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Oil & Gas

US House Republicans try to kill EV loan and tax credit program

As part of a broader tax reform bill, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives proposed Monday to kill the electric vehicle credit and repeal fuel efficiency regulations designed to encourage automakers to build more zero-emission cars. The proposal is scheduled for a House Ways and Means Committee Hearing on Tuesday. It would repeal the $7,500 tax credit for new vehicles and the $4,000 credit for used vehicles on December 31, but it would keep the credit for new cars for an extra year for automakers who haven't sold 200,000 electric cars. Genevieve Cullen - the president of the Electric...

Oil & Gas

Chemical manufacturer Covestro reduces its profit forecast for 2025 and plans to increase local production

Covestro, a German chemical company, cut its core profit forecast for 2025 on Tuesday and announced that it would continue to produce in the same area as it sells. This is because higher U.S. import tariffs are threatening the earnings of the chemical manufacturer. The company has narrowed its range of expected earnings before interest tax, depreciation, and amortization for 2025 to 1 billion to 14 billion euros ($1.13b to $1.59b). The company had forecasted EBITDA to be in the range of 1.0-1.6billion euros. Covestro and LyondellBasell announced that they had both permanently closed their Propylene Oxide Styrene Monomer production...

Oil & Gas

World court dismisses Sudan's genocide case against UAE over alleged Darfur interference

The International Court of Justice dismissed Sudan's claim that the United Arab Emirates were fueling genocide by supplying arms to paramilitary groups in Darfur, saying they lacked jurisdiction. Sudan complained to the U.N.'s highest court that the UAE violated the Genocide Convention in Darfur by supporting paramilitary groups, but the UAE said it should be dismissed. The court agreed with the UAE arguments on Monday, rejected Sudan's demand for emergency measures, and ordered that the case be removed. A summary of the ruling stated that due to the lack jurisdiction, "the court's statute prohibits it from taking any positions on...

Oil & Gas

Sudan tells World Court UAE fuels Darfur genocide

Sudan informed the International Court of Justice that the United Arab Emirates violated the Genocide Convention on Thursday by supporting paramilitary groups in Darfur. The UAE, however, argued that the case should not be heard as the court lacks jurisdiction. Sudan requested that the judges issue an emergency order to prevent the attacks of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and other Arab militias in West Darfur in 2023, which were documented by. The United Arab Emirates are complicit in the genocide of the Masalit, according to Sudan's acting Justice Minister, Muawia osman. The UAE have repeatedly dismissed Sudan's case...

Oil & Gas

Reactions to Trump's auto tariffs

The U.S. president Donald Trump announced on Wednesday a 25% tariff for imported cars and light vehicles starting next week. This move will likely increase prices and slow production, according to auto industry experts. What are your reactions? NATIONAL FOREIGN TRADE COUNCIL (NFTC), WHICH REPRESENTS A LOT OF U.S. COMPANIES. VP TIFFANY SMITEH "Placing tariffs against imports of automobiles could damage the competitiveness and export-readiness of an industry which relies on international supply chains and market integration for its success. We urge the administration, to prioritize the market opening opportunities of auto companies that manufacture vehicles for export from the...

Oil & Gas

French and Benelux stocks: Factors to watch

Here are some company news and stories that could impact the markets in France and Benelux or even individual stocks. ESSO - The French oil company Esso announced its results for the full year on Wednesday. Its adjusted EBITDA was 58 million Euros and it will propose a dividend of 3 euro per share. SANOFI, French pharmaceutical company announced on Thursday an agreement with Dren Bio to acquire its autoimmune disease treatment DR-0101 from Dren Bio. Sanofi plans to purchase Dren-0201 at a price of $600,000,000 upfront and $1.3 Billion in future payments. SODEXO - French food caterer SODEXO lowered...

Oil & Gas

Wall Street Journal, February 11,

These are the most popular stories from the Wall Street Journal. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. Elon Musk led a consortium of investors to offer $97,4 billion for the nonprofit OpenAI. This raised the stakes in the battle between him and Sam Altman regarding the company behind ChatGPT. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced on Monday 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the U.S. He also reinstated global duties for allies like Canada, Mexico and South Korea, which were relaxed under the Biden administration. Elliott Investment Management, a...

