Europe

Officials from Venezuela's PDVSA state oil company and Spanish energy group Repsol have signed a "crude and gas agreement" to boost production in the northwestern part of Venezuela. Hector Obregon, PDVSA president, said that at an event held at the Government Palace, the deal offers "exploration" opportunities on the eastern shores of Lake 'Maracaibo where the two companies already operate the Petroquiriquire Joint?Venture, which could add 20,000 barrels of light crude per day to the current average production of around 40,000?bpd. In comments broadcast by state television, he said that the additional crude would supply the Paraguana Refining Center, which...

Authorities?said Tuesday that a fire was caused by debris from a drone at an oil depot located in southern Krasnodar, Russia. They also?closed the local road linking the area with the Crimean Peninsula. The fire that broke out at the oil depot in the Poltavskaya region?of Krasnodar was not fatal, according to a telegram message from the regional authorities. The authorities said that they had closed a local route connecting the area to a regional road leading to a?bridge over the Kerch Strait? linking Crimea with the Krasnodar Region, which was built by Moscow following the annexation. The bridge is...

Kommersant reported that the Russian government had authorized a few oil refineries to produce fuels at lower environmental standards for the domestic market. This is because the country has been experiencing fuel supply disruptions. According to data collected by, media reports and social media posts have indicated that there are supply disruptions in Russia in a dozen different regions. Only two regions of Siberia, besides the Russian-held Crimea have formally?confirmed these disruptions. Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak requested fuel market forecasts in order to avoid problems with fuel distribution and meet domestic demand. Ukraine has been targeting Russian...

The 'Russian Government' said late on Thursday that Alexander Novak, Russian Deputy Premier Minister, called for a system of forecasts to protect against fuel distribution problems and meet domestic demand. According to a statement posted on the website of the government, Novak requested the creation a forecasting model following a cabinet meeting that took place late in the evening. The statement stated that "Alexander Novak gave instructions to create a forecast model of the development of the fuel markets on a regional basis, including a'most detailed breakdown of every possible parameter. The system, it was said, would allow bottlenecks to...

Witnesses reported that fuel stations in the Russian-held Crimean Peninsula?were?out of petrol on Thursday as the escalating Ukrainian campaign to cut off supply lines into the peninsula?. A? A witness in Sevastopol said that most petrol stations in the city were out of fuel. Supplies are struggling to keep up even with the recent rationing. Another said that in Yevpatoriya's resort town, there was a queue of people waiting outside the only petrol station. Ukraine has intensified drone strikes against supply lines for the peninsula that Russia captured from Kyiv in 2014. Local authorities have implemented fuel rationing, and some...

Investors said that the turmoil on the world markets over the past week showed the economic outlook was now on a razor's edge. There were equal odds for an AI boom to boost growth, or oil shocks from the U.S. - Iran war to send stocks and bonds into a tailspin. The global equities market hit its highest point on June 3 and then experienced their worst day since October the next day. This week, they have been reversing direction constantly to match President Donald Trump's volatile remarks about Iran. Florian Ielpo, head of multi-asset and macro portfolio management at...

Investors said that the turmoil on the world markets over the past week showed the economic outlook was 'now on a razor edge. There are equal odds for an AI boom to lift growth, or for oil shocks resulting from the U.S. - Iran war to send stocks and bonds into a tailspin. Global equities reached an all-time high on June 3 and then suffered their worst day in October the next day. This week, they have spent a lot of time reversing direction constantly to match U.S. president Donald Trump's volatile remarks about Iran as well as rapidly changing...

Local authorities said that Ukrainian drones had hit a 'historic museum' in Sevastopol, in Russia-annexed Crimea. They also reduced the number nighttime trains as a result of the intensifying air strikes. The museum commemorates 1853-1856 Crimea War, which was fought between the Russian Empire (including the Ottoman Empire) and a coalition. In that war, Russia lost. Mikhail Razvozhayev - Sevastopol’s Russian-installed Governor – said via Telegram that the roof of the museum was on fire. He didn't provide any further details on the damage, or if there were casualties. "The enemy will be punished for this sacrilege!" Razvozhayev wrote in...

