ENERGY

OPEC Nations Gridlocked: OPEC nations were deadlocked over details of an agreement to cut production by more than a million barrels of oil a day to keep crude prices from plunging this spring. Ministers of the dozen nations of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries shuttled between their suites at a luxury hotel in Vienna, Austria, trying to wrap up an accord. Kuwait was resisting pressure for deep cuts in its spring output. Saudi Arabia, Iran and others were refusing to back off in their attempts to get Kuwait to turn down its taps. OPEC delegates said the ministers agreed on the need to reduce output by more than a million barrels of oil a day to hold prices steady. One delegate, who asked not to be named, said all favored a new production level of 23.5 million to 23.6 million barrels a day in coming months. It currently stands at about 25 million.