Latest News
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Phillies Taijuan Walk shoots for Rockies road sweep
The Philadelphia Phillies began their first road trip this season with two impressive victories over the Colorado Rockies. The Phillies will try to complete the sweep on Sunday when they finish the three-game series. Philadelphia, who won 2-1 on Saturday night, will match up Taijuan Walker (0-0, 11.57 ERA), against Colorado's Tomoyuki Sugano (00-0, 1.93 ERA), in a matchup of right-handers. Walker had a tough start for the Phillies in his first game of the year, giving up seven hits on ten in four and a half innings on Monday against Washington. He can improve against the Rockies. Walker is 5-1 in 10 career starts against Colorado with a 2.36 ERA. In 2025, he went 2-0 and had a 2.45 ERA over two appearances against the Rockies. Walker can build on the Phillies' first two starts this weekend. Aaron Nola, Jesus Luzardo and their combined teams struck out 20 batters in each of their respective appearances. Nola was able to benefit from a strong run support during a 10-1 victory on Friday, but Philadelphia only scored two runs Saturday night. The Phillies offense has struggled, except for the 10 runs they scored on Friday. Bryce Harper stated that seasons can sometimes be like this. Some guys have great first months, but then have a horrible rest of the season. They can have a bad month, but then win MVP. You play the entire season because you want to. You shouldn't place too much emphasis on the first few games. You play your own game. It's important to remember that the season is long and it's worth playing all of it. Philadelphia will face a pitcher that it has not faced before. Sugano made a good debut for Colorado on Monday, when the Rockies thrashed Toronto 14-5. Sugano allowed only one run on just two hits, but a high pitch count kept him from going beyond 4 2/3 innings. Colorado signed Sugano (?36) to shore up its rotation, which struggled in 2025. The Rockies' pitching has improved this year, but, like the Phillies, their offense has been a struggle. Colorado has scored 5 runs in its last 4 games. The Rockies scored 15 goals in their Friday home opener and another 13 on Saturday night. This has played a role in the Rockies' 1-4 start in games with one run. After the 2-1 defeat, Warren Schaeffer stated that the "big thing" with Saturday's strikeout was we missed too many pitch in the zone and early in the count. "You can't chase late and miss pitches early, it's a bad combination." Despite the strikeout problems, there have been some positives. Ezequiel Torvar, a rookie, has a.294 average after he went 1-for-4 on Saturday. Troy Johnston is batting.333 and has one of Colorado's first eight home runs. Field Level Media
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Kuwait Petroleum Corp. reports damage to units following Iran drone attacks
On?Sunday?, Iranian drone attacks hit multiple targets in Kuwait. State?energy company Kuwait Petroleum Corporation reported fires and "severe damage" to some units. KPC stated in a press release that teams are working to contain fires at National Petroleum Company and Petrochemical Industries Company affiliates. KPC said earlier that a drone had attacked the complex housing the KPC headquarters and oil ministry in Shuwaikh. Kuwaiti state media, citing Kuwait's finance ministry, reported that an Iranian drone had allegedly 'hit an office complex of government ministries, inflicting significant material damage, but no injuries. Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity and Water said that two power-generating units were taken out after Iranian drones attacked two desalination and power plants. The damage was significant. In all incidents, no injuries have been reported. The U.S. and Israeli 'war on Iran' is now in its sixth weeks, with Tehran attacking Israel and Gulf Arab states that host U.S. military bases. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have claimed responsibility for the attacks on Kuwaiti petrochemical facilities, as well as those in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
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PMI data shows that Saudi Arabia's non oil business activity shrank in March amid conflict.
A 'business survey' revealed that Saudi Arabian non-oil sector activity fell in March for the first time since August 20. The war in the Middle East had slowed down supply chains. S&P Global's?seasonally-adjusted Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia Purchasing managers' Index (PMI) fell to 48.8 from 56.1 in Feb. The readings below 50 indicate contraction. Naif Al Ghaith is the chief economist at Riyad Bank. He said that the drop into contraction was largely due to short-term uncertainties linked with the geopolitical tensions of the region. "The soft reading was mainly?driven by a pause in the new orders, as clients adopted more caution." Export orders experienced a notable drop, and some firms reported a temporary slowdown of cross-border activities. This led to a moderated output, Al-Ghaith explained. For the first time, both output and new orders have declined since August 2020, when the COVID-19 epidemic brought economies to a grinding halt. New orders dropped to 45.2 in March, down from 61.8 in February. Export demand was weakening sharply. New export orders posted their steepest drop?in nearly six years. Exports were 'completely stopped' by some firms, while others experienced greater logistical problems. The conflict has slowed the flow of water through the Strait of Hormuz, but the supply strains have increased. This situation may continue as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively blocked. Business expectations for the coming 12 months remain 'positive' despite a 'weakening of their lowest level since June 2020. Some firms are still confident about government spending, the development of infrastructure and the improvement in demand on the long term. (Reporting and Editing by Hugh Lawson).
