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Namibia protects consumers from rising fuel prices
The energy minister announced on Friday that Namibia will temporarily lower fuel levies 50% for at least three months, until the end of June. This is to protect consumers from higher prices as the U.S./Israeli war with?Iran continues. Namibia, a southern African nation that is entirely dependent on imported refined petroleum products, has taken this decision to respond to the Middle East Crisis that has stifled around 20% of world oil and LNG exports via the Strait of Hormuz. At a media briefing, Namibian energy minister Modestus Amtse said that the measure was necessary due to the volatility in petroleum prices, caused by the geopolitical tensions raging in the Middle East. He stated that the government will use its National Energy Fund from April 1 until the end of the month of June to stabilize fuel prices. The under-recovery for April is approximately 500 million Namibian Dollars ($29 million). He said that the government would cover any under-recovery of N$2.50 for petrol, and N$4.00 for diesel. He said that the goal was to smooth out price volatility and ensure stability of domestic fuel prices. Namibia, an oil and gas hotspot in the world, hopes to produce oil by 2030. It consumes around 100 million litres per month of petrol and diesel. Amutse stressed that the country's fuel stock is sufficient to meet national demand for a period of one to two months. He urged citizens to refrain from illegally hoarding fuel or panic buying.
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Stocks continue to fall as Trump's extension of the Trump-Pence fails to calm markets
The global stock markets fell again on Friday after U.S. president Donald Trump's decision to extend the deadline for Iran to "reopen" the Strait of Hormuz did not calm down oil prices or government bond yields. Trump's decision to postpone the deadline came after Wall Street closed its biggest one-day drop since the beginning of the war on Thursday. Iran did not directly indicate that it is ready to negotiate, but the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it will try to disrupt shipping and push up oil prices. The pan-European STOXX 600 Index?fell 1%, after falling 1.1% on Friday. Germany's DAX was down 1.2%. Overnight, MSCI's Asian share index excluding Japan dropped 0.8%. MARKETS DRAG DOWN OFF TRUMP DELAY The futures for S&P 500 in the U.S. gave up gains earlier and were last down by 0.5% after falling 1.7% the previous session. The Nasdaq Composite Index, which is dominated by the tech sector, fell 2.4% on Friday. This index has now fallen nearly 11% since its record high close in October. The 'Wall Street Journal' report that Trump was considering sending more troops heightened concerns about the war escalating to a ground-based conflict. There is also no certainty as to when the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s energy flows, will be opened to shipping. On Thursday, an Iranian official called the U.S. plan to end this conflict "unfair and one-sided". Matt Britzman is a senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. He said that words alone were not enough to change the mood. The need for tangible evidence of progress. Brent crude oil, a global benchmark, increased?2.5%, to $110.70 per barrel. SURGE IN GLOBAL BOND YIELDS Investors 'grappled' with the possibility of an?inflationary jolt that could force central bankers to increase interest rates. As prices drop, yields also rise. The 10-year U.S. Treasury Yield, which sets the tone for borrowing rates around the globe, has risen more than 4 basis point to 4,468%. This is its highest level since July. Money markets see roughly 60% of the U.S. Federal Reserve raising rates this year. This is a dramatic change from late February, when traders bet on?two rate cuts in 2026. Germany's 10-year Bond Yield rose to its highest level since 2011, at 3.13%. The U.S. Dollar Index, which measures the currency's performance against six other currencies, gained 0.2%, marking a fourth consecutive session of gains.
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Dombrovskis: Iran war may cause stagflation in the EU
Valdis Dombrovskis, European Economic Commissar, said that the European Union is at risk of stagflation due to the increase in energy prices caused by 'the U.S. - Israeli 'war on iran. "The outlook is clouded with profound uncertainty. But it's clear that we run the risk of a shock, which is a situation in which a?slower?growth coincides?with a?higher inflation," Dombrovskis said at a?news conference?after a meeting?of EU finance ministers. This is true even if disruptions to energy supply are?relatively brief. Our analysis shows that in such a scenario the EU's growth in 2026 may be around 0.4 points lower than our autumn forecast and inflation could be as high as one percentage point. If disruptions are more substantial and last longer, then the consequences for growth will be greater. He said that growth could be 0.6 percentage points lower in 2026 and 2027. He said that it is now obvious that 'the scale, severity and impact of the war have 'increased' since EU Finance Ministers last met just over two weeks ago.
