沙特和俄羅斯宣佈聯手維穩油價
Saudi Arabia and Russia yesterday said they would co-operate to try to stabilise oil markets, but stopped short of agreeing immediate action to restrict production and end a glut that has halved prices in the past two years.
沙特阿拉伯和俄羅斯昨日表示他們將聯手試圖穩定石油市場，但未能就限制產量、結束生產過剩狀態——這導致油價過去兩年下跌了一半——商定立即行動。
Traders have been watching for signs the world’s biggest producers could cap output when they meet in Algiers later this month, with some Opec members clamouring to shore up the price.
交易商正在留意世界各大產油國本月晚些時候在阿爾及爾開會時限制產量的跡象。石油輸出國組織(OPEC)的某些成員國強烈要求支撐油價。
The energy ministers of Russia and Saudi Arabia, which together produce more than a fifth of the world’s crude, said at the G20 meeting in China that they could limit output, while establishing a working group to explore other ways to reduce market volatility.
俄羅斯和沙特（這兩國的原油產量超過世界總量五分之一）的能源部長在中國舉行的20國(G20)會議上表示，他們可以限制產量，同時建立一個工作小組來探索減少市場波動性的其他方式。
Russia is the largest exporter outside of Opec.
俄羅斯是OPEC以外最大的石油出口國。
Freezing production is one of the preferred possibilities but it does not have to happen specifically today, Saudi oil minister Khalid Al Falih said.
凍結產量是優先考慮的可能性之一，但是不一定非要在今天出臺，沙特石油部長哈立德•阿爾-法立赫(Khalid al-Falih)表示。
News of their planned co-operation initially sent prices shooting higher, with international benchmark Brent crude gaining as much as 6 per cent to $49.40 a barrel.
他們宣佈合作計劃的消息起初使得油價上漲，國際基準的布倫特(Brent)原油價格上漲6%，至49.40美元/桶。
But Brent quickly retraced most of its gains to trade nearer $47 a barrel, after it became clear there was no concrete agreement.
但是，隨着沒有達成具體協議的事實變得明朗，布倫特原油價格很快回落至47美元/桶左右，抹掉了大部分漲幅。
The pact at the G20 followed a meeting between Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi deputy crown prince, and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the weekend.
在G20峯會上達成協議之前，沙特副王儲穆罕默德•本•薩勒曼(Mohammed bin Salman)和俄羅斯總統弗拉基米爾•普京(Vladimir Putin)週末會晤。
Greater co-operation has been under discussion for almost a year, but lower prices and Middle East geopolitics — each country supports opposing sides in Syria’s civil war — is creating strain.
兩國之間對於擴大合作已經討論了近一年，但是油價下跌和中東地緣政治——兩國在敘利亞內戰中支持着對立的陣營——正在製造緊張。
Russia was ready to join the cartel in freezing output in April before Saudi Arabia halted talks at the last minute, refusing to join any deal without the participation of its regional rival Iran.
4月，俄羅斯曾準備好與該組織一起凍結產量，但沙特在最後時刻停止了對話、拒絕在沒有區域競爭對手伊朗參與的情況下加入任何協議。
Russia’s energy minister Alexander Novak described yesterday’s agreement as historic but tensions remained readily apparent.
俄羅斯能源部長亞歷山大•諾瓦克(Alexander Novak)形容昨天的協議具有歷史意義，但是緊張局面仍然顯而易見。
While Mr Novak said an output cap was the most effective instrument, with details of a plan currently being discussed, Mr Falih suggested freezing production may not be necessary.
儘管諾瓦克稱設置產量上限是最有效的工具、計劃細節目前正在討論之中，但是法立赫暗示凍結產量或許沒有必要。
The Russian minister also said a production deal may not have to include Iran until Tehran’s production had recovered to pre-sanctions levels.
諾瓦克還表示，在德黑蘭方面的產量恢復到制裁前水平之前，生產協議可能不一定要包括伊朗。
Mr Falih said he believed, however, that Iran’s output was already at that level.
然而法立赫稱，他認爲伊朗的石油產量已經達到那個水平了。
