Oil prices rose on Friday and notched up a third consecutive weekly rise, buoyed by successful COVID-19 vaccine trials, while traders ignored the spread infection numbers in the US, Europe, and parts of Asia and renewed lockdowns in several countries to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The market also focused on hopes that OPEC and its allies might delay a further reduction in its production cap at a meeting next weekend. In Europe, Brent crude futures rose 76 cents, or 1.7%, to settle at $US44.96 a barrel while in New York, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) January crude contract added 52 cents, or 1.2%, to settle ... (full story)