Latest News
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Prices for EUROPE GAS rise and reverse earlier losses
Dutch wholesale gas prices increased on Wednesday. They reversed earlier losses due to concerns about liquefied gas (LNG) supply if tensions escalate in Iran. LSEG data shows that the benchmark Dutch front-month 'contract' at TTF hub is up?1.42 Euros?at 32.55 Euros per megawatt hour by 1213 GMT. This is the highest level recorded since October 7, last year. The Dutch March rate was 31.66 Euros/MWh, an increase of 1.28 euros. The British day-ahead contract was down 0.40 pennies at 82.80 pence/therm. Iran warned its neighbours that it could strike U.S. military bases if Washington interferes with protests, despite the fact that weather forecast revisions showed?milder temperature than before and a strong supply. Gas?traders said that the market was nervous about the situation in Iran and possible risks to LNG supply. The oil price also rose for the fifth consecutive session due to fears that Iranian supplies could be disrupted by a possible U.S. strike on Iran, and possible retaliation on U.S. interests in the region. Analysts at LSEG said that the gas storage levels in North-West are likely to fall below 100 terawatt hours on March 1. This would be a positive factor. Prices fell this morning due to increased LNG exports and Norwegian?exports as well as lower demand forecasts for the coming days. LSEG data shows that the local distribution zone gas demand for north-west Europe is expected to decrease by 296 gigawatt-hours/day (GWh/d), to 3,600 GWh/d, in the next day. Wind speeds that are stronger than normal will also reduce the gas consumption of gas-fired plants. The benchmark contract on the European carbon markets was up by 0.13 euros at 90.87 euro per metric ton. (Reporting and editing by Nina Chestney, Susanna Twidala)
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Caledonia will spend $132m on Zimbabwe's largest gold mine in this year
Caledonia Mining Corporation announced on Wednesday that it will spend $132m this year to launch the development of Zimbabwe's biggest gold mine once it is operational. The record gold prices are helping miners expand production. Gold spot prices reached a new record of $4,639.48 per ounce on early Wednesday. This was fueled by the escalating tensions in Iran, concerns over the Federal Reserve’s autonomy, and softer inflation data that boosted bets for rate cuts. Caledonia stated in a production report that the planned expenditure, which is part of an overall capital expenditure programme of $162.5 millions for 2026, was subject to approval by the board and funding availability. Caledonia, which already operates ?the 80,000-ounce-per-year Blanket mine in Zimbabwe, plans to develop the Bilboes mine at a projected total capital cost of $584 million. The new mine will begin production in late 2028. A steady-state annual output of 200,000 ounces is anticipated starting from 2029, for an initial 10 year period. The company has said that it will fund the Bilboes Project through a combination of senior non-recourse debt, contributions made by existing operations, and specialised financing methods, such as streaming. In this method, investors provide cash in exchange for future metal supplies. Caledonia’s expansion plans got a boost last month after Zimbabwe’s government reversed its plans to double gold royalty rates and change the taxation of capital expenditure. (Reporting and editing by Nelson Banya, Joe Bavier and Chris Takudzwa Muronzi)
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Copper falls from record highs due to physical demand
The copper price hit a new record on Wednesday, thanks to persistent demand by speculative funds. However, some investors were concerned that the high price would discourage industrial buyers from buying. The benchmark three-month copper price on the London Metal Exchange fell 0.1% to $13,176.50 per metric tonne by 1030 GMT after reaching a record high of $13,407. LME copper prices have risen by 44% in the last 12 months. This is due to disruptions at the mines and concerns about deficits for this year. Also, a large flow of metal has been sent to the U.S. before potential tariffs which could tighten supply elsewhere. "With all the?concerns? about debasement and financial risks, as well as Fed independence, these hard assets are just sensational," Ole Hansen, head commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, in Copenhagen, said. There's a limit to industrial metals, where we?hit a wall when it comes to potential demand destruction. I don't even know where this level is or if it's already reached. He said that if you look at the?technical signal, a closing below $13,000 will cause a downward reaction. Hansen stated that the copper demand in China appeared to be stable and there was a potential for stocking before the Lunar New Year holiday. After hitting a record high of 105.650 yuan, the most-traded contract for copper on the Shanghai Futures Exchange ended daytime trading 0.9% higher, at 104.120 yuan per ton ($14.931.88). Investors bet that demand for tin, which is used in semiconductors, will grow rapidly as a result of the artificial intelligence boom. SHFE tin rose 8%, reaching the upper limit of 413,170 Yuan. LME tin increased 4.1%, to $51,550. The fundamentals of tin have not changed dramatically. Jing Xiao said that the price rally was fueled by speculative trading. Tom Langston?at The International Tin Association?agreed that supply-demand metrics had not changed, noting the record interest rates on the LME. Other metals saw a 0.1% increase in LME aluminium to $3.200 per ton. Zinc rose 1% at $3.232. Lead added 0.4% at $2.069, and nickel climbed 1.7% to 17.995.
