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Oil & Gas

Market monitors US-Iran Talks

The price of oil rose on Tuesday as traders' anxiety over a lack of progress in peace talks between?the United States?and Iran?overrode any price impact of the slight improvement in shipping through Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures rose $1.02 or 1.42% to $73.01 per barrel. U.S. West Texas intermediate crude gained 93 cents or 1.36% to $69.48 per barrel at 0748 GMT. Ole Hansen, analyst at Saxo Bank, said: "The deal has not been signed yet. So something could still go wrong. And?any comments by either side can raise concerns which helps to underpin the prices. It's also removing...

Energy Markets

Stocks fall despite Samsung's upbeat forecast. The yen is weakening

Asian stocks fell on Tuesday, despite the fact that South Korea's Samsung Electronics had forecast a 19-fold increase in its second-quarter profits. Meanwhile, the Japanese yen was still pinned at a 40-year low amid speculation about intervention. Samsung Electronics,?the world's largest memory-chip maker, has estimated its operating profit for April-June at 89.4 trillion won ($58.44billion), marking the third consecutive quarter of record profits. South Korean shares fell by 4.1% while MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan dropped by 0.73%. Japan's Nikkei shed 1.08%. Investors are seeking refuge in this sector due to concerns about the economy, inflation and the...

Refined Products

Oil prices rise as the focus shifts from supply to demand

The oil prices rose on Tuesday but the gains were modest as traders focused their attention on supply and demand. Brent crude futures rose 28 cents or 0.39 percent to $72.29 and U.S. West Texas?Intermediate crude climbed to $68.84 per barrel at 0046 GMT. This is up 29 cents or 0.26 percent after having settled down on Monday to levels similar to those seen before the Iran war. Tim Waterer is the chief market analyst for KCM Trade. He said that although the steps taken towards recovering supply have reduced the immediate risk premium the market still remains cautious about...

Energy Markets

Oil prices hold at pre-war levels, but stocks surge on news of chip production

Wall Street surged Monday, and oil prices settled at pre-Iran War?levels as investors awaited new developments in the AI and chipmaker sectors ahead of corporate earnings. The three major U.S. stock indexes all ended the day in positive territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the day up by 0.29%. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 rose 0.72% while the Nasdaq Composite increased 1.12%. MSCI's global index of stocks rose by 0.41%. Global AI continued to dominate the markets. South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix 00660.KS launched a U.S. shares sale on Monday to raise 43 trillion won (28.07 billion dollars) and received...

Crude Oil

Brent Oil Curve continues to decline as a glut of supply overwhelms the market

Brent crude for "prompt" delivery traded below contracts that were due to be delivered up to six months in the future this week, the latest indication that increased shipments through Strait of Hormuz has caused a glut near-term. On Friday, the first-month Brent futures contract for September traded below the five subsequent contract months. Last week it was trading at a discount to the second contract month. Brent Spreads for the Six-Month Period On Wednesday, oil prices slid to a discount. They dropped to minus 56 cents per barrel on Thursday and then recovered to a small premium on Friday....

Energy Markets

Global stocks climb as US jobs data cools Fed hike fears

Global stocks continued to rise on Friday, after a lackluster U.S. employment report tempered expectations of an imminent rate hike by the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, regional activity gauges indicated an economic expansion in June. Europe's broadest index reached a new record and was on track for its largest weekly gain in more than a month. The pan-European STOXX600 reached 651,77 before stabilizing at 650.29. The DAX in Germany rose by 0.4%. The French index was stable and the UK index fell 0.2%. The broadest MSCI index of world stocks rose by 0.4%. Dan Coatsworth of investment platform AJ Bell said...

Crude Oil

Asian markets gain footing after US PMIs and jobs data lift stocks

Stocks rose in the Asian session on Friday, after a lukewarm U.S. jobs report cast doubts over the prospects of a Federal Reserve rate hike. Regional activity gauges also pointed to an expansionary economy during June. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan, which had been in decline for two days straight, rose 2.2% after a shaky beginning. South Korea's Kospi fluctuated between gains and losses before surging by more than 6%, as buyers snapped up battered chipset stocks. S&P 500 futures rose by 0.4% while Japan's Nikkei reversed its early losses and traded 1.2% higher. The latest data from...

