Oil Note: OPEC Announces Production Cuts

OPEC agreed to cut its own production by 1.2 million barrels per day (mbpd), to 32.5 mbpd, on 30th of November. Oil prices immediately rose by 8 percent following the announcement and could rise even further in the short term. Whether prices remain elevated will depend on OPEC implementing its agreement with discipline as well as no major rises in US shale oil supply. Overall, whilst the OPEC cuts represent an up-side risk to oil prices, due to the hurdles mentioned above, we are not revising our current forecasts just yet, but will be monitoring developments closely.