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Malaysia's state utility signs a deal to send energy from Laos and Singapore, revitalizing a cross-border project
Malaysia's state-run utilities firm signed a 2-year energy - agreement to transmit electricity from Laos into Singapore. This deal revives a Southeast Asian multilateral power trade - agreement that has been stalled since the year 2024. Tenaga Nasional Berhad, in a filing to the bourse on Wednesday, said that Energy Wheeling Agreement Phase 2 is part of a project to integrate power from Laos with Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. This will allow up to 100 megawatts in Laos to supply power via Thailand and Malaysia to Singapore using existing transmission links. The first phase was signed in 2022 with a validity of two years that ended June 22, 2024. Malaysia's Energy Minister in October last said that the delay was due to?local political changes in Thailand. According to an agreement signed Wednesday, the state utility Electricite?Du Laos pays TNB for wheeling?services in order to transmit energy produced in Laos from Singapore. The deal is part ?of the second phase of ?the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project, which is a precursor to a ?broader ASEAN Power Grid initiative aiming to connect all ten member states and tackle the region's growing reliance on fossil fuels. (Reporting and editing by David Stanway; Ashley Tang)
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Gold and silver reach historic highs amid geopolitical tensions and Fed uncertainty
Silver broke through $90 for the first time and gold reached a new record on Wednesday. The escalating tensions in Iran, along with concerns about the Federal Reserve’s autonomy, fueled demand for safe havens, while lower inflation numbers boosted bets to cut rates. Gold spot rose 0.9%, to $4,627.72 an ounce, by 1001 GMT. This was after the gold price had reached a session high of $4.639.48. U.S. gold futures for delivery in February rose by 0.8% to $4 636. Jamie Dutta is the chief analyst at Nemo.money. He said that prices are rising because of "well-known haven characteristics" amid increased geopolitical risk, fiscal uncertainty and concerns over Fed independence. The Federal Reserve Chair Jerome 'Powell was backed by central bankers from around the globe on Tuesday. They issued an unprecedented statement of support after the Trump administration threatened to indict him, which could have a negative impact on the trust that people place in U.S. assets like the dollar. Dutta said that "protests in Iran maintain geopolitical tensions, resulting in a strong demand for bullion." HRANA, a rights group based in the United States, said that the death toll has reached 2,571, sparking threats from?U.S. intervention. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Tuesday that the core Consumer Price Index in the United States rose by 0.2% from one month to the next and 2.6% over the course of a year. Powell, the Fed's chairman, has been urged by President Donald Trump to reduce interest rates "meaningfully". The traders expect?two rate cuts in this year. Low interest rates are usually in favour of non-yielding gold. Spot silver rose 4%, to $90.46 an ounce. This is down from a record high of $91.53. It has risen by nearly 27% within just 14 days of this year. Dutta stated that "long-term targets" are big numbers like $5,000 and $100 respectively for gold and Silver. After touching a session high of $2,406.75 per ounce earlier, spot platinum rose 3.5%. It hit a record $2,478.50/oz on December 29. Palladium increased 0.1%, to $1840.19 per ounce. (Reporting and editing by Clarence Fernandez in Bengaluru, with Pablo Sinha reporting from Bengaluru)
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TotalEnergies and Bahrain's Bapco Energies form Middle East Trading Venture
TotalEnergies, the French oil giant, announced on Wednesday that it had?formed BxT Trading a joint venture with Bahrain's Bapco Energies. The Middle East-focused venture is expected to trade products from Bapco’s Sitra refinery, which produces 267,000 barrels per day. The partnership builds upon a 2024 agreement?underwhich Total agreed to expand and modernise the?Sitra refinery to reach a throughput capacity 380,000 barrels per d?ay and to share its trading expertise. It also explored options to partner with Bahrain in projects involving renewable energy and liquefied gas. Bapco announced in December a new increase of capacity to 405,000 bpd. In a recent statement, Bapco Energies chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa said, "Through our partnership with TotalEnergies, we are strengthening our downstream value chain, and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a trusted and competitive player on the international energy market." Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of TotalEnergies, said that the joint venture would strengthen Total's Middle East position Two executives signed a contract in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. (Reporting by America Hernandez in Paris. Mark Potter (Editing)
