Oil prices rise 1% on Saudi Aramco's upbeat demand view, Iraq output cut

West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 50 cents, or 1.2%, to $41.72 a barrel at 0301 GMT, while Brent crude futures were up 40 cents, or 0.9%, at $44.80 a barrel

Oil prices climbed on Monday, supported by Saudi optimism on Asian demand and an Iraqi pledge to deepen supply cuts, although uncertainty over a deal to shore up the U.S. economic recovery capped gains.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 50 cents, or 1.2%, to $41.72 a barrel at 0301 GMT, while Brent crude futures were up 40 cents, or 0.9%, at $44.80 a barrel.

Both benchmark contracts fell on Friday, hurt by demand concerns, but Brent still ended the week up 2.5%, with WTI up 2.4%.

"Comments from the weekend from Aramco are the driver at the moment," said Michael