LONDON (Reuters) – Oil prices rose on Thursday as investors adjusted positions ahead of an OPEC+ decision on supply policy, though gains were capped by fears that the Omicron coronavirus variant could hit fuel demand.
Brent crude futures rose 35 cents, or 0.5%, to $69.22 a barrel by 1215 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 29 cents, or 0.4%, to $65.86.
Global oil prices have lost more than $10 a barrel since last Thursday, when news of Omicron first shook investors.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, together known as OPEC+, are likely to decide on Thursday whether to release more oil into the market as previously planned or to restrain supply.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 1300 GMT.
Since August the group has been adding an additional 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) of output to global supply each month, gradually winding down record cuts agreed in 2020.
The new coronavirus variant, however, has complicated the decision-making process.
Sources within OPEC+ and elsewhere had differing views on the likely outcome, ranging from a pause to the planned January increase, the previously agreed 400,000 bpd rise to go ahead and even one saying he expected a cut in production.
