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Singapore's oil product inventories drop to a six-week low
Data showed that oil product stocks in Asia’s main trading hub Singapore fell to their lowest level in six weeks. This was mainly due to a decline in the inventories of?clean petroleum products, according to data released on Thursday. Enterprise Singapore's data shows that combined?onshore? product stocks totaled 39.64 millions barrels during the week ending July 22. This is a 1.5% decrease from the previous week. The weekly average for last month was 37.5 million barrels. Lower inventories of middle and light distillates led to the decline, which was moderated by an increase in heavy distillates. In recent days, shipping risks have escalated at key chokepoints. Houthi attacks on tankers on the Red Sea has added to this uncertainty. The U.S. and Iran continue their strikes. CLEAN PRODUCT STOCK RETREAT Singapore's light distillate stocks, which includes naphtha, gasoline and other products, dropped for the fourth consecutive week, to 11,47 million barrels. Exports of net gasoline exceeded imports in regional markets, including Indonesia, Australia, and Malaysia. The total gasoline exports were approximately 361,000 metric tonnes, surpassing imports by roughly?265,000 ton, with Indonesia taking almost 128,000 tons. South Korea led the way with 102,000 tons of gasoline, followed by Saudi Arabia at 57,000 tons. Exports of naphtha rose around 58%, to 166,000 tonnes, while imports fell by about 34%. Imports came mainly from Oman (43,000 tons), Malaysia (41,000 tons), Kuwait (34,000 tons) and Russia (28,000 tons). The main destinations for outbound naphtha were Thailand (68,000 tons) and Malaysia (44,000 tons). Middle distillate stock levels fell to their lowest level in three weeks, at 8.7 million barrels. A decline in net jet fuel exports was offset by a drop of?gasoil exports. The net exports of jet fuel, kerosene and diesel fell by more than two-thirds compared to a week earlier. Exports to Australia and the Philippines were mainly diesel and gasoil imported from South Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Kpler data shows that more diesel from South Korea is expected to arrive in Singapore within the next two week. In terms of jet fuel and Kerosene, the imports were very minimal. The exports mainly went to Pacific Islands. As spot sales have increased this month, traders predict that some Chinese jet fuel cargoes will be available in the coming weeks. Rebounding of Dirty Product Stocks The residual fuel stockpiles rose to a record high of three weeks, increasing by 1.8% to 19,46 million barrels (3.06 millions tons). The total fuel oil imports increased 65.4%, to more than 866,000 tonnes. Nigeria was the largest supplier in terms of volume, followed by Brazil. The Middle East imports were thin. However, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates imported some quantities at 37,000 and 49,000 tonnes respectively. The total amount of fuel oil exported from Singapore tanks has risen by 24.5%, to 352,000 tonnes, with China being the main destination.
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Gold drops 1% after oil rally, as Fed rates are in focus
Gold prices fell on Thursday as the Middle East conflict intensified, driving up oil costs and supporting investor concerns about inflationary pressures that could force the U.S. Federal Reserve into raising interest rates this year. Spot gold fell 0.9% by 8:33 GMT to $4,091.24 an ounce, after reaching its highest level since 7 July at $4,165.87 an ounce on Wednesday. U.S. gold futures for delivery in August fell 1.4% to $4093.80. Nikos Tzabouras is a senior market analyst at Jefferies owned Tradu.com. Tzabouras said that the geopolitical escalation and higher oil prices, as well as the outlook for higher rates, could lead to gold falling further in the next few days, possibly towards $3,900. Even if policymakers do not change rates (at the Fed meeting next week), as expected, the conflict continues to fuel inflation risk, which supports expectations for monetary tightening. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, traders are now pricing in a 78% probability of a Fed rate hike in September. This is up from 68% Wednesday. According to the Iran-aligned Houthis, they have struck two 'Saudi oil tanks as part of a Naval Blockade against Saudi Arabia. This could create a second choke point on global oil supply. The U.S. military has completed its 12th night of attacks against Iran, prompting further retaliation. The oil prices?rose for the fifth consecutive day. The increased oil prices caused by the Gulf supply disruptions are weighing down on gold prices, as they have raised expectations for higher interest rates in the future. This tends to 'diminishes' the appeal of gold that doesn't yield. The European Central Bank will almost certainly keep its interest rates unchanged on Thursday, but it is still open to the possibility of a rate increase in September. Silver spot fell 1.4%, to $58.85 an ounce. Platinum dropped 0.9%, to $1629.63. Palladium fell 1.5%, to $1272.03. (Reporting by Sukanya Mitra and Swati Verma in Bengaluru; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair)
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The Gulf's major markets are mixed in response to the US-Iran hostilities and Q2 earnings