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South Korea asks Gulf Nations for a steady supply of energy and safety of Korean vessels
The South Korean Ministry of Finance announced that Koo 'Yun-cheol, Minister of Finance, met with envoys of Gulf countries on Sunday to discuss energy security and the safety of 'Korean vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. This is due to the escalating Iran conflict disrupting shipping. The ministry said that during the Friday meeting, Koo requested the ambassadors of the Gulf Cooperation Council to ensure a constant supply of oil, liquefied gas, naphtha and urea as well as other critical resources. He also asked them to ensure the safety and security for Korean vessels and crews near this vital strait. The statement stated that the envoys referred to South Korea as a nation of "top priority". They also pledged to work closely with Seoul in order to maintain a stable supply. Like many Asian economies, South Korea relies heavily upon energy imports. This includes through the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz was the conduit for 20% of 'world oil' before Israel and the U.S. launched their war on the 28th of February. Since then, Iran has effectively closed the waterway. This has pushed up energy prices and raised fears of a global recession. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait and Oman are the six GCC member states. Reporting by Cynthia Kim, Editing by William Mallard
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Egypt increases electricity prices for households and businesses that use more energy amid energy crisis
The electricity ministry announced on Saturday that Egypt will raise electricity prices for residential and commercial consumers who use more electricity. This increase is due to a global energy crisis caused by the Gulf War. The government has taken a number of measures to reduce energy consumption and curb fiscal pressures as rising import costs put pressure on the finances of the most populous Arab country. The ministry stated that the increase would only affect households with higher consumption and commercial users. This was done to ensure the supply of electricity across residential, industrial and commercial sectors. The report said that electricity rates for residential bands up to 2,000 kilowatt hours per month would remain the same, but tariffs for higher residential brackets will increase by an average 16%. It added that commercial electricity prices in all brackets will increase on average by about 20%. In March, Prime Minister Mostafa. Madbouly stated that Egypt's energy import bills had more than doubled in the last few years since the start of the conflict involving the United States and Israel. This forced the government to increase fuel prices, raise fares for public transportation, and slow down some state projects, to relieve pressure on the public finances. Egypt implemented measures to rationalise its energy consumption in March, including a move towards earlier closing times for commercial venues. This was due to the rise of global oil prices during the conflict. Inflation has been in double digits since September 2023, when it peaked at 38%. The country is already struggling with heavy debts. Reporting by Momen Atallah and Enas Alashray
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Slovak PM: EU should lift sanctions on Russian oil, gas and other energy sources to improve energy security
Robert Fico, the Slovakian Prime Minister, said that the European Union must end sanctions on Russian oil and gas imports and take steps to restore Druzhba pipeline flows, as well as end the conflict in Ukraine, in order to tackle the energy crisis stemming from the war with Iran. Fico stated in a press release after a phone call with Hungarian Premier Viktor Orban, that the EU should re-establish dialogue with Russia to ensure member states get gas and oil from all sources including Russia. Hungary and Slovakia are the only two EU countries that maintain relations with Moscow. Oil prices have risen?since U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran began on February 28, causing a disruption to oil supplies in the Gulf and causing what the International Energy Agency calls the largest oil supply interruption in history. Central European nations have taken steps to reduce the impact of high fuel prices on consumers and businesses. By the end of 2025, only a fraction of EU oil imports came from Russia. This was after a steep decline in imports following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. By January 27, Kyiv reported that a Russian drone attack had hit Ukrainian pipeline equipment, disrupting Russian oil?shipments. Budapest and Bratislava accuse Ukraine of intentionally delaying repairs in order to resume oil flow through the Druzhba pipe. This has triggered a political dispute which?has seen Hungary blocking an EU loan for Kyiv. Ukraine claims it is repairing it as fast as possible. Fico stated that it is not enough to address the energy crisis at the national or only local level. Five other European Union countries are also calling for a windfall profit tax on energy companies in response to rising fuel prices. This was revealed by a letter sent to the EU Commission on Saturday. The energy chief of the bloc said on Tuesday that it was considering reinstating energy crisis measures from 2022. This included proposals to reduce grid tariffs and electricity taxes.