Oil & Gas

North American companies prepare for the fallout of Trump tariffs

The "wait and watch" period for North American businesses is over. U.S. president Donald Trump imposed a 25% tax on goods coming from Canada and Mexico along with a tariff of 10% on China. This could be the beginning stages of a full scale trade war that will cause new headaches to executives who have already been dealing with rising costs for years. Tariffs on imports from the U.S.’s three biggest trade partners could disrupt industries ranging from consumer goods to autos. Before Saturday's announcement of tariffs, executives were able to dodge questions regarding the issue. Many wanted to avoid...

Oil & Gas

Russian court tells Yandex to conceal images of oil refinery after Ukrainian attacks, TASS says

A Russian court has actually purchased web company Yandex to conceal access to maps and pictures of among Russia's largest oil refineries due to continuous attacks by Ukrainian drones, state news agency TASS reported on Friday. Yandex, frequently described as Russia's Google, operates the nation's largest search engine and other online services like maps, translate and email, along with ride-hailing and food delivery. The court in Moscow ordered Yandex to omit information about the refinery's facilities from its search results page by getting rid of and editing images of workshops, compressor stations and other parts of the plant from Yandex...

Oil & Gas

US settles $9.63 billion loan for Ford, SK On joint battery venture

The U.S. Energy Department on Monday said it has actually finalized a $9.63 billion loan to a joint venture of Ford Motor and South Korean battery maker SK On to assist fund building of three new battery manufacturing plants in Tennessee and Kentucky. The low-priced government loan for the BlueOval SK joint venture is the largest ever from the federal government's Advanced Innovation Cars Production loan program. SK On is the battery system of energy group SK Development. The last award - initially reported - is among a. series of actions by the Biden administration to improve electrical. vehicle production...

Oil & Gas

United States finalizes $9.63 billion loan for Ford, SK On joint battery venture

The U.S. Energy Department on Monday said it has settled a $9.63 billion loan to a joint venture of Ford Motor and South Korean battery maker SK On to help finance construction of 3 new battery manufacturing plants in Tennessee and Kentucky. The affordable federal government loan for the Blue Oval SK joint venture is the largest ever from the government's Advanced Innovation Cars Manufacturing loan program. SK On is the battery system of energy group SK Innovation. The amount is greater than the $9.2 billion conditional commitment announced in June 2023 and comes simply weeks before President-elect Donald Trump...

Oil & Gas

Stellantis-backed ACC to broaden French gigafactory

Battery maker Automotive Cells Business (ACC) is set to sign a brand-new loan to fund the second production block of its gigafactory in northern France, a. business representative stated, as it increases output in spite of Europe's. slow electric car market. The loan, guaranteed by ACC's 2 primary investors, automobile. makers Stellantis and Mercedes-Benz Group,. deserves around 1 billion euros ($ 1.05 billion), two sources. knowledgeable about the matter said, verifying a report by paper. Les Echos. Stellantis and Mercedes did not react to ask for. comment. Smaller sized investor TotalEnergies decreased to. comment. The factory already operates one production...

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels

Dutch car-sharing firm adds Renault electric vehicles capable of powering the local grid

This week, MyWheels, a Dutch car-sharing company will add the first 500 Renault EVs that are grid-connected to its fleet. The technology is gaining traction in Europe and the number of cars capable of strengthening power grids has increased. The Vehicle-to Grid technology (V2G) allows electric cars to store energy and deliver it to the grid during times of high demand. It has been around for several years, but it was only recently that the technology became commercially viable. This was due to smart charging and batteries capable of sustaining intensive use. MyWheels' roll-out will be the biggest V2G car...

