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TenneT Hires Nexans for LanWin 2 Export Cables Scope
French subsea power cable maker and services provider Nexans has secured the project agreement for LanWin 2, valued over $1 billion, under the TenneT frame agreement awarded in May 2023.The project involves the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Installation (EPCI) of 250 km of 525 kV High-Voltage Direct Current, Cross-Linked Polyethylene (HVDC, XLPE) onshore and offshore export cable systems.The project is part of the development of TenneT’s 2 GW offshore grid connection program in the German North Sea. Commissioning of the project is expected in 2030.It further sterngthens Nexans’s ongoing partnership with TenneT, following the BalWin3 and LanWin4 projects announced in March 2024, to develop the infrastructure essential to support Germany and Europe’s renewable energy future.“We are proud to secure this project under the TenneT framework agreement for the LanWin 2 project. This achievement highlights Nexans’ dedication to delivering innovative cable solutions and reliable project execution to support Europe’s energy transition,” said Pascal Radue, EVP of Nexans’ PWR-Transmission Business Group.
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Metals blended as dollar falls
Base metals traded combined on Thursday as the dollar deteriorated after soft U.S. core inflation raised hopes that the Federal Reserve could cut rate of interest further. The dollar index paused its rally following the release of core consumer price index information. It was last at 109.09 - a 1% retreat from the 26-month high of 110.17 hit on Monday. A weaker dollar makes greenback-priced commodities more affordable for holders of other currencies. Leaving out volatile food and energy components, the U.S. core CPI increased 3.2% on an annual basis, compared to an anticipated 3.3% increase. Traders of interest-rate futures now expect the Fed to cut rates two times by the end of this year, with the first decrease to been available in June. Three-month aluminium on the London Metal Exchange ( LME) increased 0.4% to $2,612 a metric ton by 0346 GMT, bolstered by the European Commission's plan to ban Russian aluminium. The European Commission means to propose a ban on imports of Russian main aluminium in its 16th plan of sanctions versus Russia over its intrusion of Ukraine, European Union diplomats stated on Tuesday. Russian shipments of the metal to Europe have already fallen due to extensive self-sanctioning by makers. Any even more constraints would likely see only a minimal influence on the market, ANZ Research study stated in a note. LME copper increased 0.4% to $9,206, tin stayed flat at $29,590, nickel was down 0.2% to $15,815, lead added 0.4% to $1,942.5 while zinc moved 0.1% to $ 2,859.5. The most-active copper agreement on the SHFE was up 0.9% at 75,910 yuan ($ 10,353.95) a load. SHFE aluminium added 0.8% to 20,320 yuan a load, nickel was flat at 127,480 yuan, zinc fell 0.7% to 23,720 yuan, lead stayed flat at 16,590 yuan and tin included 0.4% to 246,840 yuan. For the top stories in metals and other news, click or
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Gold rates hover near 1-month peak on renewed rate-cut hopes
Gold rates were stable on Thursday after hitting their greatest levels in more than a month, as softer U.S. core inflation information lifted expectations of interest rate cuts, although news of a ceasefire accord between Israel and Hamas capped more gains. Spot gold held its ground at $2,696.30 per ounce, as of 0301 GMT, after hitting its highest point because Dec. 12 previously in the session. U.S. gold futures gained 0.3% to $ 2,725.20. Relieving underlying inflation in the U.S. renewed hopes of a. less limiting Fed policy this year. The core inflation. suddenly slowed, while heading consumer prices showed no. substantial upside surprises, stated Jigar Trivedi, senior. expert at Dependence Securities. That supported bullion demand as development in disinflation. could prompt the FOMC to ease financial policy, decreasing the. opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets. Concerns continue over prospective tariffs from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration, which. might even more exacerbate inflationary pressures. Reserve bank authorities said information released on Wednesday. showed U.S. inflation was continuing to alleviate even as they noted. increased uncertainty in the coming months, as they wait for a. very first peek of the inbound Trump administration's policies. Supporting bullion, the dollar slipped on Thursday to stand. simply off current peaks as cooling U.S. inflation information knocked. down bond yields. The prospect of more Fed rate cuts this year increased. following the information, and rate of interest futures traders on. Wednesday were pricing in near-even chances that the U.S. central. bank would minimize rates twice by the end of this year, with the. first decrease to come in June. In other places, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire and captive. contract, reducing some security appeal of the metal, Trivedi. said. Area silver shed 0.2% to $30.61 per ounce and. palladium dropped 0.3% to $958.50. Platinum. steadied at $938.25.