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Taiwan has received assurances from a'major country' about LNG supplies
Taiwan's economy minister announced on Saturday that the energy minister of a "major country" producing liquefied gas had given Taiwan assurances about supply. He was speaking in relation to the?impact of the Iran War on Middle East energy imports. Taiwan, which is a major producer of semiconductors, relied on Qatar to supply around a third its LNG prior to the conflict. It has now said that it has secured alternative supplies from countries such as Australia and the United States for the months ahead. Kung Ming Hsin, Taiwan's Economy Minister, told reporters in Taipei that Taiwan enjoys good relations with its?crude gas and natural oil suppliers. Therefore, adjusting the origin of shipments or purchasing additional spot -cargoes will not be a problem. Kung stated that the energy minister from a "major energy producing country" had contacted him about two weeks prior. The person "explained that they would fully support our natural gas needs. He added that if we had any requests, we could let them know. Kung added: "Another nation even stated that certain countries had released strategic petroleum reserves and could help coordinate the matter if Taiwan needed assistance." He said, "This shows Taiwan has earned considerable international goodwill through the long-term confidence it has built." He refused to identify the countries involved. Angela Lin, spokesperson of state-owned refiner CPC said that at the same?newsconference, crude oil inventories are being maintained at levels prior to conflict and that overall petrochemical supply has remained stable. CPC Chairman Fang Jeng Zen said that a new agreement with the U.S. would see 1.2 millions metric tons of LNG delivered?annually. He added that Taiwan does not intend to import crude oil or LNG from Russia. (Reporting and editing by Ben Blanchard, Roger Tung and Joe Bavier).
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Five EU Finance Ministers Call for Tax on Windfall Profits of Energy Companies
In response to fuel prices rising due to the Iran War, five?European Union Finance Ministers have called for a tax to be placed on the 'windfall profits' of energy companies. This was revealed in a letter sent to the EU Commission on Saturday. In a joint letter dated on Friday, the finance ministers from Germany, Italy Spain Portugal and Austria called for such a move, stating that it would "signal" to others that they are united and capable of taking action. They wrote: "It will also send a message that those who benefit from the war's consequences must do their part in easing the burden of?the public." Since the U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran began on 28 February, oil and gas prices have risen dramatically. This is similar to the energy crises Europe experienced after Russia invaded Ukraine - in '2022 - despite the fact that EU countries are now getting more of their energy from renewable sources. LETTER HIGHLIGHTS 'MARKET DISTORTIONS' In a letter addressed to EU Climate commissioner Wopke Hekstra, the Ministers referred to the possibility of a similar tax to be implemented in 2022 as a way to combat high energy prices. They wrote: "Given current market distortions, and fiscal constraints the European Commission must develop quickly a similar EU wide contribution instrument based on a sound legal basis." The letter did not specify the level of windfall taxes that ministers would propose, nor which companies should be affected. The energy chief of the bloc said on Tuesday that it is considering reviving measures taken in response to the energy crisis in 2022. This includes proposals to "curb grid rates" and taxes on electricity. After Russia cut off gas deliveries, the EU implemented a series of emergency policies. These included a?EU-wide gas price cap, a tax imposed on windfall profits of energy companies, and targets to?reduce gas demand. The Middle East conflict has a significant impact on the global energy prices. Since the U.S. and Israel war against?Iran started on February 28, European gas prices have risen'more than 70%. Dan Jorgensen, EU Energy Commissioner, said that Brussels is particularly worried about the supply of refined petroleum in Europe such as diesel and jet fuel. Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Writing by Tom Sims, Editing by Alison Williams
How strong is too Strong?
By Anna Szymanski
30th January -
What Mike Dolan, the ROI team and I are looking forward to reading, watching and listening to this weekend.
From the Editor
Hello Morning Bid readers!
