沙特和俄罗斯宣布联手维稳油价

Saudi Arabia and Russia yesterday said they would co-operate to try to stabilise oil markets, but stopped short of agreeing immediate action to restrict production and end a glut that has halved prices in the past two years.

沙特阿拉伯和俄罗斯昨日表示他们将联手试图稳定石油市场，但未能就限制产量、结束生产过剩状态——这导致油价过去两年下跌了一半——商定立即行动。

Traders have been watching for signs the world’s biggest producers could cap output when they meet in Algiers later this Month, with some Opec members clamouring to shore up the price.

交易商正在留意世界各大产油国本月晚些时候在阿尔及尔开会时限制产量的迹象。石油输出国组织(OPEC)的某些成员国强烈要求支撑油价。

The energy ministers of Russia and Saudi Arabia, which together produce more than a fifth of the world’s crude, said at the G20 meeting in China that they could limit output, while establishing a working group to explore other ways to reduce market volatility.

俄罗斯和沙特（这两国的原油产量超过世界总量五分之一）的能源部长在中国举行的20国(G20)会议上表示，他们可以限制产量，同时建立一个工作小组来探索减少市场波动性的其他方式。

Russia is the largest exporter outside of Opec.

俄罗斯是OPEC以外最大的石油出口国。

Freezing production is one of the preferred possibilities but it does not have to happen specifically today, Saudi oil minister Khalid Al Falih said.

冻结产量是优先考虑的可能性之一，但是不一定非要在今天出台，沙特石油部长哈立德•阿尔-法立赫(Khalid al-Falih)表示。

News of their planned co-operation initially sent prices shooting higher, with international benchmark Brent crude gaining as much as 6 per cent to $49.40 a barrel.

他们宣布合作计划的消息起初使得油价上涨，国际基准的布伦特(Brent)原油价格上涨6%，至49.40美元/桶。

But Brent quickly retraced most of its gains to trade nearer $47 a barrel, after it became clear there was no concrete agreement.

但是，随着没有达成具体协议的事实变得明朗，布伦特原油价格很快回落至47美元/桶左右，抹掉了大部分涨幅。

The pact at the G20 followed a meeting between Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi deputy crown prince, and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the weekend.

在G20峰会上达成协议之前，沙特副王储穆罕默德•本•萨勒曼(Mohammed bin Salman)和俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔•普京(Vladimir Putin)周末会晤。

Greater co-operation has been under discussion for almost a year, but lower prices and Middle East geopolitics — each country supports opposing sides in Syria’s civil war — is creating strain.

两国之间对于扩大合作已经讨论了近一年，但是油价下跌和中东地缘政治——两国在叙利亚内战中支持着对立的阵营——正在制造紧张。

Russia was ready to join the cartel in freezing output in April before Saudi Arabia halted talks at the last minute, refusing to join any deal without the participation of its regional rival Iran.

4月，俄罗斯曾准备好与该组织一起冻结产量，但沙特在最后时刻停止了对话、拒绝在没有区域竞争对手伊朗参与的情况下加入任何协议。

Russia’s energy minister Alexander Novak described yesterday’s agreement as historic but tensions remained readily apparent.

俄罗斯能源部长亚历山大•诺瓦克(Alexander Novak)形容昨天的协议具有历史意义，但是紧张局面仍然显而易见。

While Mr Novak said an output cap was the most effective instrument, with details of a plan currently being discussed, Mr Falih suggested freezing production may not be necessary.

尽管诺瓦克称设置产量上限是最有效的工具、计划细节目前正在讨论之中，但是法立赫暗示冻结产量或许没有必要。

The Russian minister also said a production deal may not have to include Iran until Tehran’s production had recovered to pre-sanctions levels.

诺瓦克还表示，在德黑兰方面的产量恢复到制裁前水平之前，生产协议可能不一定要包括伊朗。

Mr Falih said he believed, however, that Iran’s output was already at that level.

然而法立赫称，他认为伊朗的石油产量已经达到那个水平了。