North America








Energy Markets

Fossil Fuels

Environment

Trump Administration to audit billions of energy grants awarded by Biden

The Trump administration announced on Thursday that it would audit grants of $15 billion awarded to projects involving the power grid, manufacturing supply chains and other infrastructure during the Biden Administration. Donald Trump has pushed for domestic oil, gas and coal production while also halting the construction of offshore wind farms and taking measures to relax regulations on fossil fuels. Last week, the Republican Trump administration proposed to cut billions of dollars from funding for renewable energy projects and electric car chargers. The DOE has been reviewing the billions that were rushed through the door in the last days of...

Renewable Energy Equipment

US rooftop solar companies claim that the Republican House bill will be a major setback

Solar panel companies say that a Republican budget bill passed by Congress this week will deal a major blow to their industry. It will eliminate a generous homeowner subsidy that has boosted the growth of the industry. Industry players say the bill would eliminate a 30% federal tax credit for taxpayers installing rooftop solar systems. This would stifle an industry which has grown by ten times in the past decade and now employs over 100,000 workers. Charlie Hadlow is the president of EnergySage - an online solar marketplace. He said, "It's a huge setback." I have solar installers within our...

Fossil Fuels

Black Sea CPC blend daily oil exports will rise in June, according to sources

Five trading sources who are familiar with the loadings for June have estimated that Black Sea CPC blend crude oil exports will be between 1.6 and 1.7 million barrels a day (bpd). The exports in May will be approximately 1.5 million bpd higher at that level. According to sources in the trade, around 90% of CPC Blend is exported from Kazakhstan. The remainder comes from Russian production. Kazakhstan's oil production has been a major point of contention within the OPEC+ Group, since it has consistently exceeded its production quotas over the past year. Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry said this month, despite...

Oil & Gas

Phillips 66 reduces portfolio by selling German and Austrian retail sales amid Elliott pressure

Phillips 66 announced on Thursday that it would sell a 65% share in its German-Austrian fuel retail business, valued at $2.8 billion. The U.S. refiner is attempting to simplify its portfolio under pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management. Elliott, which owns a $2.5-billion stake in Phillips 66 has been pressing for major changes to the company. This includes the possible spin-off or sales of its midstream businesses. It is also seeking to refresh its board to align its strategic goals. Elliott did not respond immediately to a question about the divestment. Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis, two proxy...

Fossil Fuels

Turkey expects Syrian Kurdish Militia to fulfill Damascus Deal

Hakan Fidan, Turkey's Foreign Minister, said that the YPG Syrian Kurdish militia must fulfill a deal it made with the Syrian Government. The group is expected to be integrated into Syria’s armed forces. The YPG is seen by Turkey as an affiliate group of the Kurdistan Workers Party, a militant group that has fought against the Turkish state since the 1970s and announced Monday its decision to disarm. We see that the YPG has not taken any action so far. Fidan said at a press briefing during an informal NATO meeting of foreign ministers in Antalya, southern Turkey. He added...

Fossil Fuels

Senator says that the US Department of Health will reverse the federal layoffs for coal safety workers

Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia Republican senator and former federal employee who screens coal miners for black lungs disease and conducts research on other respiratory diseases who were terminated in a sweeping government layoff have their jobs permanently restored. According to an email sent to employees by the Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, they make up a significant percentage of 313 workers who were notified by the Department that their layoff notifications were rescinded. NIOSH has nearly 1,500 full-time employees in eight offices throughout the world. United States Capito stated in a press release that Robert F....

Oil & Gas

Snakes and ladders in a potential Ukrainian peace deal

What are the possible contours of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine? SECURITY GUARANTEE Ukraine, which has been subjected to a full scale invasion in 2022, and witnessed Russia annex Crimea, needs security guarantees from major powers, primarily the United States. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994, in which the U.S., Russia and Britain agreed to refrain from using force against Ukraine and respect Ukrainian sovereignty was not enough for the Ukrainian government. The powers agreed to take the matter to the United Nations Security Council in the event of an attack on Ukraine. Sources involved in the talks say...

