Oil prices ended nearly 1 percent higher on Friday, close to their highest levels in months, as major producers meeting in Vienna said they may wait until January before deciding whether to extend output curbs beyond the first quarter. “I believe that January is the earliest date when we can actually, credibly speak about the state of the market,” Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other major producers finished meeting. Other ministers said a decision on extending cuts could be taken in November when OPEC holds its next formal meeting. Jim Ritterbusch of Ritterbusch & Associates in Chicago said delaying a decision allows producers “to leave some arrows in their quiver to throw something bullish at the market at their November meeting” if necessary. He said Brent futures got an additional boost in late trade when […]