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Iron ore strikes multi-week high up on lower deliveries, soft dollar
Prices of iron ore futures climbed on Thursday, supported by minimized deliveries from a major producer and growing expectations of continued rate cuts by the Federal Reserve following coolerthanexpected U.S. inflation information. The most-traded May iron ore agreement on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) was up 0.64% at 787 yuan ($ 107.35) a metric lot, as of 0214 GMT. Earlier in the session, the contract touched 792 yuan a lot, its greatest considering that Dec. 18. The benchmark February iron ore on the Singapore Exchange was trading 0.43% higher at $101 a load, as of 0219 GMT. It touched the greatest since Jan. 1 at $101.9 earlier in the day. Leading iron ore supplier Rio Tinto on Thursday reported its lowest annual iron ore deliveries in 2 years, partly as heavy rains in Western Australia affected output in the December quarter. Likewise offering some support to prices of the crucial steelmaking component was a weaker U.S dollar, which makes dollar-denominated products more affordable for holders of other currencies. In addition, the indications of possibly increasing ore need in the coming weeks supported rates, stated analysts. Increasing total sentiment, Nation Garden, as soon as China's top designer by sales, revealed it expects to report a. narrower yearly loss in 2024 as the having a hard time developer works. to revive its company. Other steelmaking active ingredients on the DCE advanced, with. coking coal and coke up 1.52% and 1.65%,. respectively. A lot of steel criteria on the Shanghai Futures Exchange. ticked up. Rebar included 0.33%, hot-rolled coil. sophisticated 0.44%, stainless-steel got 0.11%, while. wire rod dropped 0.25%. The current wave of prices gains generally gained from. improved expectations for steel intake boosted by the macro. sentiment, said Zhuo Guiqiu, analyst at Jinrui Futures. The restocking expectations intensified rate volatility. in the middle of low steel stocks.
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Most metals rise as dollar slips on soft US inflation information
Prices of many base metals rose on Thursday, helped by a weaker dollar as soft U.S. core inflation data raised hopes that the Federal Reserve might cut rates of interest further. The dollar index paused its rally following the release of core consumer rate index information. It was last at 108.98 - a 1.08%. retreat from the 26-month high of 110.17 touched on Monday. A weaker dollar makes greenback-priced products cheaper. for holders of other currencies. Leaving out volatile food and energy parts, core CPI. increased 3.2% on a yearly basis, compared with an expected. 3.3% rise. Traders of interest-rate futures now anticipate the Fed to cut. rates two times by the end of this year, with the very first reduction to. been available in June. Three-month aluminium on the London Metal Exchange. ( LME) increased 0.6% to $2,618 a metric ton by 0144 GMT, strengthened by. the European Commission's strategy to ban Russian aluminium. The European Commission plans to propose a restriction on imports. of Russian main aluminium in its 16th plan of sanctions. versus Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, European Union. diplomats stated on Tuesday. Russian deliveries of the metal to Europe have currently. fallen due to extensive self-sanctioning by manufacturers. Any. further restrictions would likely see just a restricted effect on. the market, ANZ Research study said in a note. LME copper increased 0.5% to $9,214, tin remained. flat at $29,590, nickel was unchanged at $15,855, lead. added 0.4% to $1,943.5 and zinc gained 0.2% to. $ 2,868. The most-active copper agreement on the SHFE was up. 1.0% at 76,000 yuan ($ 10,366.79) a heap. SHFE aluminium included 1.3% to 20,420 yuan a ton,. nickel was up 0.1% to 127,620 yuan, zinc fell. 0.1% to 23,860 yuan, lead lost 0.1% to 16,575 yuan and. tin included 0.7% to 247,450 yuan. For the top stories in metals and other news, click. or.
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Qatar hikes March al-Shaheen oil term price to over 2-year high
QatarEnergy has actually raised the term price for alShaheen crude oil loading in March, trade sources said on Thursday, setting it at a premium that has been the greatest in more than two years. The term rate has increased by $2.76 to $3.81 per barrel, from the premium of $1.05 per barrel set for February-loading cargoes, the sources said. The premium is at its highest level given that prices were set in October 2022 for cargoes packing in December that year. The walking follows a strong rally in Middle East standards this week, as most current U.S. sanctions on Russia led Asian purchasers rush to source alternative supplies from the Middle East and other regions. Area premium of Dubai increased $1.35 to $3.08 a barrel on Monday, posting the biggest day-to-day gain since a minimum of September 2020. Qatar offered 2 al-Shaheen freights to Totsa at a premium of $ 3.70-$ 3.80 a barrel above Dubai costs, according to the sources. Qatar has actually also granted a Qatar Marine unrefined cargo at a. premium of about $3 a barrel above Dubai costs to Unipec and a. Qatar Land crude cargo at a premium of above $2 a barrel above. Dubai rates to PTT, they stated. The companies usually do not discuss industrial offers. All the cargoes are 500,000 barrels each.
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Oil increases as United States stock decreases heighten supply concerns
Oil costs rose for a 2nd day on Thursday after a largerthanexpected decrease in U.S. crude oil stockpiles added to provide concerns stired by U.S. sanctions against Russian energy trade. Brent crude futures increased 30 cents, or 0.4%, to $ 82.33 per barrel by 0120 GMT, after increasing 2.6% to its greatest considering that July 26 in the previous session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures increased 32 cents, or 0.4%, to $ 80.36 a barrel after gaining 3.3% on Wednesday, reaching its greatest considering that July 19. Costs increased after the U.S. Energy Details Administration reported on Wednesday domestic petroleum stocks fell for the seventh time in a row recently, the longest decreasing streak given that July 2021. International crude oil products are anticipated to tighten up in the months ahead as fresh U.S. sanctions on Russian oil manufacturers and tankers have sent Moscow's leading consumers searching the globe for replacement barrels, while shipping rates have actually risen too. The most recent round of sanctions might disrupt Russian oil supply and distribution substantially, the International Energy Agency stated in its month-to-month oil market report on Wednesday. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, which have been cutting output over the previous 2 years, are likely to be mindful about increasing supply despite the recent rally in rates, said Product Context founder Rory Johnston. The producer group has actually had its optimism rushed so regularly over the past year that it is most likely to err on the side of care before beginning the cut-easing procedure, he said. Limiting oil's gains, Israel and Hamas consented to an offer to halt battling in Gaza and exchange Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners, according to an authorities.
