Russia and other oil-producing countries began meeting with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries on Saturday, expressing optimism they could strike a landmark output deal that would lift crude prices. CLF7, +1.26% OPEC, the 13-nation cartel that controls over a third of the world’s oil production, is trying to get other countries on board with reducing the global petroleum oversupply that has sunk prices and devastated crude-dependent economies across the world. OPEC itself agreed to cut over 1.2 million barrels a day, or about 1% of global production, on Nov. 30 and wants non-OPEC to contribute ... (full story)