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Asia markets mixed; sentiment tepid with Fed on the horizon
The dollar fell to a five-week-low on Thursday while Asian stocks had a dull start to their trading session. Weaker-than-expected data from the economy confirmed expectations that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates during its meeting next Monday. The Nikkei rose by 0.8% while MSCI’s broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan fell 0.1%. This was due to declines in Korea, New Zealand, and Australia. S&P 500 futures are little changed as the momentum of U.S. stocks overnight has waned in Asia. The Russell 2000 index rose 1.9% on Wednesday, while the benchmark S&P 500 also gained ground. Gains were made after the U.S. private employment data showed their largest drop in over two-and-a half years. A separate survey by the Institute for Supply Management revealed that its measure of employment in the services sector contracted in November. The subindex of prices received fell to a 7-month low. Henry Russell, an economist at ANZ, said on a podcast that this move is in line with his view that recent supercore inflation will subside and pave the way for a resumption in disinflation by 2026. "We still believe that the Fed should continue to reduce interest rates in response to the downside risks of the labour market," he added, adding that the bank anticipates a cut of 25 basis points at the meeting next week and more easing next. Fed funds futures indicate an 89% implied probability that the U.S. Central Bank will cut interest rates by 25 basis points at its next meeting, which is scheduled for December 12. This compares to an 83.4% implied probability a week earlier. The U.S. Dollar Index, which measures the strength of the greenback against a basket six currencies, fell last by 0.4% to 98.878, its lowest level in nine consecutive sessions. The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond in the United States was last stable at 4.0749% after the Financial Times reported that bond investors had expressed concern to the U.S. Treasury about Kevin Hassett's potential to aggressively reduce interest rates to align himself with President Donald Trump. In Hong Kong, the Chinese yuan remained stable in offshore trading after reaching its highest level against the U.S. Dollar in over a year. The greenback fell to its lowest level against the renminbi in October 2024. The last time it traded was at 7.056 Yuan. The Australian dollar gained 0.1% following official data showing that Australian household expenditure surged the most in nearly two years in October. Meanwhile, the goods trade surplus of the country grew more than expected due to a rise in gold exports for the second consecutive month. The Japanese chip makers in the AI supply chains advanced after reports that Trump met with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to discuss export control, citing an informed source. Tokyo Electron rose 0.7%. The recent surge in precious metals continues. Silver was up 0.1% to $58.5415 an ounce. Gold was up 0.2% at $4,213.38. The metal had hit a new record high on Wednesday of $58.98. (Reporting and editing by Gregor Stuart Hunter.
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NASA study shows that satellite light pollution can interfere with space telescopes
The exponential growth in satellites in low-Earth orbits has led to improvements in telecommunications, including broadband in rural and remote regions around the world. The increase in satellites in low-Earth orbit has also led to an explosion in light pollution, which threatens the work of orbiting astronomical observatory. NASA's new study on four space telescopes, two of which are currently in operation and two more that are planned, estimates that many images taken by these observatories within the next decade will be affected by light emitted by or reflected from satellites orbiting low Earth. Researchers calculated that satellite light could contaminate about 40% of the images taken by NASA Hubble Space Telescope, and 96% of the images taken by SPHEREx Observatory of U.S. Space Agency. The researchers also calculated that images taken by the European Space Agency’s planned ARRAKIHS Observatory and China’s planned Xuntian Telescope could be similarly affected. Researchers said Hubble's narrow field of vision would make it less susceptible to damage. Orbiting telescopes play a crucial role in space exploration. Orbiting telescopes can see a wider spectrum of electromagnetic radiation than traditional ground-based instruments. They also get clearer images because they are not affected by atmospheric disturbances. The study, published in Nature, was led by NASA's Ames Research Center, California. Satellites can cross in front cameras as they stare into the universe, trying to reveal distant galaxies. They leave bright traces of lights that erase the faint signal we receive from space. This problem was well-known for ground-based observatories. "Space telescopes, which are much more expensive than ground-based telescopes and located in pristine locations in space, were believed to be free from light pollution until recently," Borlaff said. In 2019, approximately 2,000 satellites were in low-Earth-orbit. The number is now around 15,000 Borlaff stated that industry proposals foresee 560,000 satellites on low-Earth orbit within the next decade. Borlaff stated that "to give an idea how much this number has increased recently, in the last four-year period - from 2021 to -2025 - we have launched more low-Earth-orbit satellites than in all the previous seven decades in space flight together." Researchers used data from satellite operators, including SpaceX's Starlink and China's Guowang, to simulate orbital layers for each constellation of satellites. The researchers then looked at specific telescope properties such as orbital altitude, trajectory and field of view. Borlaff explained that once we had our simulated telescopes watching our simulated universe we could count how many times the satellites crossed our observatories - or "photobombed" them - and measure their brightness at the time of the event. Satellites emit and reflect multiple types of light. They reflect the light of the Earth and the Moon, which are very bright in low-Earth orbit. Satellites emit not only optical light but also infrared radiation, which is generated by the temperature of the satellite's components. They also reflect radio waves from Earth and their antennas," Borlaff explained. Researchers said that one solution to the problem is to place satellites in orbits lower than the ones where telescopes are located. Some telescopes located in more distant orbits will be better protected from light pollution. The study did not examine the effects of satellites on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope or the European Space Agency’s Euclid Observatory, nor NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. They are located much farther from Earth than telecommunication satellites. Borlaff stated that, "for the time being, it is unlikely they will be affected by contamination of this kind." However, these unaffected telescopes only provide a small fraction of the total number of astronomical observations. Borlaff stated that the robots are used only for specific scientific purposes and their operational time is very limited.