Local authorities said on Wednesday that Ukrainian drones had hit a historical museum in Sevastopol, in Russia-annexed Crimea. They also reduced the number?nighttime train services in response to intensifying air strikes. The museum is dedicated to the 1853-1856 Crimea War, which was fought between the Russian Empire and a coalition including the Ottoman Empire. In that war, Russia lost. Mikhail Razvozhayev said that the roof of the museum was damaged on Telegram. He didn't provide any details on the damage, or if there were casualties. "The enemy will be held accountable for this sacrilege!" Razvozhayev wrote in his early Wednesday...

These are the most popular?stories from the Wall Street Journal. These?stories have not been?verified' and we cannot?guarantee? their?accuracy. Israel and Iran traded missile strikes Monday, after the U.S. brokered a ceasefire in early April. This was their first direct attack since the truce went into effect. - Nvidia is ?teaming up with South Korea's SK Telecom and Naver ?to build gigawatt-scale artificial-intelligence cloud infrastructure in Asia. - Intesa Sanpaolo said ?it has launched a EUR30.66 billion ($35.33 ?billion) unsolicited cash-and-share ?takeover bid for Monte dei Paschi di Siena. Roche has announced that it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement and...

Iran's ambassador in Moscow was quoted on Monday as saying that the Strait of Hormuz would be open, but with new?conditions set by Iran? and?Oman?, including a?transit fee. The U.S. and Israeli war?on Iran 'has largely reduced oil flows through the strait. Before the conflict, one-fifth the world's crude oil passed through the strait. Recently, several tankers left the Gulf. However, oil and LNG flows remain severely constrained. In an interview published Monday, Ambassador Kazem Jalali said that the strait would be opened, but new conditions would be set by the Iranians and Omanis. We understand that Iran, Oman and...

Oil prices rose by more than $2 per barrel on Monday, after Israel launched new strikes against Lebanon on Sunday despite an agreement between the two nations. This shattered hopes of a ceasefire and the restart of crude flow through the Strait of Hormuz. As of 0013 GMT U.S. crude oil futures were up by $2.10 or 2.32% at $92.64 per barrel, while Brent crude rose by $2.33 or 2.5% to $95.42 per barrel. This erased a majority of Friday's losses, when prices fell on the hope of a deescalation of the U.S. - Iran conflict. The latest strikes seemed...

Data showed that the Middle East crude market fell sharply, and even slid into discounts. This was after the United States, Iran, and other countries reached a framework agreement to reopen Strait of Hormuz. The 'Asian refining market led by China is still subdued despite months of?run-cuts.' Hopes for higher supply following the deal have pushed Dubai and Middle East benchmarks to contango, and provided rare arbitrage opportunities in Europe and the United States. Benchmark Dubai’s premium to swaps fell into a 46-cent discount on Tuesday. This is the first contango structure in January. A contango market structure is one...

Thyssenkrupp announced on Tuesday that it plans to spin-off its Materials Trading division, which accounts for almost a third in the total sales of the German conglomerate. This announcement has been reported by and is part of the company's ongoing efforts to "turn itself into a holding company". The company has divested its hydrogen and marine divisions through individual stock listings in the past. Thyssenkrupp shareholders will vote on the issue of spinning off 49% in an extraordinary shareholder meeting scheduled for August 7. Jefferies analysts estimate that the segment has an enterprise value of EUR3.6 billion ($4.2 billion). Around...

Milan's court acquitted?eight defendants on Tuesday in the first of a dozen criminal cases into urban planning which slowed construction in Italy’s financial capital. The case concerned the construction of an 87 metre building, which was authorised based on a simple renovation permit. The approval was part a rapid-track process for building permits that the Milan municipality adopted in recent years, during a real estate bubble in the north city. Milan prosecutors sought convictions of all defendants with sentences up to?two years and four months in prison. The decision is a major win for developers and the Milan government. The...

Gold prices rose for the third straight session on Monday. They reached a high of?nearly one week after Iran and United States agreed that their war would be halted. This agreement eased expectations about higher interest rates. Gold spot rose 3%, to $4,344.77 an ounce at 08:42 am EDT (1242 GMT), reaching its highest level since the 9th of June. U.S. Gold Futures? climbed 3% to 4,366.80. The U.S. Dollar Index was down by 0.2% making metals priced in greenbacks more affordable to holders of other currencies. The deal, while still in its framework stage, was the most significant breakthrough....

