UAE's shock OPEC exit: What it means for the oil cartel's future and for crude prices

The United Arab Emirates' exit from OPEC this week will weaken the influence of the cartel and its leader Saudi Arabia on the oil market, a development that could prove bearish for prices over the long term. The UAE was the most influential member of OPEC behind Saudi Arabia. It was one of the few members, along with Saudi Arabia, that had meaningful spare production capacity to influence prices and respond to supply shocks, said Jorge León, head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy. …