Crude Oil

Peace efforts continue to hold as oil prices rise slightly before the long US weekend

The price of oil rose slightly Friday, just before the long holiday weekend here in the United States. As cautious optimism held on efforts to bring peace between the United States and?Iran in the Middle East. Brent futures rose 17 cents or 0.24% to $72.10 per barrel at 0155 GMT. West Texas Intermediate rose 14 cents or 0.20% to $68.83 per barrel. The U.S. market will be closed on Friday in advance of Independence Day. Independence Day is celebrated on Saturday. The two benchmarks reached their lowest levels in the previous session since the U.S./Israeli war against Iran started late...

Crude Oil

MORNING BID-Churning Chips

What is important in the U.S. and international markets today by Mike Dolan Editor-at-Large of Finance and Markets The?U.S. The?U.S. It's not wise to read too much into the market movements this week due to the short week, the quarter-end trading quirks, and the looming payrolls reports, but there does seem to be some profit-taking going on, as well as portfolio reshuffling. Below, I'll go into more detail. Check out my column about the seemingly unstoppable growth of the U.S. economic over the last 17 years, and how it has affected the bull market in equity. Listen to the Morning...

Crude Oil

Oil drops the most since years, and gold, yen are also falling.

Brent oil, meanwhile, posted its biggest quarterly drop since 2020 as traders stayed on top of a fragile truce between the United States &?Iran. The U.S. Dollar was expected to post its fourth consecutive quarterly gain against a basket, pushing the yen down to a low of 40 years, as expectations of U.S. rate hikes changed dramatically on the last day. The greenback gained more than 1% against the currencies of emerging markets as a group throughout the second quarter. The Strait of Hormuz reopened slowly and randomly on the energy markets as the hostilities between Iran and the U.S....

Fossil Fuels

Oil prices are little changed, but they will suffer the steepest quarterly and monthly losses since 2020

The oil prices were little altered on Tuesday, but they were heading for their largest monthly and 'quarterly' losses since the COVID-19 Pandemic early in '2020. Investors were looking at potential U.S. - Iran talks in Doha amid the strained -interim ceasefire of the four-month long war. Brent futures dropped 13 cents or 0.2% to $73.02 per barrel at 12:34 pm EDT (1634 GMT), whereas U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) fell 89 cents or 1.3% to $69.86 per barrel. The two crude benchmarks are close to the levels they reached on February 27, just before the U.S. and Israel...

Natural Gas Liquids

Shell anticipates a 65% increase in global LNG demand between 2050 and 2050

Shell's annual report said that the global liquefied gas demand is expected to increase by 65% by 2050. This will be driven by Asia, as they seek "lower-emission alternative" fuels than coal, and data centres are driving up power consumption. In its LNG Outlook 2026, the world’s largest trader in supercooled fuel predicted that global demand would reach 700 million metric tonnes per year by this date. The report said that the LNG trade was expected to grow in 2026 from 422 million tonnes in 2025. The Strait of Hormuz is currently experiencing severe disruption, which has caused around one-fifth...

Europe

Energy Markets

Oil rises despite Samsung's record profits; stocks fall despite tech slide

Investors remain concerned about the sustainability and the AI-driven rally. Oil prices also rose on renewed Middle East tensions. Samsung Electronics expects a 19-fold increase in operating profit?in April to June?to 89.4 trillion dollars. This marks the third consecutive quarter that Samsung Electronics has achieved record operating profits. The results did not reassure investors but rather triggered heavy sales of Samsung and rival SK Hynix, weighing down South Korea's Kospi as well as other tech-heavy Asian market. Investors are increasingly questioning whether artificial intelligence-related profit growth can be sustained in the event that supply bottlenecks for key components like memory...

