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Uganda named its blended crude grade "Pearl Sweet" on Wednesday, a major step in preparation for the planned commercial oil production by the East African nation at the end of this year. Uganda discovered commercial crude reserves in the Albertine Rift basin along its border with Democratic Republic of Congo two decades ago. The lack of infrastructure has repeatedly delayed commercial production, as have disagreements between government officials and international oil companies about development plans. The name was revealed by President Yoweri Mueveni at a ceremony held in the Kikuube District, located about 250 km (155 mi) west of Kampala....

The world stock market fell on Wednesday as fresh U.S. strikes on Iran pushed oil prices up to a five-week high, fueling inflation fears and extending the global bond saleoff. The U.S. attacked Iranian military targets near Strait of Hormuz while Tehran claimed it had targeted U.S. resources across the region. This was the largest exchange of fire for weeks. Brent crude futures rose 0.1% to $94.87 per barrel on fears of further disruptions in energy supplies. Kiran Ganesh is a multi-assets strategist at UBS Global Wealth Management. She said that the recent rise in energy prices had put further...

The dollar reached a two-week peak on Wednesday, as investors flocked to the U.S. dollar amid growing concerns over the impact of the energy crisis and diverging monetary policies?across major economies. After the largest exchange of fire for weeks, the U.S. and Iran were back in a war-like situation on Wednesday. The dollar tends to gain from higher oil costs because the U.S. is less vulnerable to energy shocks compared to other major economies. This attracts demand to the detriment of currencies like the euro and the yen. The Federal Reserve faces a growing threat of tightening policy in 2027,...

The stock market in Asia slumped on Wednesday, as the global selloff triggered by the bond markets spilled into?the region after renewed U.S. attacks on Iran drove oil prices higher. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan fell 1.5%, as South Korea's KOSPI plunged more than 3% and the Nikkei was down 2.6%. S&P 500 futures fell 0.1%. Brent crude futures continued to rise as trading resumed on the Asian continent, rising by 1.3% to $95.91 per barrel. This was after U.S. airstrikes against Iran, which had pushed prices up to a 5-week high, on Tuesday. Westpac analysts noted that...

In August, the crisis caused by the conflict in Iran in Asia's supply of refined fuels continued. The region that imports the most refined fuels dropped to its lowest level since the start of the war. According to data compiled by Kpler - a commodities analyst - Asia's imports for light and middle distillates in August were estimated at 5,10 million barrels a day (bpd), down from 5.61 millions bpd during July. Imports have dropped by about 2 million bpd from the 7.06 million bpd average in the three months prior to February 28, when Israel and the U.S. launched...

What is important in U.S. markets and global markets today By?Mike Dolan Editor-at-Large for Finance and Markets As September begins, the world markets are preparing for another storm of government bonds. Following Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole speech, U.S. Treasury rates climbed?across curves, with the benchmark 10-year borrowing rate reaching its highest level since Donald Trump took office in January of last year. Below, I'll explain more. Listen to the Morning Bid Daily Podcast, which discusses the bond rout, and Shein's poor IPO. Subscribe to the podcast and hear journalists discussing the latest news in finance and markets seven days a...

The global bond yields reached new highs as traders prepared for an interest rate increase and renewed fighting in the Middle East boosted oil prices. This put pressure on stock markets all over the world. Investors were also worried about the ever-increasing public debt. The yield on Britain's 10-year bond hit a record high since 2008, above 5.24%. Meanwhile, the German equivalent yield reached a 15-year peak at 3.36%. Ryutaro kimura, senior strategist at BNP?Asset management in Tokyo, said: "I think that there is a sense of resignation - tinged by helplessness - about rising interest rates." The march upward...

Investors worried about inflation and a new wave of interest rate increases were prompted by renewed fighting in the Middle East, which boosted oil prices. Japan's benchmark?10-year? has hit 3% for a first time in generations. The 10-year U.S. Treasury Yield, which is used as a benchmark to determine prices in all asset classes, broke resistance at 4.75% and now stands at 4.78%, its highest level since early 2025. The futures market for French and German bonds extended the selling, which drove yields up to 15-year highs. Australia's 10-year bond yield rose at the fastest rate in five months. Ryutaro...