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Codelco and Glencore partner up on a Chilean smelter
The companies announced on Wednesday that Glencore, a Swiss miner and trader, and Chilean state-owned copper producer Codelco have signed a preliminary agreement to work together on a smelter in Chile. Codelco will provide the copper concentrate, and Glencore will build the smelter, which has a processing capacity of about 1.5 million tons per year, in Antofagasta in the northern part of Chile. Experts in the industry say that a project this large would require an investment of $1.5 billion - $2 billion. Glencore will carry out a feasibility study and the companies aim to finalize the agreement by the first half next year. The companies stated that if the project proceeds, construction would begin in 2030, and operations would begin between 2032-2033. Codelco said that Glencore was selected after a competitive bid process. As part of the agreement, it agreed to provide Glencore with up to 800,000. metric tons per year of concentrate for a minimum of ten years. Chile has only 6% of the global copper smelting capability. It sends most of its copper to China for processing, where it holds half of that capacity. Treatment charges, the fees that miners pay to convert concentrate into metallic metal, have dropped below zero due to China's highly-efficient smelters. This has forced some overseas smelters from business. Chile wants to expand its own smelting capability, which includes a $1.7 billion investment smelter modernization The state-owned mining company ENAMI is the leader. Codelco Chairman Maximo Pacheco stated that the Glencore smelter would be located in the Antofagasta area, where the majority of Chile's mined copper is found, to provide logistical advantages and meet high operational and environmental standards. He said that increasing Chile’s smelting capability was meant to benefit Codelco, as well as "strengthen Chile’s sovereignty and strategic safety." (Reporting and editing by Daina-Beth Solomon and Fabian Cambero, Brendan O'Boyle, Deepa Babington and Kylie Madry)
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Silver scales new record high, gold remains steady
The gold price held steady Wednesday, buoyed up by the weak payroll data, which reinforced expectations for a U.S. rate cut next Monday. Silver also hit a new record high. By 2:03 pm, spot gold had not changed much from $4,202.06 per ounce. ET (1903 GMT), the session high was $4,241.29. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery settled 0.3% higher, at $4,232.50. Silver remained steady after reaching a session high of 58.98 dollars earlier. Bob Haberkorn, senior market strategist at RJO Futures, says that the silver price hitting a record high overnight, coupled with this morning's missed ADP data is supportive of gold. "Gold is currently following silver, while silver has pulled back a bit." ADP's employment report on Wednesday showed that private payrolls in the United States fell by 32,000 positions in November. This was below economists' estimates of a 10,000-job rise. CME's FedWatch shows that there is an 89% probability that the U.S. Central Bank will reduce rates next week. Major brokerages have also predicted a rate reduction at the December 9-10 meeting. The markets are still waiting for the Personal Consumption Spending data from September, which is the Fed's preferred measure of inflation. This data is due Friday. Gold is a non-yielding asset that tends to be favored by lower interest rates. Silver has risen 102% this year, mainly due to fears about market liquidity following outflows into U.S. stocks. It is also included in the U.S. Critical Minerals list. Haberkorn explained that silver's strength is due to concerns about supply at the exchange level, and added that it could reach $60/oz in the near future. The copper price also reached a new record on Wednesday, thanks to a weaker US dollar, concerns about supply and a tightening of the metal available in London Metal Exchange-registered warehouses. Palladium was up 0.4% at $1,466.98 and platinum rose 0.9% to 1,652.03 per ounce. (Reporting and editing by Anmol Mukherjee and Anushree Choubey in Bengaluru. Alan Barona and Leroy Leo)
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Trump proposes a sharp rollback of US vehicle fuel efficiency rules
Automakers and sources have confirmed that the Trump administration will announce on Wednesday a major rollback in fuel economy standards, which former president Joe Biden finalized last summer, as part of its latest push to encourage automakers to offer gasoline-powered vehicles. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will propose a significant reduction in fuel economy requirements for model years 2022-2031. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will also make radical changes to the program, including eliminating credit-trading among automakers. It will also end some credits that were given for fuel-saving technologies. The proposal will be unveiled by President Donald Trump, Stellantis CEO of Chrysler and Ford Motor at 2:30 pm EST (1930 GMT) with the help of the CEOs. Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, confirmed the plan on social media. She said that the administration would propose a "reset" of federal fuel standards. Trump signed a bill earlier this year that eliminated fuel economy penalties. The NHTSA also confirmed the plan, saying they would not be fined for models older than 2022. Credit trading is a risky business. It could harm automakers such as Tesla and Rivian who have sold credit to competitors making gas-powered cars. Ford CEO Jim Farley, in a press release issued ahead of the event praised Trump for "aligning gasoline economy standards with market reality." We can achieve real progress in carbon emissions and energy-efficiency while giving customers choices and affordability. Mary Barra, GM's CEO, said on Tuesday that the auto industry was faced with requirements in some states to have 35% of all new vehicles sold by 2026 be EVs before Congress blocked California’s zero-emission car rules in June. Barra stated that "we were going to shut down plants, because we wouldn't be able build and sell these vehicles." NHTSA increased the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency requirements in June 2024 during the Biden Administration to around 50.4 miles per galon (21.4 kilometers per liter) for light-duty cars by 2031. This was up from 39.1 mpg last year. This rule didn't increase the requirements for light trucks in 2027 or 2028, but required 2% increases between 2029 and 2031. NHTSA, under Biden's leadership in 2022, increased fuel efficiency for model years 2024-2025 by 8% per year and for 2026 by 10%. Last year, the agency said that the passenger cars and trucks rule would reduce gasoline use by 64 billion gallons. It also cut emissions by 659 millions metric tons. Fuel costs will be reduced and drivers can expect to receive a net benefit of $35.2 billion. It was estimated that the 2022 rule would reduce fuel consumption by more than 200 billion gallon through 2050. Kathy Harris, director for clean vehicles of environmental nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council said that "the Trump Administration is punishing drivers at the gas pump with higher prices, all in the name of the oil industry... The rules will increase the cost of fuel for drivers by hundreds of dollars every year. Trump has taken a number of steps that will make it easier for gas-powered cars to be sold and to discourage EV production. These include rescinding EV Tax Credits and preventing California from banning traditional gas-powered vehicle sales after 2035.
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Eni's Renewable Unit Buys Energy Customer Portfolio from Italy's ACEA
The Italian energy group Eni's low-carbon division has agreed to purchase some businesses from regional utility ACEA for 587 million euro ($685 millions), both companies announced on Wednesday. The companies stated that the price would be subject to the standard adjustment mechanisms applicable to this type of transaction. Eni's Plenitude, for example, could pay an extra 100 million euros to ACEA if specific performance targets were met by mid-2027. Plenitude will have over 11 million customers in Europe, an amount it had hoped to reach in 2028. The deal is expected to be completed by June of next year. Rothschild advised ACEA on the deal and said that it would focus the proceeds on energy networks, regulated businesses, and ACEA. This transaction will enable us to reinvest into infrastructure, innovation, sustainability, and the development of regulated business, resulting in a positive impact on ACEA's growth and result," ACEA CEO Fabrizio Palaermo stated in a press release. ($1 = 0.8573 euro) (Reporting and editing by Gavin Jones, Francesca Landini)
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EU wants to strengthen its defences against economic threats such as China's export restrictions
The European Commission announced plans on Wednesday to increase EU resilience against threats such as rare earth shortages through strengthening trade measures and adding economic security tools. These plans are the culmination of Europe slowly realising that it needs to act quickly and across all sectors in order to stop its years-long dependence on a single point of origin for goods or energy. The plans come after several painful shocks, including the COVID epidemic, Russia's conflict in Ukraine and U.S. Tariffs. The EU executive has outlined what it calls an "economic security policy" for the 27 nation bloc. This is in response to Chinese restrictions which have stifled supplies of rare earths, chips and other essential materials. The EU is determined to be a leader in manufacturing, but it risks losing ground to China and the U.S. on technologies such as batteries and AI. The EU decided on Wednesday to stop Russian gas imports before the end of 2027. Now, the Commission is looking to replicate this success by implementing the REsourceEU action plan. This plan aims to accelerate the development and use of the EU's own resources. EU TO REVIEW SUPPLY CHAINS, INBOUND INVESTMENT RULES The Commission is looking to work more