OPEC+ approved a small production increase for December while pausing further output hikes in the first quarter of 2026, a move meant to balance demand signals and oversupply risks. The group added roughly 137,000 barrels per day for December but left future hikes on hold as seasonal demand and inventory dynamics remain uncertain. Traders said the pause helped steady oil prices and shifted focus onto U.S. inventories and global manufacturing demand for the next major cues.