Oil bulls stick to their guns ahead of make-or-break OPEC summit

Combined WTI, Brent net-longs at highest level since October

OPEC can make or break oil’s bull run, and hedge funds are betting the cartel will keep fueling the rally.

Money managers increased wagers on rising West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude prices to the highest since October ahead of a key meeting of top exporters in Azerbaijan over the weekend.

“As long as we come out of the weekend with stasis, the hedge funds will consider that a positive sign and will continue to support the bull run,” said Ashley Petersen, an oil analyst at Stratas Advisors LLC in New York.

As the producer group prepares for the gathering with allies including