Oil futures extended strong gains on Thursday, continuing to gather support after the world’s biggest suppliers firmed up plans to meet to discuss an output freeze. Oil producers, including Gulf OPEC members, support holding talks next month on a deal to keep production at current levels even if Iran declines to participate, OPEC sources said on Wednesday. A meeting would increase the likelihood of the first global supply deal in 15 years. U.S. crude CLc1 was up 77 cents at $39.23 a barrel at 0743 GMT, having earlier risen as high as $39.38. The gains were in addition to a 5.8 percent jump on Wednesday that erased losses from the previous two trading days. Brent crude LCOc1 […]