Crude prices record highs in the middle of the closing session of the week today, Friday, February 11th, less than an hour before the opening of the American markets, as Brent crude rises by about 1.15%, trading at levels of 92.45 dollars a barrel, while American crude (NYMEX) is rising by about 1.50% and is trading at levels of 91.25 dollars. However, the two crudes are heading to record weekly losses of more than 1% for the first time, after seven weeks of continuous gains.

Crude prices have been affected since the beginning of the week by the revival of the Iranian nuclear agreement with the United States of America and the West, which may raise US sanctions and raise Iranian supplies and exports, as talks resumed mid-week in Vienna, and some sources indicated that the two parties may reach an agreement soon.

In a related development, the International Energy Agency warned in its monthly report issued today, Friday, of an exacerbation of an expected oil supply crisis between groups of major producers within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and independent allies, which raises expectations of fluctuations in the coming period, as the report indicated that the global supply of crude has risen to 98.7 million barrels in January, an increase of about 560 thousand barrels.

The monthly OPEC report issued in turn yesterday, Thursday, showed an increase in the organization’s estimates of the growth of global demand for oil in the current year by 17,000 barrels to reach 5.7 million barrels per day.

Russia is the largest partner within the OPEC + system and an independent ally. Sources said this Friday morning that its oil and gas production rose to 11.07 million barrels per day in the period from February 1-10.