Oil & Gas Refining

Sources say that Indian billionaire Ambani will meet Trump and Qatar's emir at Doha

Mukesh ambani, the Indian billionaire, will meet with Donald Trump, President of the United States, and Qatar's emir in Doha, according to two sources. His company, Reliance Industries, is looking to strengthen ties between authorities in both countries. Qatar's sovereign fund, QIA has invested in Reliance over the years. Ambani is Asia's wealthiest man and has many business relationships with U.S. technology giants like Google and Meta. Ambani is attending a state dinner in Doha for Trump, but he does not intend to have any business or investment discussions. This was confirmed by the first source who has direct knowledge...

Fossil Fuels

Trump praises Saudi Crown Prince, signals renewed alliance

Four years ago, Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman was unable to meet with the then-President Joe Biden. Biden said that he wanted the Gulf nation to be a pariah because its leader had allegedly ordered the killing of a Washington journalist. Donald Trump praised Saudi Arabia's de-facto ruler in a gushing manner on Tuesday. He called him "an incredible guy" and "a great guy", and did not mention the human rights situation within the country. "I like him very much." "I like him too much," Trump exclaimed as the cameras flashed, and the crowd applauded. The summit was held...

Fossil Fuels

Copec warns that the China pulp market may be challenged by US tariffs

Empresas Copec, a Chilean conglomerate of industrial companies, said that the Chinese market could be more difficult for its forestry product if paper manufacturers struggle to increase sales due to uncertainty about U.S. Tariff policies. In a recent presentation, Cristian Infante, the head of Copec’s forestry division Arauco, said that most of the customers who export to the U.S. don’t really know the price at which their goods will be sold. "They're trying as hard as they can to buy as little." Arauco sells wood panels and pulp worldwide and contributes to the majority of Copec’s earnings. However, its core...

Fossil Fuels

British stocks fluctuate as investors evaluate US inflation and UK labour market reports

British stocks finished mixed on Tuesday as investors weighed a slight increase in U.S. Inflation data while signs of a slowing UK labour market fueled speculation about the Bank of England’s future rate decisions. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was almost flat, but the domestically focused midcaps index rose 0.6%. Consumer prices in the United States rebounded modestly in April. They rose 0.2%, after a dip of 0.1% in March. The inflation rate is expected to increase in the coming months, as tariffs will raise import costs. After the report, traders bet that the Federal Reserve will delay lowering interest...

Fossil Fuels

Financial Times - May 13

These are the most popular stories from the Financial Times. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. Headlines ISS proxy adviser Elliott backs in the fight against Phillips 66 - Perplexity is nearing its second fundraising in 6 months at a valuation of $14 billion - Cobalt Holdings to IPO in London with Glencore taking a 10% stake UK announces "backstop" plan to force pension funds into private assets View the full article The activist investor Elliott Management won the support of Institutional Shareholder Services, a powerful proxy adviser in its campaign to stop Phillips...

Crude Oil

Crude Oil

Oil prices fall on US-Iran progress, global shares rise in turbulent trade

Oil fell over 2% Thursday, as a possible U.S. Iran nuclear deal increased the possibility of an increase in global crude supply. Wall Street indexes traded mixedly during choppy trading. European shares ended higher after reversing losses. Corporate earnings were in the spotlight and gold prices rose over 1%. Data on Thursday showed that U.S. producer price fell unexpectedly and retail sales were mixed. Emerging market stocks declined, but global equities increased by 0.3%. In his opening remarks to a two-day event, Jerome Powell, the chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve, said that they felt it necessary to reconsider their...

