London — Ask Saudi Arabia about its preferred oil price and the kingdom will say it has no target. But a look at the pronouncements on the oil market by the world’s top oil exporter this year points to an oil price aspiration of about $70 a barrel.

Oil cartel Opec’s de facto leader probably would not mind oil prices rising to $75 a barrel and beyond, but it has a problem. As soon as prices surge, US President Donald Trump pops up, often on Twitter, to urge Saudi Arabia to lower prices...

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