Brent crude futures settled up 38 cents, or 0.53%, at $71.89 per barrel. Front-month U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled up 51 cents, or 0.75%, at $68.18. On a weekly basis, Brent settled down around 3%, while WTI fell by around 5%.

Oil futures edged higher in Friday dealings but remained on track for a weekly loss on expectations OPEC+ will boost production before year-end, as investors cast doubt on whether an aggressive round of monetary stimulus from China will shore up demand from the world’s largest crude importer.

Expectations that the OPEC and its allies will start unwinding voluntary output curbs of 2.2 million barrels a day starting from December is adding to market nervousness.

Oil prices dropped on Thursday, reversing earlier gains, as news of top exporter Saudi Arabia giving up its crude oil price target in preparation for expanded production weighed on the market. Brent crude futures were down 55 cents,

Oil futures finished higher on Friday to modestly pare back their weekly loss from expectations OPEC+ will boost production before year-end.

Saudi Arabia is reportedly ready to abandon its unofficial price target of $100 a barrel for crude as it prepares to increase output