Crude Oil

Oil prices fall on US-Iran progress, global shares rise in turbulent trade

Oil fell over 2% Thursday, as a possible U.S. Iran nuclear deal increased the prospect of an increase in global crude supply. Wall Street indexes traded mixedly during choppy trading. European shares rose, as corporate earnings were in the spotlight. Gold prices also increased by more than 1%. Global stocks gained 0.24%. Emerging market stocks slipped. In his opening remarks to a two-day event, Jerome Powell, the chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve, said that they felt they needed to reconsider their current approach in monetary policy. This includes both inflation and jobs. The prospects of a breakthrough in peace...

Pollution

US EPA sends a proposal for biofuel blend volume to White House for review

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sent a proposal rule to the White House, asking for its review. It outlines the amount of biofuels that oil refiners will have to blend into their fuel starting in 2026. Since President Donald Trump's inauguration in January, the politically powerful oil and fuel lobbies have been waiting for this proposed rule. This will be the first opportunity for the Republican President to demonstrate his support for the biofuels policies, which have historically pitted Big Oil against the Farm Belt. This dynamic changed in the run-up to the proposed rule. A coalition of oil and...

Mining

Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources

Gold has its worst week for six months due to trade calm

Gold prices fell on Friday, and were set to experience their biggest weekly drop in six months as a stronger US dollar and diminishing trade war fears dampened its appeal. As of 0222 GMT, spot gold was down 0.5% at $3,223.06 per ounce. Bullion is down about 3% this week, and it's on track to have its worst performance weekly since November 2024. U.S. Gold Futures fell 0.1% to $3.224.90. Gold priced in greenbacks is now more expensive to overseas buyers due to the dollar's 0.3% gain for the past week. Ilya Spirak, global macro head at Tastylive, said that...

Mineral Resources

Brazil's Marfrig completes the takeover of BRF by merging as MBRF

Brazilian beef processor Marfrig revealed on Thursday that it plans to complete the takeover of BRF, a poultry and pork processor. It also hinted at plans to list shares in the combined entity eventually in the United States. Marfrig has been pursuing a strategy of gaining scale in order to compete with Brazilian meatpacking company JBS. JBS is preparing to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange. All three companies are now listed on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange. Marfrig, BRF and other parties disclosed that the proposed deal involved a share exchange whereby BRF holders would receive...

Mineral Resources

Ontario budget deficit expected to double due to US tariffs

Ontario, Canada's largest province and manufacturing powerhouse forecast on Thursday its biggest budget deficit since the peak of the pandemic. It also predicted a slower transition into surplus, as the province increased spending to support the economic in a trade conflict with the United States. The Progressive Conservative Party, which rules the province, retained its power after a February vote. Premier Doug Ford called the election more than a calendar year in advance, claiming that he wanted a stronger mandate for his fight against President Donald Trump's Tariffs. Ontario exports over three quarters of its goods to the United States....

Mineral Resources

Hearing on Barrick’s Loulo Gounkoto Mines in Mali has been postponed until May 22

The president of the Malian court announced on Thursday that a hearing on the Loulo-Gounkoto mine complex owned by Barrick Mining, scheduled for Thursday, has been moved to May 22. Barrick Mining (formerly Barrick Gold) and Mali’s government are at odds over the implementation of the new mining code, which raises taxes while giving Mali’s government a larger share of the gold mines. Mali's army government, along with others in West Africa says that it wants to increase revenue from the mining industry as it feels the current arrangements are unfair. Foreign multinationals will have to comply with the demands...

Mineral Resources

Gains in the South African rand on hopes for a change to inflation targets

Analysts said that the rand of South Africa firmed up on Thursday after a deputy minister of finance indicated that a lower target for inflation could be introduced in the near future. At 1525 GMT the rand was trading at 18.0775 per dollar, a 1.1% increase over the closing price of Wednesday. Shaun Murison is a senior analyst at IG. He said, "The rand has reacted positively to the news that Treasury supports the central bank's long-standing idea of changing the framework for inflation targets and lowering them." Analysts cited comments made by Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo at an...

Mineral Resources

Data shows that there is no rush to export in advance.

