DNO shares up after Iraqi PM quoted approving contracts

OSLO: Shares in Norwegian oil firm DNO traded up 5.8 percent on Monday at 0819 GMT after media reports quoted Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki saying Iraq will honour Kurdish production-sharing contracts like DNO's.

The weekend report by news agency AFP was not confirmed by Iraq's Oil Ministry and seemed to catch senior Iraqi oil officials by surprise. In the past month there have been numerous reports of a political deal permitting exports from Kurdistan to resume soon.

A spokesman for DNO said on Monday the company would have no comment on the status of its contract with the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) until the KRG provides more detailed information.