closely with EU member states and businesses to examine EU supply chains, the rules for inbound investments, its defence and aerospace sectors, as well as its strengths in new technologies, critical infrastructure, and critical infrastructure. Maros SEFCIOVIC, Trade Commissioner said: "We are moving from reacting to reshaping policies." Sefcovic stated that the Commission will review, by the third quarter in 2026, how to accelerate trade measures like anti-dumping and counter-subsidy duty assessments. These are currently applied only after a year-long investigation. The new measures could be designed to counter unfair competition and market distortions including overcapacity. They would encourage companies in high-risk industries to have multiple suppliers and set preferences for EU-based firms to be used in public procurements in strategic sectors. EU support would be given to businesses in the EU that reduce their dependence on foreign companies or technologies. Sefcovic stated that the EU will likely learn from Japan's response to China's suspension of rare earth exports due to a territorial dispute in 2010, which was to diversify, recycle more, build reserves, and form partnerships. Stephane Sejourne, vice president of the Commission, said that some diversifications measures could be made mandatory by the EU. He said that European companies should stop buying Chinese products for reasons of economic safety, just as Japanese, U.S. and Indian companies do. (Reporting and editing by Frances Kerry, Julia Payne, Philip Blenkinsop)
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First Amendment lawsuit filed by fired employees against EPA
Six former Environmental Protection Agency workers filed a First Amendment lawsuit against EPA administrator Lee Zeldin on Wednesday for terminating their employment due to what they called the politicization science under the Trump Administration. Employees were terminated earlier this year, after signing an open letter addressed to Zeldin in which they criticized the agency and accused it of putting public health at risk by allowing politics to dictate research. Why is this important? Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), which represents the fired employees said that President Donald Trump's EPA has violated First Amendment free speech protections, and also put the public at risk by removing experienced workers from their environmental protection jobs. The EPA put 139 employees on leave administrative in July, after they signed a dissenting letter. It said it had "zero tolerance" towards those who sabotage the government agenda. Key Context In early 2018, the Trump administration directed agencies to work together with Department of Government Efficiency, which was recently dissolved, in order to identify mass layoff targets as part of their restructuring plans. DOGE began a series of dramatic moves in Washington during the first months of President Trump's second tenure to shrink federal agencies and cut budgets, or redirect work to Trump priorities. In July, the EPA announced that it would reduce its workforce by 23% at least and close its scientific research offices as part of President Obama's efforts to shrink the federal government. KEY QUOTE Daniel Rosenthal, a partner with James & Hoffman who represents both unions and government employees, said: "The agency must prove that employees committed misconduct, and that this misconduct interfered with the employee's job or another legitimate objective of the government." (Reporting and editing by Aurora Ellis; Valerie Volcovici)
Chevron will spend up to $ 19 billion in the next year on US and Guyana oil production
Chevron announced on Wednesday that its capital expenditures for 2026 would be between $18 and $19 billion. The oil major is focusing on investments in Guyana and production in the U.S.
The range falls at the lower end of the previous guidance, which put annual investments between $18 billion to $21 billion until 2030. Last month, the second-largest U.S. producer of oil outlined a strategy to reduce costs, increase efficiency and boost returns to investors by the end decade.
In a recent statement, Chevron CEO Mike Wirth stated that the 2026 capital program would focus on opportunities with the highest return while maintaining discipline and increasing efficiency. This will allow us to increase cash flow and earnings.
Around $17 billion is expected to be spent upstream. Of that, approximately $9 billion will go to the United States. Chevron has said that it will spend $6 billion in American shale, and expects to produce 2 million barrels equivalent of oil per day.
The offshore production budget will be around $7 billion, which includes projects in the Eastern Mediterranean, Guyana and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
Spending on downstream will be around $1 billion. This is a slight decrease from this year.
Chevron completed its $55 billion purchase of Hess last July. The main asset was a 30% stake on the Stabroek Block, a prolific oil field in Guyana. The deal included new assets within the Bakken Shale Formation in the U.S.
(source: Reuters)