India's merchandise deficit in April was the largest in five months, according to data released by the government on Thursday. Imports of petroleum products increased, which limited the impact of a rise in exports to America. India's trade deficit in April was $26.42 billion, higher than the $20 million economists had predicted in a survey. It also increased from the $21.54 billion of the previous month. In April, exports totaled $38.49billion, while imports reached $64.91billion. This compares to $41.97billion of exports and 63.51billion of imports in march. India's oil imports increased to $20.72 Billion in April from $19 Billion in...

Mineral Resources

China's production cap will support aluminium despite trade disputes

Analysts said that a weakening in demand for aluminium due to trade tensions could weigh on prices. However, a long-standing Chinese production cap may limit the losses. After tariffs imposed by President Trump, the prices of aluminum have dropped 2% at the London Metal Exchange so far this season. China produces about 60% of the aluminium used for construction, transport and green energy. The government has set a cap on its output of 45 million tonnes per year to reduce overcapacity. "We're already very close to the 45 million mark, and we don’t see much additional capacity globally." The price...

Mineral Resources

Focus on mining data and the upcoming Ramaphosa Trump meeting to boost South African rands

South Africa's currency, the rand, edged higher against a weaker US dollar on Thursday morning after President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that he will meet with Donald Trump of the United States next week. This follows days of speculation. At 0622 GMT the rand was trading at 18,22 per dollar, which is 0.3% higher than the closing price of Wednesday. The presidency stated that Ramaphosa’s meeting with Trump will provide a forum to reset the strategic relationships between the two nations, who have been at odds ever since Trump returned to Washington in January. Investors will be focusing on the March...

Mineral Resources

Gold falls to a new low in less than a month; US PPI data is the focus

Gold prices fell to a record low of over one month on Thursday, ahead of an important U.S. report that is expected provide clues about the Federal Reserve's policy direction. A thaw between U.S. and China trade tensions also contributed to gold's decline. Gold spot fell by 0.8%, to $3,153.09 per ounce at 0303 GMT. It had earlier reached its lowest price since April 10 during the session. U.S. Gold Futures fell 1% to $3156.90. The United States agreed to drastically reduce tariffs and adopt a 90-day suspension, de-escalating the potentially damaging trade conflict between two of the largest economies...

Mineral Resources

MP Materials and Ma'aden will jointly develop rare Earths supply chain in Saudi

MP Materials, a U.S. rare-earths miner, announced on Wednesday that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Saudi Arabia's Ma'aden mining company to jointly develop a supply chain for rare earths in the Middle Eastern nation. Why it's important The agreement was signed at the U.S. - Saudi Investment Forum where President Donald Trump obtained a $600 Billion investment from Saudi Arabia in the sectors of energy, defense, and mining. Saudi Arabia is pushing to be a global hub for critical minerals at a moment when processing minerals has become an essential for tech-focused countries looking to create their...

Mineral Resources

The EU must reserve over 10 billion Euros for key minerals, according to the agency's head

The European Union must create funds worth more than 11 billion euros to encourage investment in exploration, mining, and recycling of key raw materials. This is what the head of a EU-funded agency on key minerals told me on Wednesday. The bloc has set 2030 goals for 34 minerals, such as copper and lithium, that are required for its green transformation - to mine 10% and recycle 25% of its needs and process 40% in Europe. The directive also stipulated that no single country could supply more than 65 percent of any given mineral. The EU is more dependent on...

Mineral Resources

Holcim shareholders approve spin-off of North American Business

Holcim's shareholders approved Wednesday the separation and spin-off of its North American business, a move designed to take advantage of increased construction spending in the United States. Almost all shareholders supported the decision to separate the company into two companies, Amrize and Holcim, which will focus on North America. Holcim will provide building materials for the remainder of the world. The spin-off should be complete by the end June. The listing will be done via a 100% share spin-off for Holcim's shareholders. The new company stock will trade on the New York Stock Exchange, and also on the Six Swiss...