Fossil Fuels

Britain sells off last NatWest shares after crisis-era bailout

After a 60.59 billion pound ($45 billion) state-funded investment at the height the financial crisis in 2008, NatWest is now fully private. This ends a costly taxpayer-funded investment which reshaped both the lender and the industry. The British government has sold the remaining 1% of its bank shares, according to an announcement by the Treasury on Friday. It had previously sold small blocks over recent years. It held up to 38% as recently as December 20,23. In a press release, Finance Minister Rachel Reeves stated that "nearly 20 years ago, the government intervened to protect millions and businesses from the...

Fossil Fuels

Source: Norway will reject the call for a blanket ban on companies operating in Israeli-occupied territories by wealth funds.

A person familiar with the proceedings said that the Norwegian parliament is set to reject the campaigners' call to instruct its $1.8 trillion fund to boycott companies selling products or services in the occupied Palestinian Territories. The person stated that a majority of the finance committee in the Norwegian Parliament decided to exclude from the fund only those companies which can be connected with the violation international law, and not simply any company that has a presence in such areas. The International Court of Justice ruled last year that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory was illegal, and that it should...

Mining

Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources

US auto suppliers call for immediate action on China's rare earths restrictions

A group of auto suppliers from the United States has called for immediate action in response to China's restrictions on rare earths and minerals, as well as magnets. They warn that the issue can quickly disrupt auto part production. China, which controls 90% of the global processing capacity for rare Earths, used in everything from cars and fighter jets, to home appliances and household appliances, implemented restrictions in April, requiring exporters obtain licenses from Beijing. The new restrictions were imposed after the U.S. and China began a trade dispute following President Donald Trump's tariffs against Chinese imports. The Vehicle Suppliers...

Mineral Resources

How Trump's Trade War is Upending the Global Economy

The tariffs imposed by Donald Trump since his inauguration on January 20, 2017 have sent shockwaves through financial markets, and uncertainty has spread throughout the global economy. This timeline shows the major events: Trump imposes tariffs of 25% on Mexican imports, 10% on Chinese goods and most Canadian imports from February 1. He demands that they reduce the flow of illegal immigrants and fentanyl into the United States. Trump agrees to a 30-day suspension of his tariff threat against Mexico and Canada in exchange for concessions made on border security and criminal enforcement. The U.S. doesn't reach a similar deal...

Mineral Resources

NATO's Rutte assumes that the alliance will agree to a 5% spending target

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Monday that, he believes the alliance will agree to an overall defence spending target at 5% of their gross domestic product when they meet in The Hague for a summit next month. Rutte, speaking at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Dayton, said: "I expect that we will reach an agreement in The Hague on a target for a high defense spending of 5%." He added: "Let's assume that 5% of the total hard spending is a target. I won't say how it breaks down, but the amount will be north of 3%....

Mineral Resources

French and Benelux stocks: Factors to watch

Here are some company news and stories that could impact the markets in France and Benelux or even individual stocks. ARCELORMITTAL Bloomberg News, citing an individual familiar with the deal, reported that Aditya Mittal is the CEO of the steelmaker and will invest $1 billion into a group buyout of the Boston Celtics. EURONEXT It announced on Thursday that the stock exchange operator had placed convertible bonds until 2032, totaling 425 million euro ($481.14million), at a fixed coupon of 1.5% annually. The group of real estate investors announced Thursday that it had completed an bond buyback totaling 265 million euro....

Mineral Resources

Ford withdraws its guidance and warns that Trump's tariffs will cost it $1.5 billion

Ford Motors suspended its annual guidance Monday due to uncertainty surrounding U.S. president Donald Trump's new tariffs. The company said the levies could cost it about $1.5 billion before taxes and interest in adjusted earnings. The Dearborn, Michigan, automaker forecasted earnings before taxes, interest, and other expenses of between $7.0 billion and $8.5 billion by 2025. This forecast does not include tariffs. Ford's Chief Financial Officer Sherry house said that the company is on track to achieve this guidance, even if tariffs are not a factor. House stated, "We focus on managing what we can control." Ford executives have said...