Investors weighed the escalating tensions in the region and an array of corporate earnings announcements as they viewed major stock markets in Gulf in early trade on Thursday. The?U.S. The?U.S. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards reported that an oil tanker was set ablaze after an explosion occurred while trying to navigate what they described as a "mined" route near the coast of Oman in the southern Strait of Hormuz. Two other tankers returned. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index fell 0.1% due to a 0.9% drop in the Saudi National Bank, the largest lender of the country. However, ?oil major Saudi Aramco gained 0.5%. The tensions were further heightened when the Iran-aligned Houthis allegedly claimed on Thursday that they had attacked two Saudi tankers in Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This raised concerns about a possible threat to a key global shipping route for energy alongside the Strait of Hormuz. The Qatari index fell 0.3% with Industries?Qatar falling 1.2%. Dubai's main stock index rose 0.6% led by a 2.9% increase in the top lender Emirates NBD. The lender reported a second-quarter profit which was essentially flat compared to the previous quarter. Asset growth and margins were resilient, in the first full-quarter result since the start of the Iran War. The index in Abu Dhabi rose 0.7%. This was boosted by the 4.1% increase of the United Arab Emirates’ largest lender, First?Abu Dhabi (FAB), following an increase?in earnings for the quarter. FAB's Net Profit?for three months ended on June 30 increased to 5.72 billion Dirhams ($1.56billion) from 5.51 billion Dirhams one year ago. Reporting by Ateeq Sharif in Bengaluru. Editing by William Maclean
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African Rainbow Minerals approves Bokoni Platinum Project, Nickel Mine Restart
African Rainbow Minerals said that its board approved a?phased upgrade of 15.2 billion rands ($927.28 millions)?of the Bokoni platinum-group metal operations, as well?as resuming nickel mining at Nkomati. The South African miner, a diversified company, said in a press release that the outlook for PGMs - which are mostly used as autocatalysts to curb vehicle emissions - remains positive, despite the impact expected from battery electric cars, which don't require emission controls. ARM announced that the Bokoni Project?expansion would add a 120,000 metric tons per month Platinum Group Metal?concentrator, to an existing 60,000 tons per month plant. The existing plant will also be refurbished. The new concentrator will be operational in 2030. ARM expects that the 'Bokoni Project will reach steady state by 2032 with a?annual production between 350,000?and 400,000 ounces PGMs starting in that year. The company produced 615.719 ounces PGMs during its financial year ending June 2025. ARM suspended its operations at Bokoni, in June 2025. They said the smaller 60,000 tons per month mining and grinding capacity?was not sufficient to offset fixed costs or sustain profitability. After agreeing to a conditional deal with Boliden, the company that also owns iron ore assets, manganese, and coal, said it would restart open-pit mining operations at?Nkomati and begin nickel concentrate production. In 2021, the Nkomati Mine was put on maintenance due to persistent losses resulting from rising costs and low nickel prices. ARM, who took over?Nkomati from former joint -venture partner Nornickel in July 2025, has plans to invest $46 million for the nickel mining restart. The mine will produce 56,065 tonnes of nickel concentrate per year.
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Gold falls from two-week high as oil gains; Fed meeting is in focus
Gold prices fell on Thursday, after a two-week peak hit on Wednesday, due to an escalating Middle East war. Traders were waiting for the Federal Reserve's policy meeting next Monday, which could provide clues about the timing of interest rate increases. Gold spot fell 0.6% at 0713 GMT to $4,103.39 an ounce, after reaching its highest level since July 7, $4,165.87, on Wednesday. U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery?fell by 1.1% to $4106.40. Oil continues to rise, adding to inflation pressures and expectations of Fed rate hikes. This has a positive effect on gold, as the dollar is weakening, said Jigar Trivedi. Oil prices reached their highest level in over?six-weeks, as the United States launched a new round on strikes against Iran and Yemen Houthis targeted oil tankers at the Red Sea. Dollars fell by 0.1% making greenback bullion cheaper for holders of other currencies. Interest rate sensitive two-year U.S. Treasury Yields have risen to a 17 month high, as rising oil prices fuelled concerns that new energy disruptions may reignite inflation. This could increase the chances of Fed rate increases. Futures markets are widely positioned for at least one hike before year's end. According to the CME FedWatch tool, traders are pricing in 77% of an increase in rates in September. High interest rates tends to reduce the appeal of non-yielding gold. The European Central Bank will almost certainly keep rates the same on Thursday, but it is keeping the "door wide open" for a possible hike in September. Silver spot fell 1.3%, to 58.90 dollars per ounce. Platinum dropped 1%, to 1,628.63, and palladium was down 1.2%, to $1274.96. (Reporting from Pablo Sinha and Swati verma in Bengaluru, Editing by Mrigank dhaniwala and Rashmi aich and Subhranshu sahu.)
