip Futures in
Singapore.
Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said on Tuesday OPEC was prepared to meet any shortage of supplies due
to unrest in the Middle East and that its members had sufficient spare capacity to do so.
The OPEC kingpin also on Thursday reassured oil consumers that the nation would boost production as well
to make up for any production lost in Libya, according to oil specialist Platts.
Investors were also monitoring the situation in neighbouring Bahrain, where thousands of protesters were
staging a march in Manama and pressing an 11-day uprising against the monarchy, Ong added.
"While Bahrain is not a major oil producer, it has close ties to Saudi Arabia, so it is important to the
strategic balance of power in the Middle East," Ong said.
