Oil hit amid Opec turmoil

÷ OIL slid toward the deepest monthly loss since the worldwide financial crisis a decade ago as Russia signalled it may resist production caps at a crucial Opec gathering in Vienna this week. Futures fell as much as 3.5pc in New York last Friday. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said current crude prices are acceptable and the nation’s oil output will hold steady until the end of the year.

That appeared to contradict another Russian official who on Thursday indicated a willingness to join Saudi Arabia in supply cuts.