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Russia will auction off its seized stakes in UGC gold producer next month
Rosimushchestvo, the federal agency for property management, said that a seized?stake? in Russian gold producer Uzhuralzoloto? (UGC?) could be sold at auction next month. The agency stated that the preparations for auction were in progress. The state owns 67.2% in the company, which at current market prices is worth $1.3billion. A Russian court ruled in July 2025 that Konstantin Strukov's?majority share?, which he had previously owned, should be transferred to?the state. This was part of an 'wider pattern' of 'nationalisations, of assets owned by Russian companies or fledgling Western firms. The Moscow law firm NSP estimated last year that the authorities confiscated private assets valued at $50 billion since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. Last October, the central bank stated that the state violated the rights of minority shareholders by failing to make a 'buyout offer' as required by law following the seizure. After the sale, the new owner is expected to make a 'buyout offer. The auction was originally scheduled to happen 'last year, but it was delayed as gold prices rose and the state wanted a higher stake price.
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INDIA BONDS - India 10-year yield registers largest weekly increase since RBI's surprise rise in May 2022
The Indian government bond market plunged Friday, ending a week-long loss, as New Delhi’s fuel excise tax?cut clouded fiscal outlook and intensified oil-driven anxieties. This also drove the yield on the 10-year note to its largest weekly increase in almost four years. The benchmark 6.48% bond yield for 2035 ended the session at 6.9419%. This is the highest 10-year bond yield since July 25, 2024. It closed at 6.8750% the previous day. Bond yields are inversely related to bond prices. The yield increased by 20 basis points for the week. This is the largest move since the week ending?May 6,2022 when the central banks began its aggressive rate-hiking cycle with an unexpected?rate hike in between scheduled policy meeting. New Delhi has reduced its special excise duties on petrol and diesel as the Middle East conflict continues to choke supplies, causing fuel prices to remain volatile. An official from the government said that the move will cost the government $739.33 million per fortnight. Analysts estimate the fiscal impact to be between 1.5 trillion and 1.75 trillion rupees in fiscal year 2027. The Brent crude oil price is hovering around $110 a barrel after briefly falling below $100 earlier this week. The rising oil price is bad for India. It's the third largest crude importer in the world. It could cause inflation to rise and increase India's deficit on its current account. If oil continues to rise, the crude basket assumed in RBI's October policy of $70 per barrel would undergo a major revision. Alok Sharma, the head of treasury for?ICBC in Mumbai, said that higher crude oil prices will eventually affect inflation baskets. States sold nearly one trillion rupees worth of debt during the past week due to waning investor demand. India's overnight swap rates (OIS) saw a large reversal in recent received positions. The key swap rates rose to multi-year heights. The?two-year OIS closed at 6.2750%, while the one-year OIS ended at 6.04%. The liquid five-year swap rate ended at 6.6350%. The one-year swap rate has risen by 56 basis points this month. Meanwhile, the two-year OIS rate and the five-year OIS rate have risen by 69 and 65 basis points respectively. $1 = 94.6800 Indian Rupees (Reporting and editing by Rashmi Dhutia, Sonia Cheema, Ronojojo Mazumdar).