On Monday, aluminium prices dropped to their lowest levels in?two and a half months as a U.S. - Iran framework agreement aimed at ending their war improved prospects of deliveries from Gulf -producers. However, shippers remained cautious about transiting through 'the strait of Hormuz. By 1120 GMT the benchmark three-month aluminum on the London Metal Exchange had fallen 3.2% to $3,422.50 per metric ton, after having reached $3,408, which was its lowest level since March 30. U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced that they had reached a preliminary agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The...

Energy Transition Minerals hopes to expand in Spain's Galicia Province as it waits for a resolution of the?legal challenges regarding its massive rare earths project on Greenland. Daniel Mamadou said in an interview with? In an interview, Daniel Mamadou told? Mamadou stated that "Galicia has an ambitious plan to revive its mining industry." He added that up to 52 mines will be put out to tender for development. "We think that the Penouta operation can be at the heart of an expansion of Galicia... We might be able to?benefit from economies of size and position." ETM has not provided any...

On Monday, gold prices reached a near-week-high as a tentative peace deal between the?U.S. Oil prices fell as a result of the Iran deal, which also eased concerns about a rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve. As of 0857 GMT spot gold was up 2.7% at $4,334.48 an ounce. This is its highest price since June 9. U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery climbed 2.8%, to $4355.30. U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced that they had reached an agreement to end the war and reopen Strait of Hormuz. This preliminary pact sent oil prices down but left the fate...

Gold rose by more than 2% on Monday, after U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced that they had reached a preliminary agreement to end the war. This lowered oil prices and eased concerns about inflation and rising interest rates. By 0536 GMT the spot gold price had risen 2.5%, to $4,323.29 an ounce, its highest since June 9, and extended gains for a 3rd straight session. U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery rose?2.5% at $4,343.80. U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced on Sunday that they had reached an agreement on a framework for ending their war, stopping the U.S.'s blockade...

Gold prices rose by more than 2% after U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced that they had reached a preliminary agreement to end the war. This lowered oil prices and eased concerns about inflation and rising interest rates. Gold spot rose 2.5%, to $4,322.87 an ounce, by 0312 GMT. This was its highest level since the 9th of June and extended gains for a 3rd straight session. U.S. Gold Futures for August?delivery increased 2.5% to $4344.80. U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced on Sunday that they had reached an agreement on a framework for ending?their conflict, stopping the U.S.-led blockade...

Singapore is establishing an over-the counter gold clearing system and introducing central bank gold vaulting services. This comes as the city state looks to establish itself as a gold trading hub. Gan Kim Yong, the Deputy Prime Minister, told the Asia-Pacific Precious Metals conference on Monday that the Singapore Exchange will?establish a gold clearing system over-the-counter for Loco Singapore or physical gold in Singapore by the end this year. He said that six banks will be clearing members: DBS, Deutsche Bank ICBC Standard Bank J.P. Morgan OCBC, UOB. Gan stated that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) will offer central...

Gold prices rose by more than 1% on Monday after U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced they had reached an agreement to end their conflict. This lowered oil prices and eased concerns about inflation and rising interest rates. As of 0010 GMT spot gold rose 1.8% to $4,297.42 an ounce. This is its highest level since the 9th of June. U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery rose 1.9% to $4,318.10. U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced on Sunday that they had reached an agreement?on the framework of a peace deal to end their conflict, stop?the U.S. Blockade of Iran, and...

According to a notice received by?on Saturday, Norsk Hydro declared a second case of force majeure for?aluminum sales from Qatar. This was after the Qatalum joint-venture?had unexpectedly terminated its marketing agreement with Norsk Hydro. Hydro, which holds a?50%?share in the Qatalum project, which produces 648,000 metric tonnes per year, along with Qatar Aluminum Manufacturing Co, also known as Qamco issued a force majeure order in early March, after the Middle East war interrupted the gas supply to the plant and Qatalum began a shutdown. The?force majeure clause - which exempts parties from any liability in the event of a failure...