Tom Westbrook gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. Europe is entering autumn with benchmark gas prices at a 3-1/2 year high and stocks at their lowest level ever. Records dating back to 2011 show that this was the case. Winter is a gamble, because the scramble for?gas has exacerbated a "backwardation" where prices near term are higher than those of winter. It makes no sense to stockpile gas at this time, and Europe will have to wait until the summer heat wave is over before they can hope for a cold winter....

The Iranian conflict has continued to affect the supply of refined petroleum products in Asia. In August, the region that consumes the most refined fuels saw its imports drop to their lowest level since the start of the war. Asia's imports of light and medium distillates were estimated at 5,10 million barrels a day (bpd), down from 5,61 million bpd during July, according to Kpler data, a commodities analyst. Imports are down by about 2 million bpd, compared to the 7.06 million bpd average in the three months prior to February 28, when Israel and the U.S. launched airstrikes against...

Wayne Cole gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. This week began with a bang in Iran, as U.S. troops struck two missile launchers in the Strait of Hormuz on Larak Island. Meanwhile, Tehran attacked U.S. Forces in Jordan. The post by President Trump that Kharg Island was Iran's main oil port, "was being blown to smithereens" did not help, though the military had not confirmed this. It seems that Iran tried to use rockets for laying naval mines in strait. This is a challenge to U.S. Military who claimed last week they...

After a technology rally fueled by Nvidia, shares in Asia slowed down on Friday. The currency and bond markets waited for the most powerful central banker of the world to comment on U.S. rates. The oil prices are headed for a weekly loss as Iran and Oman have agreed to share'revenues and administer 'traffic along the Strait of Hormuz, even though Washington is not interested in restarting direct talks with Tehran. Brent fell 0.4% to $89.33 per barrel, but the weekly decline was expected to be over 5%. The Nikkei, Japan's stock market index, rose 0.5%. Taiwanese stocks gained 0.8%...

A record low smelter treatment term, a year of underperformance by mines and a scramble to get metal at the London Metal Exchange. If you think this is the description of the copper markets, then think again. Zinc is under pressure now, even though copper may face a structural shortage in the future. LME zinc for three months hit a four-year-high of $3,990 per ton on Monday. LME stocks have remained low throughout the year. The registered inventory is 100,525?tons but nearly a third are in the form?cancelled warrants? awaiting physical loading-out. The time-spreads will be emphasized in a similar...

Copper and zinc were the two base metals that fell the most on Wednesday, as the conflict in the Middle East intensified. U.S. troops struck Iran, while Iranian forces fired at American bases throughout the region. This stoked fears of inflation due to higher oil prices. Benchmark three-month Copper on the London Metal Exchange fell by 1% to $14,133 per metric ton at 1007 GMT after reaching $14,092, which was its lowest level since August 21. Metal also fell below the support of the 21-day average price of $14,162. John Meyer, analyst at SP Angel, said that "all the base...

Copper and zinc declined?on Wednesday as a stronger dollar and concerns?of higher interest rates for longer weighed down on the wider industrial metals complex. This offset support from tight supply. The benchmark three-month copper price on the London Metal Exchange fell 0.86% to $14,152 per metric tonne by 0700 GMT. Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded copper contract fell by 1.35%, to 108.040 yuan (16,069.97 dollars) per ton. The dollar held steady after overnight gains as renewed hostilities erupted in the Middle East, pushing oil prices higher. Inflation concerns were revived and the bond market was sparked by a sale. Analysts...

Four sources said that the top?global aluminum producers offered Japanese buyers a premium of $310-$325 per metric tonne for primary metal shipments in October and December, down by 18%-22% on the current quarter. Japan is the largest importer of light metals, and the premiums it agrees to each quarter for primary metal shipments over the London Metal Exchange cash price are the benchmarks in the region. Japanese buyers had agreed to pay a premium of $395 per ton for the period July-September The increase was between 12% and 13% compared to the previous quarter. A source from a Japanese trading...

