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Wed 24 Sep, 2003 02:00 pm
VIENNA, Austria - Defying most expectations, OPEC (news - web sites) will cut its oil production target by 3.5 percent beginning in November, the cartel announced Wednesday.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed to reduce its output ceiling by 900,000 barrels a day to 24.5 million barrels. OPEC pumps about a third of the world's crude.
Although the market is currently well supplied, OPEC is taking pre-emptive action now to try to keep prices stable before an expected dip in seasonal demand early next year, the group's spokesman Omar Ibrahim told a news conference.
This is not a wise move by OPEC. They are pushing their luck.
the "logic" of pre-emption seems to be making the rounds.