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Copper prices rise as supply pressures increase, but demand is still low
Copper prices rose on Thursday as a result of falling inventories and ongoing concerns about supply. Benchmark 'three-month' copper at the?London Metal Exchange rose?0.08%?to $13,819 per metric ton as of 0700 GMT. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded copper contract was down by 0.21% to 105,890 Yuan ($15.642.91) per ton. Both exchanges saw their prices reach multi-week highs after Tuesday and Wednesday, when supply fears combined with good demand drove them to these levels. Analysts with Chinese broker Galaxy Futures stated that the combination of?rising copper prices and high-premiums have curtailed downstream buying. Available copper inventories in ?LME-registered Shanghai monitored warehouses The physical supply has been under pressure in recent months as the price of goods has fallen. The Yangshan copper premium has risen. On Wednesday, the metric for China's import demand reached a record high of $115 per ton. The price of copper has also been supported by the strong shipments to the United States ahead of any potential U.S. tax on refined copper. Traders are still waiting for details. The LME cash to three-month copper premium On?Wednesday the price of a ton was $4.7, indicating a pressure on supply in the near term. Geopolitical events continue to influence risk sentiment and demand expectations. Oil prices have risen to their highest level in six weeks after Yemen's Iran aligned Houthis claimed they had attacked two oil tankers as part a Saudi Arabian blockade. The rise in energy prices has rekindled inflation fears and put pressure on industrial commodities, as it increases the likelihood of rate hikes. This typically slows economic growth. Aluminium gained 0.28% on the LME, while zinc rose?0.63%. Lead increased 0.5% and nickel gained 0.62%. Tin added 0.16%. On the SHFE, aluminium rose 0.71%. Zinc gained 1.57%. Lead advanced 1.08%. Nickel jumped 1.59%. $1 = 6.7692 Chinese Yuan Renminbi (Reporting and editing by Sonia Cheema).
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Israelis are concerned that a Saudi nuclear deal may spark a Mideast arms race
Israel is worried about the'start of an arms race in the Middle East' after a deal between the United States & Saudi Arabia was announced on Wednesday. The agreement allows the kingdom to build nuclear power plants using American technology and enrich uranium. The?agreement announced on Wednesday, which needs Congressional approval to be implemented, is intended to allow Saudi Arabia to develop a civil nuclear programme. The Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Defence and Foreign ministers, have not yet commented on this deal. Critics say that it compromises Israel's long-term interests. "The nuclear deal that's coming together between Israel and Saudi Arabia over Israel's head is a serious failure in strategy that threatens our security," stated former prime minister Naftali Bennet, who is running to unseat Netanyahu at an election on October 27. "Nuclear enrichment in Saudi Arabia could lead to an'regional nuclear race' and a dangerous lack of control." Avigdor Lieberman, former defence minister of Saudi Arabia, said "the civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia will result in nuclear weapons. It will also lead to an arms race in the Middle East." He said that Israel, widely regarded as having the only nuclear arsenal in the region, should oppose the agreement and lobby Congress for its cancellation. The civil nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia was in the works during President Donald Trump's administration as well as that of former president?Joe Biden. A deal has not been reached yet, in part due to the warnings of?nonproliferation organizations who claim that this could give Saudi Arabia a way to develop a nuke weapon. Israelis also hoped that any deal would be part of the long-sought agreement for normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as envisaged in the Biden Plan. Benny Gantz said that no official in the security field would agree that adding civilian nuclear capability to Saudi Arabia, without also integrating it into a regional alliance that promotes moderate values, is a good thing for Israel. (Writing and editing by Steven Scheer)
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Repsol's Q2 profits more than tripled on the strength of refining
Repsol, a Spanish energy company, announced on Thursday that its adjusted net?profit for the second quarter of this year was more than three times higher than it was in the same period a year ago. This increase is attributed to higher oil prices and stronger refining margins. The adjusted?net? income rose to EUR1.84bn ($2.1bn) between April and June, compared with the EUR598mn posted in the 2nd quarter of 2025. This beat the analysts' consensus estimate of EUR1.64bn. The net income was EUR1.27 billion, up from EUR237 millions a year ago. Earnings before interest, tax,?depreciation, and amortisation, or adjusted earnings, also tripled, to EUR3.52 billion, up from EUR1.15 million. The main Spanish refiner and oil producer announced that it will increase the second share buyback programme for 2026 to EUR500m, on top of the EUR350m already completed. The company expects to announce its third share buyback in October, as part of its plan to distribute between 30% and 40% of operating cash flows to shareholders. Operating cash flow increased to EUR1.94billion from EUR1.56billion, and free cash flow increased to EUR1.04billion from EUR431m. Net debt decreased to EUR3.67billion at the end June, from EUR4.8billion at the end March. This reduced leverage from 14.3% to 11.3%. CEO Josu Imaz said in a statement that the company's strong cash flow and balance sheet enabled it to continue investing while increasing shareholder returns. Refining, Repsol Peru and chemicals, as well as trading, were the main drivers of this improvement. The adjusted net income rose to EUR1.24billion from EUR103mil a year earlier. Exploration and Production Adjusted Net Income rose from EUR312 million to EUR371 millions, thanks to higher crude prices, increased volumes, and stronger results from equity-accounted firms. Repsol's Spanish refinery margin indicator increased to $14 per barrel from $5.9 per barrel a year earlier. Brent crude was at $103.8 a barrel on average in the third quarter, up from $67.1. The total production was essentially flat, at 558,000 barrels equivalent per day compared to 557,000 the previous year.
