Venezuela eyes $100 oil price, deal with non-OPEC producers

Venezuela is pushing for a new agreement between OPEC and non-OPEC nations to stabilize oil prices, President Nicolas Maduro said on Friday, in the most serious indication yet of a renewed drive to boost prices back to $100 per barrel. Cash-strapped Venezuela has been a historic price hawk, and a severe recession and product shortages have heightened Maduro's need for a market recovery. "We're currently working on a deal that hopefully can materialize in June regarding an announcement between OPEC and some of the most important (oil) producers in the world to finish stabilizing the market in the second half of the year," he said after a meeting with Qatar's emir. More…