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Congo and China strengthen mining ties while US pushes rival mineral pact
The Congolese government announced that the Democratic Republic of Congo and China had signed an agreement to enhance cooperation in the mining sector of 'the African nation.' Global powers are jockeying for influence in this strategically significant minerals powerhouse. Congo is the largest producer of cobalt in the world and has vast reserves of lithium, copper, coltan, and other battery metals. Chinese mining companies, led by top cobalt miners CMOC, Zijin and Huayou, already dominate the sector. Beijing is Congo's largest bilateral creditor. Kinshasa is also a target for the United States and other countries looking to obtain the minerals required for the manufacturing of electric vehicles and the energy shift. Promotion of local processing, duty-free access As of May 1, Congo's exports will be eligible for duty-free access in China under an initiative that covers 53 African countries. According to a statement released late Thursday by the Congolese Government, the new agreement outlines cooperation in geological data sharing and investment protection, as well as the promotion of local processing raw materials. It also includes a monitoring system to ensure that projects are compliant with Congolese laws and implemented in an environment of stability and transparency. The statement stated that China will give priority to a flagship iron ore mining project in the northeastern Congo known as MIFOR. COURTED by the US and China, Congo hedges its bets Joshua Walker, of NYU’s Congo Research Group, said that the U.S. would certainly be aware of this new agreement. It is a clear riposte against Washington. The Trump administration has signed a strategic partnership in December with Congo to increase?Western investments, redirect its minerals supplies and reduce China’s dominance of critical minerals mining and processing. The Congo has since "shared" a list with the U.S. of its priority assets, but the government has stated that it will seek out other partners if Washington fails to deliver on the agreement. Walker pointed out that the deal between Congo and the U.S. The deal is more comprehensive and binding. It involves trading security support in eastern Congo where Kinshasa, a government backed by Rwanda, has been fighting a long-running conflict with Rwandan-backed fighters for mining access. The Congolese government is not taking sides as Beijing and Washington compete for global resources. Instead, it is attempting to capitalize on the vast mineral reserves in the country. Walker stated that "the DRC is clearly trying to hedge their bets." (Reporting and editing by Ange Adihe Kazongo, Maxwell Akalaare Adombila, Rob Corey-Boulet & Joe Bavier).
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Stocks continue to fall as Trump's extension of the Trump-Pence fails to calm markets
The global stock markets fell again on Friday following a?U.S. Donald Trump's decision to extend a?deadline to Iran for reopening the?Strait?of Hormuz did not calm down oil prices or government bond yields. Trump's decision to postpone the deadline after which he said Iran would face attacks on its infrastructure came shortly after Wall Street closed out the biggest one-day drop since the beginning of the war on Thursday. The markets appeared to be sceptical of the possibility of a deal between the two parties, as?oil price rose again on Friday, and government bonds fell. The pan-European STOXX 600 fell 1.4%, after falling 1.1% on Thursday. Germany's DAX was 1.7% lower. MSCI's index for Asian shares, excluding Japan, fell by 0.7% overnight. MARKETS SLAM OFF TRUMP'S DELAY Futures in the U.S. S&P 500 lost earlier gains, and was last down by 0.5% after falling 1.7% the previous session. The Nasdaq composite, which is a tech-focused index, fell 2.4% on Friday. This puts the index at a loss of nearly 11% since its record high close in October. Nasdaq Futures last fell 0.7%. The?Wall Street Journal's report that?Trump considered sending more troops raised concerns about the war escalating to a ground-based conflict. There was also no guarantee that the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's energy flows, would be opened to shipping anytime soon. A senior Iranian official called the U.S. plan to end this conflict "unfair" and "one-sided". Matt Britzman is a senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. He said that words alone were not enough to change the mood. "Tangible proof of progress is needed." Brent crude oil, a global benchmark, increased?2.6%, to $110.90 per barrel. Global Bond Yields Surge Investors were concerned about a possible inflationary shock which could force central banks into raising interest rates. As prices drop, yields also rise. The 10-year U.S. Treasury rate, which is used to set borrowing costs in other countries, increased by more than four basis points, reaching a high of?4.464%. This was its highest level since last July. Money markets see roughly 70% chances that the U.S. Federal Reserve will raise rates this year. This is a dramatic change from late February, when traders bet?on two rate cuts in 2026. Germany's 10-year yield has risen to its highest level in 2011 with more than 3,1%. The U.S. Dollar Index, which tracks currency performance against six peers, increased 0.2%, marking the fourth consecutive session of gains.