World shares off record highs ahead of inflation tests
World shares stalled simply listed below record highs on Monday as financiers waited for inflation information from the United States and euro zone that could even more improve rates of interest expectations.
The data will offer the next test for investors, who have had to reassess their bets on central bank rate cuts in recent weeks, amazed by strong U.S. job growth and inflation.
MSCI's international equity index was trading flat in early London trade, after increasing to a record high recently when U.S. stocks touched new highs assisted by big gains for AI queen Nvidia.
In European markets, shares slipped with the STOXX 600 index down 0.3% by 0930 GMT, while U.S. stock futures were likewise lower.
The U.S. Federal Reserve's favoured measure of inflation - the core individual consumption expenses (PCE) cost index - is due on Thursday with a survey anticipating a rise of 0.4%,. up from 0.2% in December.
Markets have pressed out the likely timing of a first Fed. reducing to June, from May previously in February. Futures indicate a. bit more than three quarter-point cuts this year, compared to. five at the start of the month.
Euro zone inflation information follows on Friday, with the core. figure seen slowing to the lowest because early 2022 at 2.9%,. nearing the bank's 2% total inflation target.
When the, traders have actually also pushed back their bets on. European Central Bank will begin cutting, to June, versus April. when the ECB met in January.
While possibly causing a knee-jerk hawkish repricing,. the ramifications of such a surprise on the Fed policy outlook. seem reasonably restricted, thus (a higher-than-expected) print. might not present too considerable a risk to the ongoing worldwide equity. rally, said Michael Brown, expert at broker Pepperstone.
Brown included that the euro zone print was of more interest,. with a sub-3% core inflation reading meaning significant scope. for a dovish repricing.
Comments from ECB policymakers triggered optimism over rate. cuts on Friday and a broad bond market rally.
On Monday, worldwide bond yields were little moved. The. benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields were down 2. basis indicate 4.24%, having actually hit three-month highs last week. before Friday's rally.
The marketplace faces a difficult test with the Treasury offering $127. billion of 2- and five-year notes on Monday, with another $42. billion in seven-year paper due on Tuesday.
If Congress can not agree, financiers were likewise seeing the danger that some U.S. government agencies firms might shut down. on a borrowing extension by Friday.
CENTRAL BANK SPOTLIGHT
Together with inflation, focus is likewise on monetary policymakers,. with ECB President Christine Lagarde and the Bank of England's. primary economist arranged on Monday. A minimum of 10 Fed speakers. are on the agenda this week, and are most likely to repeat their. mantra of remaining mindful on rates.
Elsewhere, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) holds its. Policy meeting of the year on Wednesday. Markets see a. chance it could trek rates provided persistent inflation, though the. nation likely slipped into economic downturn in the fourth quarter.
In currency markets, the U.S. dollar was a touch. lower versus a basket of currencies.
The yen was marginally lower against the dollar. ahead of Japanese inflation data on Tuesday, forecast to slow to. 1.8%. That could contribute to the case against policy tightening by. the Bank of Japan, the holdout dove among industrialized market. central banks.
Japan's Nikkei share average touched a fresh record. high up on Monday.
In commodity markets, gold was a fraction softer at $2,032. an ounce, having actually rallied 1.4% last week.
Oil prices wandered lower, with both Brent and U.S. crude down 0.5% to $81.21 and $76.12 per barrel respectively.
(source: Reuters)