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TotalEnergies sells its SPDC assets in Nigeria to a new buyer
By America Hernandez PARIS, January '14 - French giant TotalEnergies signed an agreement to sell its 10% non-operated stake in the Nigerian oil asset SPDC (renamed Renaissance JV) to Vaaris. This follows a failed sale to Mauritius based Chappal Energies last year. Total retains a 'full economic interest in the?deal, which includes stakes of three other licenses that produce mainly?gases for Nigeria LNG. The company did not provide any further information on the buyer. The inability of the buyer to pay the $860 million price tag was the reason why Nigerian regulators rejected Total's first deal with Chappal Energies for the SPDC stakes. This dealt a serious blow to Total's attempts to liquidate its mature and polluting assets, as well as to reduce debt. The SPDC was plagued by hundreds of oil spills due to theft, sabotage, and operational problems that resulted in costly repairs?and high profile lawsuits. Shell sold its 30% share in SPDC to a consortium made up of mostly local?companies last year for up $2.4 billion. Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, or NNPC, holds a?55% stake in the joint venture while Eni of Italy has 5%. The Nigerian regulators must approve the deal. Reporting by America Hernandez, Editing by Jan Harvey & Tomasz Janowski
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Copper prices rise as concerns over supply outweigh dollar strength
The price of copper peaked on Wednesday as global supply concerns, mounting geopolitical risk and a stronger dollar outweighed the pressure. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most-traded contract for copper closed the daytime trading session 0.85% higher, at 104120 yuan per metric ton, after reaching an all-time record of 105650 yuan. The benchmark three-month copper contract on the London Metal Exchange rose 0.58% at $13,240 per metric ton as of 0743 GMT after hitting a record high earlier. The price of copper has been supported by "disruptions" at mines, concerns about deficits in this year and an influx of red metal into the United States. Supply elsewhere is being squeezed by potential tariffs. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said on Tuesday that help was on its way for Iranians. Analysts say that this fueled concerns about geopolitical risk, which led some investors to rush into commodities with "healthy fundamentals" such as copper or tin. A stronger dollar has capped the price increases. The tin price in Shanghai and London has also reached record levels, with gains so far this month of 23,6% and 30,4% respectively. Analysts say that more funds have been invested in the tin industry, as investors bet on the rapid growth of demand for this metal which is used to manufacture semiconductors and will?benefit the artificial intelligence boom'. SHFE tin increased 8%, reaching the upper limit of 413,170 Yuan. LME tin rose?more than 5 % to $52,495. Jing Xiao is an analyst with broker SDIC Futures. She said that she does not believe there has been a dramatic shift in tin fundamentals. The round of 'price rally' was driven by speculative trade. Xiao stated that the demand for tin in 'the AI sector was overestimated, while the consumption of traditional 'users were underestimated. The high prices of the products have dampened consumer demand, while this year's supply growth will probably exceed expectations. This points to potential downside risks." SHFE aluminium slipped 0.06%. Nickel slipped 0.11%. Lead dipped by 0.17%. Zinc grew by 0.51%. Aluminium, nickel, and lead are among the other metals traded on the LME.
What is in the Republican tax plan and spending plan
The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a comprehensive budget package which would meet many of the priorities of President Donald Trump. Next, the Republican-led Senate will take up the package with likely significant changes.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has summarized the main elements of this package. According to them, the deficit would increase by $3.8 trillion over a period of 10 years. The estimates of CBO and Joint Committee on Taxation for some elements below are likely to be revised in the coming weeks.