The U.S. maintains that it has a "strong dollar policy" but few are able to agree exactly what this means. The dollar fell to its lowest level since early-2022 on Tuesday. This move was initially sparked by Friday's expectations of a joint U.S. and Japanese?intervention in order to prop up yen. After President Donald Trump said that the dollar would "find its levels" in response to the currency's decline, the decline intensified. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent then helped stabilize the currency by reiterating U.S. Government's "strong dollar" policies. Is this a reversal? Not necessarily. Even if a currency is depreciating, it can still be considered strong - particularly if the currency has appreciated by almost 50% over the past decade. If the administration intends to eventually put downward pressure on the supposedly too-valuated dollar, then they may end up with more than they bargained. Investors are, however, more optimistic about the dollar's future this morning. Former Fed governor Kevin Warsh is now the frontrunner in the race to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair. He has been a critic of current central bank but is seen as less supportive of radical monetary ease than other candidates. He said that he will announce his decision later today. Unsurprisingly, this week the yen was one of the most active currencies against the dollar. Japan's currency rose to a value of 152 dollars per yen on Tuesday. However, it has since lost some of its gains. The big move could suggest that no intervention is needed, but the history shows that this is not true. The transatlantic exchange rate, which is crucial to the euro's future, briefly rose above $1.20 for the first four years. Europe will be watching this closely, though, as too much strength may make it difficult for EU exporters and the European Central Bank to meet next Thursday. In the midst of the FX turmoil, global trade agreements, diplomatic agreements, and energy deals continue to be negotiated - but not with the U.S. This week, the EU and India signed a long-awaited deal, and Britain and China celebrated a'reset' in their relations after Keir starmer, Prime Minister, and President Xi Jinping, pledged to increase economic cooperation. The European countries also announced a joint agreement to develop a vast offshore network to reduce their dependence on U.S. LNG imports. As we stay on the subject of energy, U.S. gas prices rose as a powerful Arctic storm swept through the United States. This spike in prices has also been felt on overseas markets, underlining the globalization of U.S. LNG trade. Energy world attention is now focused on the Middle East where an American "armada' has been sailing toward Iran. Prices fell early on Friday as Washington and Tehran continued to negotiate. However, the rising tensions in the Middle East have helped drive up oil prices around 15% since January. Crude is unlikely to leave its "narrow" price range unless there's a significant action taken in Iran which has a lasting impact on global supply and demand. This week, Wall Street saw the earnings of a number of large-cap tech companies, such as Meta, Microsoft and Apple. The results were mixed but one thing that stood out was the fact that investors would be fine with massive AI expenditure, as long as growth is robust. The Fed meeting was expected to be another big event in the financial week, but the outcome was a bit of an apathy fest. As expected, the Fed kept rates steady and there was no big news at the press conference. Powell couldn't speak much on the subject of Fed independence but his silence says a lot about the current situation the central bank is in. Powell did give some advice to his replacement, but now he, along with the rest of financial community, is eager to confirm who it will be. Check out Open Interest for more news on commodities and markets. Open Interest has a wealth of information on commodities and markets. You can find out which high-flying stocks are currently catching the attention of investors, where there is a supply glut in oil, and how the future may be written by nuts and bolts.
Check out what the ROI team recommends you read, watch, listen to and listen to as we enter the weekend. Please contact me at to let me know what you think.
This weekend we are reading...
Mike Dolan, ROI Finance & Markets columnist: NYU Professors Viral Aharya and Toomas laarits write for CEPR VoxEU that the increase in U.S. Treasury Yields since the tariff shock last April is due to a drop in the "convenience" yield tied to the safe asset status.
RON BOUSSO is the ROI Energy columnist. Nat Bullard’s 200-slide presentation, which he presents every year, contains all of the most recent data and charts about energy and decarbonization.
JAMIE MCGEEVER (ROI MARKETS COLUMNIST): "Bubbles As a Feature Not a bug", a new Carlyle Group analysis, contextualizes today's AI boom in the context of the history and development of transformative technologies. They argue that the bubble will eventually deflate or pop, but this is part of the process. "The bottom-line is that bubbles have always been a part of the technological revolution."
CLYDE RUSSELL is a columnist for ROI Asia Commodities & Energy. This report by Australia's electricity operator shows that renewables have reached a record. They supplied over half of the nation's energy during a quarter. This report, which coincides with lower wholesale prices shows that a high penetration of renewables can be reliable and cost-effective.
ANDY HOME is the ROI Metals columnist. A new TradingPedia study shows that hybrid and electric cars account for over 25% of European car sales. The data is broken up by country and manufacturer and illustrated using some neat graphics.
GAVIN MAGUIRE is a columnist for ROI Global Energy Transformation. A new article by Infrastructure Investor?argues that a global shortage in gas turbines will limit the growth of U.S. electricity system.
Listening to...
ANNA SZYMANSKI: Editor-in charge of ROI, ANNA SZYMANSKI said that on the Morning Bid podcast Mike Dolan and Amanda Cooper talked about the Fed's latest meeting, the tensions in Iran, and what the biggest takeaways were from this week’s mega-cap earnings. Subscribe to Morning Bid and you'll get Mike's weekly preview this Sunday.
We're always watching...
RON BOUSSO is a columnist for the ROI Energy website. Clyde Russell, a fellow ROI Energy writer, joined Gulf Intelligence's daily podcast to talk about how China boosted its strategic oil reserves by increasing crude purchases in 2013.
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(source: Reuters)