PARIS, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - The International Energy Agency, the developed world's energy watchdog, on Thursday blamed falling global stock levels for high crude oil prices.

'Stocks are clearly tighter than they have been for some time, but what is driving market expectations and therefore prices is the lack of confidence that they will be replenished,' the IEA said in its monthly report on the oil market.

PARIS, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - The International Energy Agency, the developed world's energy watchdog, on Thurdsay held steady its forecasts for oil demand for this year and next.

It predicted average demand to be 85.9 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2007 and 88 million bpd in 2008.

World oil supply increased by 415,000 bpd in September from August owing to higher output in North America, China and from OPEC members, averaging 85.1 million bpd, the watchdog said in its monthly report.

PARIS, Sept 24, 2007 (AFP) - A top official with the International Energy Agency warned Monday there was 'a strong likelihood' that short- and medium-term oil prices would remain high, citing demand-supply tensions and robust growth in China and India.

'In the very short term, there is a strong likelihood that prices will stay high,' Didier Houssin, head of the IEA's oil market unit, told BFM radio.

He cited 'very dynamic demand' as well as 'a supply situation that is stretched to meet demand as winter approaches.'

PARIS, Sept 18, 2007 (AFP) - The new head of the International Energy Agency urged OPEC oil exporters on Tuesday to increase their production if oil prices remained at their current record levels above 80 dollars per barrel.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided last week to increase its output by 500,000 barrels from November 1 to help ease prices and send a signal that the cartel cared about consumer countries.

PARIS, Sept 12, 2007 (AFP) - The International Energy Agency lowered its predictions of global oil demand Wednesday for both this year and next and warned that financial markets turbulence could force it to again revise its forecast.

The IEA, which acts as energy policy advisor to industrialised countries, reduced its demand forecast to 85.9 million barrels per day in 2007 and 88 million bpd in 2008 from its prediction last month of 86 and 88.2 million bpd respectively.

BERLIN, Sept 10, 2007 (AFP) - The new head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Nobua Tanaka, described the oil market Monday as 'very tight' on the eve of a closely-watched OPEC meeting.

'The current market is very tight. We see demand increasing towards the end of the year, certainly towards the beginning of next year,' he told reporters in Berlin.

Tanaka said he had held discussions with members of the Organisation of Petrolium Exporting Countries ahead of the 12-member cartel's formal meeting in Vienna on Tuesday.

PARIS, Aug 28, 2007 (AFP) - The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) criticised OPEC for setting a target price of around 70 dollars per barrel, saying in an interview published Tuesday that it would hit the poorest hardest.

'The market is clearly aware that OPEC has set itself a new implicit price target or a new price band of around 70 dollars (51 euros) per barrel and that the organisation will endeavour to defend this level,' Claude Mandil told Arab Oil and Gas review.

PARIS, Aug 21, 2007 (AFP) - The International Energy Agency is slightly concerned about the impact on local oil production when Hurricane Dean hits Mexico but believes its passage will not affect global oil markets, an IEA official said on Tuesday.

PARIS, Aug 10, 2007 (AFP) - The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Friday called on OPEC nations to increase production to cope with an expected surge in winter demand in the northern hemisphere.

The IEA said in its monthly report that the main oil producers would have to release an extra 2.5 million barrels a day in the final quarter to keep up with higher than expected global demand.

PARIS, Aug 1, 2007 (AFP) - The head of the International Energy Agency urged the OPEC oil cartel on Wednesday to increase production after the price of crude hit a new record.

'Oil prices are very high because they are reacting to the announcement of American stocks, which have fallen a lot more than expected,' Claude Mandil, the head of the energy watchdog told AFP.