Brent crude oil tops $68 a barrel — its highest since 2015

Oil rose further above $68 a barrel briefly on Tuesday, touching its highest since May 2015, supported by OPEC-led production cuts and expectations U.S. crude inventories fell for an eighth week.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia are keeping supply limits in place in 2018, a second year of restraint, to reduce a price-denting glut of oil held in inventories.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, was up 9 cents at $67.87 a barrel at 1111 GMT and earlier touched $68.29, its highest since May 2015. U.S. crude rose 18 cents to $61.91 and also reached its highest since May 2015.

“Oil prices remain on an upward trajectory,” said Carsten Fritsch, analyst at Commerzbank.

“In view of sharply falling U.S. crude oil stocks and record-high compliance with the production cuts by OPEC, market participants are convinced that the market is continuing to tighten.”

OPEC is cutting output by even more than it promised [OPEC/O] and the restraint is reducing oil stocks globally, a trend most visible in the United States, the world’s largest and most transparent oil market.

Supply reports this week from industry group American Petroleum Institute and the U.S. government’s Energy Information Administration are expected to show U.S. crude stocks fell by 4.1 million barrels, an eighth week of decline. [EIA/S] more detail at:  http://www.businessinsider.com/oil-price-tops-68-a-barrel-highest-since-2015-2018-1