Mineral Resources

Tesla sales drop 28.2% in March as European car sales increase

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association's (ACEA) data, Tesla new car sales in Europe fell 28.2% from a month earlier. However, overall sales of battery-electric vehicles rose 23.6% during the same period. The data shows that total new car sales in Europe increased 2.8% during the month. This was boosted by double-digit increases in Britain and Spain. Why it's Important Tesla's drop in sales in Europe is a sign that some drivers are turning away from Elon Musk's brand of electric cars as the competition with China increases and others protest his political views. While European carmakers also face...

Mineral Resources

The study found that Trump's 25% tariffs on autos could cost US automakers up to $108 billion

Center for Automotive Research's new analysis shows that the 25% auto tariffs Donald Trump imposed on automakers in the U.S. at the beginning of April will result in an increase in costs of $108 billion by 2025. The study released by Ann Arbor, Michigan based organization on Thursday found that Detroit automakers Ford Motor, General Motors, and Stellantis (maker of Jeeps and RAM trucks) will face increased costs of approximately $42 billion. The study revealed that the Detroit Three would face tariffs on parts imported on average of almost $5,000 per car manufactured in the U.S. and on average $8,600...

Mineral Resources

Tata Steel cuts around 20% of Dutch workers

Tata Steel announced on Wednesday that it would cut 1,600 jobs from the Netherlands in order to improve profitability amid fierce competition with China and increasing U.S. tariffs. Tata will reduce its Dutch workforce by around 20%. This is primarily at the large IJmuiden steel plant, located on the coast to the west of Amsterdam. Tata stated that the reorganisation will primarily affect management and support staff at IJmuiden, with the goal of centralising the organisation and increasing its efficiency. The Dutch division suffered a loss totaling 556 million euro ($613,05 million) for the year ending March 31, 2024. This...

Mineral Resources

Stellantis production in Italy dropped further in the first quarter, according to unions

The FIM Cisl union reported on Tuesday that Stellantis' Italian car production fell further in the first three months after falling to a 70-year low by 2024. New models won't support activity until next year. In a report issued by the union, vehicle production, which includes passenger cars and vans, was down 35.5% from a year ago to approximately 110,000 units. The automaker added that activity contracted at all six of its assembly plants in Italy. Production of the Dodge Hornet fell by 80% in Pomigliano to 1,356 units. The Hornet is one of only a few Stellantis models that...

Mineral Resources

EU Commission chief discusses U.S. Tariff response with automakers, steel and pharmaceutical leaders

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, held a conference call on Monday with representatives from the metals sector. She then spoke to the automotive industry to discuss ways to respond to U.S. Tariffs. The calls were to gather data to inform future countermeasures, beyond Brussels' response to Washington's tariffs on steel. This will be voted upon later this week. On Tuesday, a call will be held with the European Pharmaceuticals Industry. On Monday, European and Asian stocks and oil prices plunged on fears that U.S. president Donald Trump's tariffs could increase prices, weaken the demand and even...

Mineral Resources

South African rand reaches 18-month low and stocks recover after plunge

South Africa's currency, the rand, fell to its lowest level in 18 months Monday. Local stocks also plunged and then recovered as financial markets were shaken by fears of a global recession due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The rand was trading at 19.31 per dollar, down 1% since Friday's closing, and its lowest level since October 2023. Trump did not show any signs of rescinding his tariff plans Sunday and on Monday, investors flocked to safe-haven currencies such as the Swiss franc and yen. The emerging market index is heading for the biggest one-day drop since 2008's global financial...

Mineral Resources

EU Commission chief discusses U.S. Tariff response with auto executives, steel executives and pharmaceutical executives

Sources and a letter indicated that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, spoke with representatives from the metals sector on Monday. She then addressed the automotive industry to discuss ways to respond to U.S. Tariffs. The calls were held to gather more information to strategise future trade countermeasures, beyond Brussels' forthcoming response to Washington's steel duties that have been announced previously and which will be voted upon later this week. Tuesday is set for a third call with representatives of the European pharmaceuticals sector. Investors feared that the tariffs Trump announced last weekend could lead to higher...