/ 18 January 2001

OPEC SLASHES OIL SUPPLIES

OPEC has agreed on an aggressive reduction in oil supplies, aimed at keeping crude prices afloat near $25 a barrel, and said it could slice output again soon. The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries cut 1.5m barrels a day to cap limits for 10 members at 25.2m from February. OPEC took the decision despite fears among major importing nations that it could spell trouble for decelerating economies in the West by raising energy costs again. – Reuters