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Severstal, a Russian steelmaker, will cut its investment by half as the demand for its products falls
MOSCOW, 27 March - Severstal is one of Russia's four largest steelmakers and plans to reduce investment by a fifth?and labour by 5% by 2026. This is due to a falling?demand? for steel in the face of an economic recession. The demand for metals in Russia's major industries - construction, energy, automobile and machinery manufacturing - is decreasing as businesses halt investment because of high interest rates to curb inflation. Metals production has been affected by Western sanctions and drones from Ukraine. "The industry's situation is getting more difficult." The demand for steel in Russia has dropped 31% since 2024. This has led to a sharp decrease in capacity utilization among our clients, and a drop in prices. He said that the company intends to reduce labour costs by freezing hiring and replacing contractors with internal personnel. Severstal reported that its plant in the city?Cherepovets (about 360 km north of Moscow) was?hit by a Ukrainian drone attack Friday. These attacks, which used to be primarily targeted at the energy and defence sectors, are now spreading into other industries. Evgeny Vinogradov is CEO of Severstal’s Russian Steel Division. He said that the plant was operating normally after the drone attack overnight. "All units were in operation and there were no major damages," he added. (Reporting and writing by Anastasia Lyrchikova, Editing by Mark Trevelyan).
Russia's Arctic LNG 2 suspends gas liquefaction amid sanctions, absence of tankers, sources state
Novatek, Russia's largest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), has suspended production at its Arctic LNG 2 job due to sanctions and a lack of gas tankers, two sources familiar with the matter informed on Tuesday.
The task had been wishing to begin business shipments in the first quarter of this year. But strategies were made complex in 2015 when it was included in Western sanctions over Russia's conflict in Ukraine, prompting foreign investors to freeze involvement and Novatek to issue a force majeure.
The decision to suspend converting gas to LNG is a. blow to Russia's goal to capture a fifth of the international LNG. market by 2030-2035. It is presently the world's fourth-largest. LNG manufacturer with annual exports of 32.6 million metric heaps.
Novatek, which began tentative LNG production at the very first. of the plant's planned 3 trains in December, did not respond. to an ask for comment.
Train one will stay shut till at least completion of June,. among the sources informed , adding that building and construction. activities for the job were still ongoing.
The other 2 trains are due to be delivered to the site by. sea in future from the port of Murmansk. The three trains are. together targeted to produce 19.8 million metric tons per year. of LNG and 1.6 million lots per year of steady gas condensate.
The sources said the primary issue was a lack of expert. tankers efficient in carrying LNG - which is cooled to minus. 163 degrees Celsius (minus 261.4 Fahrenheit) - and cutting. through thick sea ice.
Independently, the Vedomosti newspaper stated on Tuesday that. natural gas output at the job had fallen sharply to 83. million cubic metres (mcm) in February due to a delay in the. start of LNG shipments.
The sources stated production had actually been 425 mcm in December and. 250 mcm in January.
TANKERS
Russia faces obstacles in getting professional gas tankers.
According to Novatek, 15 Arc7 ice-class tankers, able to cut. through 2-metre thick ice, will be constructed at Russia's Zvezda. shipyard for Arctic LNG 2.
Six more Arc7 tankers were due to be developed by Hanwha Ocean,. previously Daewoo Shipbuilding & & Marine Engineering, including. three for Russia's leading tanker group Sovcomflot and. three for Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.
Nevertheless, the 3 tankers ordered by Sovcomflot were. cancelled due to the sanctions against Russia, Hanwha stated last. year in regulatory filings.
Ice-class tankers normally have double hulls - enhanced. structures to stand up to the pressure of ice - and reinforced. propellers.
Up until now, only three ideal gas tankers have actually been developed for. Arctic LNG 2, according to public details: the Alexei. Kosygin, Pyotr Stolypin and Sergei Witte vessels.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, responding to. a concern on when the very first LNG freight would be delivered from. the job, stated on Friday that the business is dealing with. the concerns, corresponding talks are under way.
Their main issue is with the tankers, he added.
Ronald Smith, a senior oil and gas expert at Moscow-based. BCS brokerage, stated it was uncertain when - or perhaps if - the. task might get the tankers.
Novatek is effectively managed and may discover a work-around to. get finished ships transferred to the task in some way in the. near future, or those ships may remain stuck in shipyards for an. extended period of time, he said.
Arctic LNG 2 is led by Novatek, which holds a 60% stake. The. other shareholders are France's TotalEnergies,. China's CNPC and CNOOC, and Japan Arctic LNG - a consortium of. Mitsui & & Co, Ltd. and JOGMEC - each holding a 10%. stake.
Mitsui decreased to comment and TotalEnergies referred. comments to Novatek. The other investors were not instantly. readily available to comment.
(source: Reuters)