Four news items carried by Platts on one day couldn't help but stand out.

At Platts, we're supposed to be neutral in the age-old conflict between bears and bulls. But we're not robots; we understand that prices at this level are bad news for many, many people in the world.

What's been so notable during the price runup is the rise in prominence of the peak oil school of thought, and the fact that every report in recent weeks buttresses the arguments of that analysis.

One day can't change that. It's a long-term view. But after days of anything from a steady drip to a torrent of news on restraints and cutbacks in production, it was a welcome relief last Friday to get a one-day respite.

In short order, Platts' Elzbieta Rabalska in London reported that the loading program for North Sea Oseberg crude will rise to 212,903 b/d for December, up a further 32,903 b/d from November's output of 180,000 b/d. The total for the month now is projected to be 6.6 million barrels, compared with November's total of 5.4 million barrels

She then reported that the loading program for North Sea Forties crude has been set at 658,065 b/d for December, up 78,065 b/d from 580,000 b/d in November.

From Brazil came news that Petrobras said it will bring on stream two new offshore production platforms, its 80,000 b/d P-52 rig and its Golfinho floating production, storage and offloading unit with capacity of 100,000 b/d, beginning as early as this week. That announcement came from Petrobras CFO Almir Barbassa.

Finally, Platts reported that total crude output from OPEC rose by 350,000 b/d in October to average 31.11 million b/d over the month, largely on higher volumes from Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The Iraqi increase of 110,000 b/d was particularly reassuring, because with growing reports that parts of the country are stabilizing, it may mean that for now at least, Iraqi production is not hanging by a string.

So it was just one day's worth of news. Underlying trends aren't changed by it. But it was a refreshing way to wrap up the week.