Buoyed by strong global oil demand growth and reduced OPEC supply, U.S. benchmark WTI jumped above the psychologically important US$50 threshold on Thursday, topping that level for the first time in five weeks and aiming for the highest closing since the end of May. At 12:30pm EST today, WTI traded up 1.74 percent at US$50.16, while Brent was up 1.05 percent at US$55.74. Brent is now above the US$55 psychological level for the first time since May 25, when OPEC decided to extend the production cuts as-is in a move that largely disappointed a market that was expecting a firmer “whatever it takes” action. Today is the fourth consecutive day of gains for oil prices that have been enjoying a good week, in which OPEC reported lower production for August, followed by the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) assessment for strong demand growth. On Tuesday, OPEC’s Monthly Oil Market Report […]