Analysts have lowered their crude price forecasts for this year, after a deeperthan- expected price fall in the first quarter. Benchmark North Sea Dated or Ice Brent futures will average around $41/bl this year, an Argus survey of 15 analysts shows (see table). A January survey put the price $2-3/bl higher. First-quarter prices were almost $3/bl lower than analysts forecast in January, and prices are expected to average under $40/bl this quarter, before rebounding to nearly $43/bl in July-September.
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