BHP's commercial officer Rag Udd will step down by the end of January in order to pursue a career outside the company. This was revealed in a memo sent out on Tuesday. The miner is now left with a difficult role -- negotiating iron-ore deals with China. Some analysts and investors had considered Udd as a candidate for the "top job" at BHP. Brandon Craig, who started in July, was given the position. According to the memo, Udd will have been working at BHP in Singapore for 30 years by the time he leaves. Udd?was responsible for BHP's negotiation with...

London zinc prices rose Tuesday to their highest level in more than four years, supported by concerns about supply and the limited availability of zinc outside China. As of 0300 GMT, the benchmark three-month 'zinc contract on the London Metal Exchange was up by 2.29% at $3,972 per metric ton. The contract had reached $3,990 earlier, its highest level since May 2022. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded zinc contract was up 2.71 percent at 27,070 Yuan ($4,027.97). The price of zinc reached a high of 27,165 yuan per tonne earlier this year, the highest level since January 2026. Zinc...

Two U.S. officials said on Monday that the U.S. company North American Blue Energy Partners would take over oilfields controlled by several Chinese firms and a Russian firm. They said that the 'takeover' will be part of an oil production agreement President Donald Trump has announced with Venezuela. According to officials, the projects were part of 14 new contracts awarded to U.S.-backed North American Blue Energy Partners. NABEP, owned by U.S. oil magnate Harry Sargeant, is now controlled and managed by Venezuelan Alejandro Betancourt. Last week, Trump said that the U.S. has secured access to 64 billion barrels (or a...

Shanghai zinc rose on Monday as a result of tightening supply outside China. This is the best month for Shanghai zinc since January. By 0715 GMT, the?most traded zinc contract at?the Shanghai Futures Exchange had risen?1.66%. It was now worth?26.710 yuan (US$3,975.35) per metric ton. This brought its August gain up to 5.57%. It is the largest monthly increase since January. The metal is mainly used to galvanize steel. Zinc shortages outside China are encouraging exports of zinc from?China. Daniel Hynes is a senior commodities analyst at ANZ. He said that the stockpiles in zinc LME warehouses have fallen by...

Two?sources who are familiar with the situation said that the head of China Iron Ore at Radiant World is leaving the company. The trading 'company' has been under scrutiny and many counterparties have stopped doing business with it. Sources said that Leon Jin was on his last day of work at the trading house, Monday. According to 'his LinkedIn profile', he joined Radiant World after spending more than 10 year with Trafigura. The sources requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with media. Some banks have frozen accounts of 'Radiant World,' and some trading houses have cut ties...

Zinc prices fell Thursday, as rising inventories eased concerns over supply shortages outside China. This ended a six session rally during which speculative purchases pushed the metal up to its highest level in four years. By 1002 GMT, the benchmark three-month Zinc on London Metal Exchange had fallen 1% to $3,855 per metric tonne. On Wednesday, the contract reached $3,949.5 - its highest level since June 2022. The daily LME data revealed that zinc stocks reached a three-week high after 1,100 tonnes of new inflows into the LME registered warehouses in Singapore and Hong Kong. Analysts anticipate more inventory to...

Zinc prices dropped - and were about to end a six day winning streak on Thursday. A firm dollar weighed down the support of a 'thin supply outside China', while also pulling other industrial metals down. The benchmark three-month price of zinc at the London Metal Exchange fell by 0.96%, to $3.855.5 per metric ton as of 0700 GMT. The most traded zinc contract at the Shanghai Futures Exchange was down by 0.44% to 26,140 yuan (US$3,889.71) per ton. As the market prepares for U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's awaited speech in Jackson Hole, the U.S. Dollar Index has?gained...

On Wednesday, zinc?prices reached their highest level in over four years on a combination of speculative and supply concerns. The benchmark three-month price of zinc at the?London Metal Exchange rose 0.4% to $3,907 per metric tonne by 0945 GMT. This was its highest since June 2022. Zinc, which is mainly used for galvanising steel, has suffered from regional disparity. Stocks are eroding at warehouses registered with LME, while they pile up in China. Local shortages of zinc have pushed the cash LME zinc premium over the three-month Futures. To $132 per ton. This is up from $0 in early July,...