Energy Markets

MORNING BID EUROPE-Samsung boom, market gloom

Satoshi sugiyama gives us a look at what lies ahead for the European and global markets. Samsung Electronics, based in South Korea, shook the world with its 'outstanding' forecast of a 19-fold increase in operating profit for the upcoming'second quarter from a year ago and topping?its earnings over three years. Investors were still frightened: Samsung shares fell more than 8% while South Korea's benchmark stock index dropped 6.7%. Traders questioned whether AI demand, which is fueling these bumper earnings, can continue to deliver. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan, which takes its cues from South Korea fell 1.7%. The...

Refined Products

Oil prices drop after OPEC+ agrees on raising output targets

The oil prices fell on Monday as OPEC+ agreed that it would?increase the output target for August, while key?producers are recovering their exports via the Strait of Hormuz. This could add to global supplies. Brent crude futures fell 24 cents or 0.33% to $71.88 per barrel by 0010 GMT, after closing 0.45% higher Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude was $68.58 per barrel, down by 11 cents or 0.16%. WTI was not settled on Friday due to the U.S. market being closed for Independence Day on Saturday. The two contracts were largely unchanged last week after falling over the previous...

Western Europe

East Asia

Crude Oil

Oil prices fall, but stocks rise as Iran and chips drive markets

Wall Street gained in the midday trade on Monday, largely due to continued optimism about chip stocks. Oil fell as a result of an expected surge in supply. All three major U.S. indexes rose in the early afternoon after European stocks had flirted earlier with'record peaks' before retreating, ahead of the crucial earnings season for AI. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.07% to 52,938.04, while the S&P 500 rose by 0.73% to 7,537.75, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.25% to 26,155.56. The MSCI index of global stocks rose 0.45% to 1,128.87. Global AI continued to dominate the markets. South...

Refined Products

Yonhap reports that the prosecutor has charged South Korea's four oil refining companies with collusion over price.

Yonhap News Agency, citing the prosecution, reported that South Korean prosecutors indicted four oil refiners for alleged collusion over fuel prices, which was estimated to have caused anti-competitive damage worth $17 billion. Yonhap reported that the companies are HD Hyundai Oilbank GS Caltex S-Oil and SK Energy. The 'Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office spokesperson did not reply to my phone call and text message seeking confirmation of the report. A phone call or text message asking for confirmation of the report was not answered. Yonhap reported that the prosecutors alleged pricing managers from HD Hyundai Oilbank, SK Energy and other...

Energy Markets

As oil prices drop and earnings loom, shares in Asia are on the rise

Asian shares were mostly higher on Monday as Wall Street futures started the week on a positive note on the back of a good earnings season. Meanwhile, oil prices are dropping, which will ease inflationary pressures. Although there have been no developments in the U.S. Iran peace talks, 160 ships were reported passing through the Strait of Hormuz from Monday to last Saturday. OPEC+ agreed to increase output targets for August by 188,000 barrels a day, in addition to the increases made in June and July. Brent crude fell 0.6%, to $71.70 per barrel, a level near the four-month low....

Energy Markets

The US jobs data changes the rate outlook

Global stocks reached their best performance in the past two months after a lukewarm U.S. employment report dampened expectations of a rate hike by the Federal Reserve. This slowed down?the dollar and gave gold an extra boost. STOXX 600 in Europe hit another record and traded up 0.6% last time, heading for a gain of 2.6% per week, its highest since mid-May. The broadest MSCI index of world stocks rose by 0.4%. It is expected to gain 2% in the coming week, which would be the highest increase in two months. The tech-lite European indexes are in high demand again....

Crude Oil

Asian markets are choppy after US jobs data dampen Fed rate hike expectations

After a lukewarm U.S. The jobs report has thrown cold water on the 'prospect' of an imminent rate increase by the Federal Reserve. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan fluctuated in gains and losses. It gained 0.1% following two days of consecutive declines. The sharp declines in U.S. chipmakers trading weighed heavily on South Korea's Kospi. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures both rose by 0.1% while Japan's Nikkei was down by 1%. According to data released Thursday, the U.S. employment growth slowed dramatically in June, and payroll gains from the two previous months were'revised down.' This indicates a cooling...

