Bloomberg Oil traded near the highest closing level in 18 months amid conflicting signs on whether the supply surplus is diminishing in the US, the world’s largest fuel consumer. Futures slid as much as 1.1 percent in New York after climbing 6.2 percent the previous eight sessions, the longest run of gains in almost seven years. Traders faced mixed …

  Bloomberg Shale oil companies are ready to play chicken with supply and demand again. Roiled by a year that began with crude at a 12-year low and ended with a surprise OPEC agreement boosting prices, U.S. producers including Continental Resources Inc. and Pioneer Natural Resources Co. are promising not to overreact — or overspend. The temptation will be strong: …

  Bloomberg It may be time for a baby boom in U.S. oil. Rising crude prices and a deregulatory push in Washington may spur as many as 40 companies to hold initial public offerings over the next two years, potentially tripling 2016’s activity, according to Maynard Holt, chief executive officer at Houston-based investment bank Tudor Pickering Holt & Co. After …