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Biden takes aim at 'tech industrial complex' in farewell speech
U.S. President Joe Biden cautioned on Wednesday in his goodbye address that an American oligarchy is taking shape in the United States among a few wealthy people who have actually amassed a dangerous concentration of power. Biden cautioned of a tech commercial complex in the United States in words that echoed President Dwight Eisenhower's. farewell address in 1961. Eisenhower, liquidating 8 years as. president, had actually alerted of the threats of a military-industrial. complex gaining power in the United States. Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme. wealth, power and impact that really threatens our whole. democracy, our standard rights and flexibility and a reasonable shot for. everyone to get ahead, Biden said from the Oval Office. He did not mention names, however Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the. world's wealthiest male, has actually amassed not simply large wealth however has. end up being an effective adviser to Donald Trump, the Republican politician who. will take control of as president from Biden on Monday. Biden returned Eisenhower's speech in his 15-minute. message. 6 years later, I'm similarly concerned about the. potential increase of a tech industrial complex. It might posture genuine. dangers for our nation too. Americans are being buried. under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation,. enabling the abuse of power, he said. The totally free press is falling apart. Pillars are vanishing. Social media is giving up on fact checking, Biden said. Biden's remarks came after social media company Meta. Platforms just recently ditched its U.S. fact-checking program and. decreased curbs on discussions around controversial topics such as. immigration and gender identity, acquiescing criticism from. conservatives like Trump. X, previously called Twitter, had formerly restricted. content small amounts on its platform after being purchased by. Musk.
High food costs moisten joyful spirits in Russia
This holiday season, many Russians are tightening their belts.
Persistent inflation has increased costs of staples such as butter, potatoes and chicken in current months, striking Russia's. poorest and triggering some to cut down this festive season.
Reuters spoke with Russians in Moscow, St. Petersburg,. Yekaterinburg in the Urals and Omsk in Siberia to understand how. individuals are managing their financial resources.
Rates have visibly increased, said Natalia Moreva, 58,. listing flour, bread, chocolates, fruit, veggies and meat as. all having increased in rate.
Incomes are sufficient, however when you go to the store you. used to be able to purchase more, said Moreva, who works for the. Omsk regional federal government.
The holiday is ending up being a modest one.
Russians generally increase their costs in the last. couple of weeks of each year, getting ready for New Year events and. nationwide vacations in the very first weeks of January. This year,. they have actually had to spend a lot more.
Way more costly, it is heavy on the pocket. In past New. Years, expenses more or less met the budget. Now, the expenses are. much higher, possibly three or 4 times more than in the past, stated. Dinara, a student from Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest. city.
SOARING EXPENSES. Real earnings have risen throughout Russia, mainly due to increasing. incomes in the defence and innovation sectors. But for many,. salaries have not kept pace with inflation, which is running at. more than 9%, regardless of the reserve bank preserving interest. rates at 21%, their highest in more than twenty years.
Vyacheslav, 73, a pensioner in Omsk, stated he was discovering. rates rising from one day to the next.
It is, of course, not really nice or hassle-free for people at. the moment. We comprehend that the nation is in a difficult. scenario at the minute, however nevertheless I would like for. grocery prices not to grow so quickly.
The price of his preferred cheese has increased by 15% to 20%. since September, he stated, to around 850 roubles.
Inflation might end the year at as high as 9.8%, Andrei. Gangan, director of the reserve bank's financial policy. department, informed Interfax on Tuesday, and will peak in April. 2025 before starting to come down. The reserve bank defied expectations for a rate trek recently. and chose to keep the present cost of borrowing, but soaring. obtaining costs are cooling demand in Russia's real estate. market, with home mortgage rates of up to 30% putting off capacity. buyers and fuelling a rental market boom.
Common services are getting more pricey, (so are). taxes, and it is very visible, said Moscow student Veronica. Arefieva. When you go to the store, a loaf of bread that as soon as. expense 20 roubles, now costs 50 roubles.
Another Moscow trainee, Sergei Shoreshorin, stated the rate. of chocolates was frightening.
Even the cost of fir trees was high, purchasers in St. Petersburg concurred.
There are people who require a tree who do not even ask the. price, they simply buy one, said Ramiz, who was selling trees in. the city. And there are individuals who, even when we offer a. discount, state they can't afford it.
I want everyone season's greetings, all the very best and that. next year everybody will be able to afford it!.
(source: Reuters)