Crude Oil

MORNING BID AMERICAS - Kicking off H2

What's important in the U.S. and Global Markets Today By Mike Dolan. Editor-at-Large for Finance and Markets Investors are in a cautious mood as we begin the new quarter, month and second half. U.S. Treasury rates have risen overnight, ahead of the June jobs report, and they're already anticipating the second-quarter earnings season. The jump in Treasury yields was not triggered by a specific event, but it came after news of a'surprise' increase in U.S. jobs for May. It also comes before Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh speaks at the European Central Bank annual forum later today in Portugal. Below,...

Crude Oil

Morning Bid Europe- That's a lot to digest

Wayne Cole gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. The 'new quarter' in Asia has been marked by a lack of confidence, partly because the market is digesting the gains from the previous quarter and partly because the U.S./Iran talks have not progressed. Tehran has reportedly refused to meet with President Donald Trump's son in law?Jared Kushner or his envoy Steve Witkoff, who arrived for high-level talks at Doha. The Strait of Hormuz is a very difficult issue. It's unclear how to resolve it. Asian stock markets have been mixed. This follows a...

Crude Oil

Stocks soar in stellar quarter, dollar sinks gold, yen and other currencies

On Tuesday, global stocks were on track to achieve their best performance in the second quarter of six years. Meanwhile, a resurgent US dollar drove the yen down to its lowest level in four decades and?on course for a fourth consecutive quarterly increase. In the past three months the Strait of Hormuz reopened haphazardly and gradually as the hostilities between Iran and the U.S. waned, resulting in a fragile ceasefire that knocked 20% off of the price of crude oil. A dramatic shift has also occurred in the expectations of U.S. interest rate, against a backdrop that is dominated by...

Crude Oil

Investors shop for Q3 at MORNING BID EUROPE

Tom Westbrook gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. This session is the first day of buying for the next quarter, as trades settle on the following day. The 'biggest supply shock in history' has barely left a mark on the financial markets as China cut demand, producers and alternative shipping routes filled the shortfall. The oil prices have dropped to the levels they were before the U.S., Israel and Iran conflict began in February. Skirmishes that strain the ceasefire draw little attention. Even the bond markets seem to be changing. The bond...

Crude Oil

Asian stocks set to record-breaking quarter as dollar sinks gold, yen and yen

Asian stocks shook as they approached the end of a stellar quarter on Tuesday. A resurgent Dollar pushed the Japanese yen down to its lowest level in four decades, and was heading for a fourth consecutive quarterly rise. Japan's Nikkei is set to record a record gain of 36% in the second quarter. South Korea's chipmaker driven KOSPI fell 1% but was still on track for a record second quarter rise of more than 65%, having doubled in value year-to date. Brent crude futures are trading at $72.49 per barrel, which is the pre-war price. This is even with the...

Energy Markets

MORNING BID EUROPE - Markets pivot on technology, Mideast anxiety

Ankur Banerjee gives us a look at what the European and global markets will be like today. The latest tit for tat attacks in the Middle East were stopped, causing a nervous reaction on the markets. Persistent unease about stretched 'tech valuations' and the prospect?of higher rates for longer added to doubts over a ceasefire which has been struggling to hold. The oil prices have risen on the back of renewed hostilities, but they've also slowed down as new talks raise hopes for an interim agreement. This helped lift U.S. stock futures and European stock prices, though Asian equities remain...

Refined Products

Qatar offers crude oil via tender for July-August loadout, sources claim

Trade sources reported on Friday that 'QatarEnergy' has released a tender to sell crude oil for loading in July and August. This is believed to be its first tender since the onset of 'the Iran -war. Producer offers Marine Land, Marine Qatar, and al-Shaheen crude. According to a tender document seen by, buyers can load or transfer via ship-to -ship transfer between Fujairah & Sohar. The bid will close on 29 June. The offer is a further boost to the rising supply of Middle Eastern producers. Iraq's SOMO, the state-owned oil marketer in Iraq, issued a tender?Thursday for Basra Heavy...