Tax Breaks and Tax Cuts
(Cost: $2.2 trillion) Makes permanent lower income tax rates that were set to expire in Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. (Cost: $2.2 trillion)
Increases the alternative minimum tax exemption. (Cost: $1.4 trillion)
(Cost: $1.3 trillion) Increases the standard deduction by $1,000 up to $1,500. (Cost: $1.3 trillion)
Increases the tax breaks for "pass-through businesses" such as LLCs and sole proprietorships. (Cost: $809 billion)
Increases the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,500 until 2029 and then keeps it at $2,000, indexes to inflation. (Cost: $797 billion)
Raising the exemption for estate taxes from $14 to $15 million. (Cost: $212 billion)
Extends tax benefits for multinational corporations. (Cost: $174 billion)
Tax exemptions on overtime pay through 2029. (Cost: $124 billion)
Creates new $4,000 deductions for seniors. (Cost: $72 billion)
Tax exemptions on interest payments for loans to domestic autos up until 2029. (Cost: $58 billion)
Tax exemptions on certain tipped income until the year 2029. (Cost: $40 billion)
Contributions to private school scholarship funds are exempt up to $5,000. (Cost: $20.4 billion)
Parents can contribute up to $5k tax-free per year to a "Trump Account" that will be used to pay for their child's education and other expenses when they become adults. (Cost: $17.2 billion)
Taxpayers can now deduct up $40,000 in state and local taxes (SALT), up from the current $10,000. Benefits will gradually be phased out for households earning more than $500,000. (Cost not known at this time)
SAVINGS AND NEW REVENUES
Extended 2017 deadline for the elimination of personal exemption deduction. (Savings: $1.9 trillion)
Tax breaks for green energy, electric vehicles and clean electricity are eliminated. Savings are unknown at this time.
Restriction of health benefits for certain immigrants. (Savings: $117 billion)
Increases eligibility requirements for Affordable Care Act Exchange coverage. (Savings: $82 billion)
Taxes on private university endowments are raised from 1.4% up to 21%. (New revenue: $22.6 billion)
Imposes a new tax of 5% on money sent home by immigrants. (New revenue of $22,2 billion) Removes firearm silencers from the national registry and eliminates taxes on their sales. (Cost: $1.4 billion)
Tax on firearms manufacturers is eliminated
Gives the government the power to end the tax-exempt status of "terrorist-supporting organizations."
Total cost of tax reductions: $5.6 TRILLION
MEDICAID
Adults who are able-bodied and do not have dependents must work, volunteer, or attend school for at least 80 hours per month beginning in 2027.
The verification process is strengthened to ensure that participants and healthcare providers can participate. Rules that facilitate enrollment are removed.
The program excludes non-citizens and penalizes the states who use their own money to cover illegal immigrants.
The regulations that require minimum staffing in nursing homes and long-term care facilities have been blocked.
Funding for gender-transition therapies for minors is prohibited.
Prohibit payments to large providers such as Planned Parenthood who specialize in birth control and reproductive health services.
Limit state taxes on providers used to raise federal contribution.
Total savings: $715 Billion. Enrollment will drop at least 7.7 millions people from the current level of 71,000,000 people.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT COMMUNICATIONS
Cancels funding of green-energy grant programmes in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. This includes vehicle manufacturing, home energy upgrades, electricity transmission and wind power.
Encourages pipelines, exports of natural gas and exploration.
Rejecting grant programs for electric heavy-duty vehicle purchases
Rejecting grants for reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Rejecting fuel efficiency standards for cars and pickup trucks
More electromagnetic spectrum bands available for communication.
The law prohibits the states from regulating artificial Intelligence.
Total savings: $197 Billion
HOMELAND SECURITY
Cost of border wall construction: $46.5 billion
Cost: $6.3 billion for surveillance towers, drones, and border-security equipment
Cost: $6.2 billion. Increase the number of staff at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Cost: 46,400 employees to 55,000).
Cost: $300 Million)
Reimburse the states for border security costs. ($12 billion)
Total cost: $79 Billion
IMMIGRATION & JUSTICE
Imposes new fees up to $5,000 on immigrants' work permits and court hearings.
The funding will be used to hire 10,000 additional immigration enforcement officers and fund 1 million deportations.
Additional funds are provided to government agencies for the investigation of visa fraud, criminal background checks, DNA testing and supervision of unaccompanied children.
The federal courts are prohibited from issuing contempt citations against the government for injunctions and temporary restraining order.
Total savings of $110 billion
MILITARY
Spending on shipbuilding to increase (Cost: 32 billion dollars)
Air and missile defence (Cost: 24 billion dollars)
Munitions (Cost : $19.5 billion).
Nuclear weapons (Cost : $12.6 billion).
Cost: $5 billion
Total cost: $144 Billion
FOOD ASSISTANCE
Some of the 41 millions participants in the SNAP program will have to work more hours
In 2028, the federal government will begin to shift some costs to the states.
Savings of $230 billion
EDUCATION
Changes to student loan repayment plans: Savings of $295 billion
Limits on borrowing for certain student loan programs
Restrictions on eligibility for Pell Grants
Limits on the government's cancellation of student debt (Savings : $32 billion).
Total savings: $349 Billion (Reporting and editing by Andy Sullivan, Bill Berkrot Alistair Bell, Andrea Ricci, Scott Malone)
(source: Reuters)