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Ukraine and the US discuss ways to make the minerals fund operational within a year
Ukraine's Yulia Shvyrydenko said that the United States and Ukraine have discussed ways to make the minerals fund operational before the end of this year. The fund's initial meeting is scheduled for July. Svyrydenko signed the agreement in Washington, after months of hard negotiations, which made the terms more favorable for Kyiv. The agreement was heavily promoted by U.S. president Donald Trump. The Ukrainian parliament ratified this agreement. Svyrydenko met with U.S. Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent on Wednesday and the Development Finance Corporation which will be the partner of the Minerals Fund. "We discussed very concrete steps to make this fund functional during this year," Svyrydenko told reporters. We will have our first board meeting in July to discuss the seed capital needed to operate this fund. We should also adopt a strategy for investing in this fund over the next few decades. Negotiations leading to the signing of the Mineral Fund deal were preceded by a heated discussion between Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House about how to end Ukraine's war with Russia, which has lasted for three years. Zelenskiy's ability to repair his relationship with Trump was dependent on the agreement. In April, the two men briefly met at the Vatican during the funeral for Pope Francis in order to get their relationship back on track. Reporting by Gram Slattery, Costas Pitas and SonaliPaul; Editing by Ron Popeski & SonaliPaul
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China's coal power plant approvals grow after 2024 decline
China approved 11.29 gigawatts (GW) of new coal power plants in the first three months of 2025, already exceeding the 10.34 GW approved in the first half of 2024, a new Greenpeace report showed on Thursday. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Last year, Chinese approvals of new coal-fired power capacity fell 41.5% year-on-year to 62.24 GW, the first annual decline since 2021. The new data suggest approvals are tracking higher this year. While all the approved projects may not be built, the growing pipeline signals a continued reliance on coal. Reducing coal use to cut emissions is key to China's goal to hit peak carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. KEY QUOTE "The year 2025 marks a pivotal moment in the country's energy transition. There is already enough existing capacity to meet today's peak demand. Approving a new wave of large-scale coal projects risks creating overcapacity, stranded assets, and higher transition costs," said Gao Yuhe, Greenpeace's climate and energy project manager for East Asia. State planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the National Energy Administration did not immediately respond to faxed requests for comment. BY THE NUMBERS This year marks the last in China's 2021-2025 five-year plan, in which China has approved 289 GW in new coal capacity, around double the 145 GW approved for the 2016-2020 period. CONTEXT China has said it will start to phase down coal during the 2026-2030 five-year plan, but Beijing has not committed to any specific targets. WHAT'S NEXT Greenpeace called for more ambitious carbon emissions goals from China and a clear timeline for phasing out coal. It also said China's power sector emissions could peak this year as growth in wind and solar outpaces coal. (Reporting by Colleen Howe; Editing by Tom Hogue)
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Tullow Oil Lines Up Production Extension for Jubilee and TEN fields off Ghana
Tullow Oil and its partners have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of Ghana to extend the West Cape Three Points (WCTP) and Deep Water Tano (DWT) licenses to 2040, which cover the Jubilee and TEN fields off the West African country.The MoU has been signed between the Government of Ghana, Tullow Oil, Kosmos Energy, PetroSA, Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) and Explorco.It includes approval to drill up to 20 additional wells in the Jubilee field, representing investment of up to $2 billion in Ghana over the life of the licenses.As a result of the extension the JV partnership expects to realize a material increase in gross 2P reserves.A number of principles are covered within the MOU that will help underpin the continued development of the Jubilee and TEN fields, including a commitment to work to increase in the supply of gas from the Jubilee and TEN fields to c.130 mmscf/d, a reduced gas price for Jubilee associated gas, and a guaranteed reimbursement mechanism for gas sales.Also, it provides for investment in Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and the Petroleum Commission's capacity with a focus on the use of advanced technologyAll terms and conditions of the existing WCTP and DWT Petroleum Agreements remain in place and continue unchanged.The next steps, following this MOU, are the submission for approval of a Jubilee Plan of Development (PoD) Addendum, entering into new fully termed gas sales agreements (GSA), and the submission for parliamentary approval of the payment security mechanism and license extensions planned before the end of the third quarter of 2025."This Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Ghana and the DWT and WCTP partners marks a significant step forward in our nation's energy sector. Extending the licenses to 2040 demonstrates our commitment to fostering a stable and attractive investment climate.“This MOU will not only ensure the continued production of oil, supporting our economic growth, but also allow us to further develop our infrastructure and create more job opportunities for our citizens. We are dedicated to responsible resource management and look forward to a prosperous future fuelled by sustainable energy practices,” said John Abdulai Jinapor, Ghana's Minister for Energy and Green Transition."This is a valuable step forward for the Government of Ghana, Tullow and our JV partners, highlighting the collaborative and constructive relationship we all have in reaching our shared goal of building a better future for the people of Ghana, through responsible oil and gas development. "This extension and the fiscal stability of our contracts emphasizes the opportunity Ghana represents to deliver additional value through production and reserves additions, providing greater long-term optionality and materiality to these core assets,” added Richard Miller, Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Tullow.
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Iron ore prices fall as the focus shifts from China's steel demand to a softening of iron ore.
Iron ore futures fell on Thursday as the focus returned to a softening of steel consumption during China's off peak demand season. As of 0238 GMT, the most traded September iron ore contract at China's Dalian Commodity Exchange was trading 0.14% lower. It was 701 yuan (US$97.61) per metric ton. As of 0228 GMT, the benchmark July Iron Ore traded on Singapore Exchange fell by 0.69% to $94.8 per ton. Galaxy Futures analysts said that due to the lack of driving forces, the price of the main steelmaking ingredient is expected to fluctuate despite the seasonal weak demand. The iron ore market is not changing fundamentally. "The wave of upward momentum caused by the price rally of coal has faded so ore prices have also weakened," said Zhuo Guqiu, a broker at Jinrui Futures. Zhuo said that the downside potential of hot metal production is limited by its relatively high output despite reductions in production and declining inventories at ports. Iron ore demand is usually gauged by the hot metal production. Galaxy's analysts noted that despite a recent trade truce, the steel exports are showing signs of a slump, which is dragging down demand. A weak steel demand is also a risk to feedstocks. Following Wednesday's rally of more than 6%, other steelmaking ingredients coking coal, and coke, have also seen gains, albeit slower. They rose by 1.01% and 0.11 %, respectively. The benchmark steel prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange are range bound. Hot-rolled coils fell 0.19% while wire rods and stainless steel gained 0.2%. ($1 = 7,1820 Chinese Yuan) (Reporting and editing by Amy Lv, Lewis Jackson)
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Gold prices remain stable as US payroll data is awaited for direction
Gold prices were stable on Thursday, as investors looked at weaker than expected U.S. economic data and global economic and political uncertainty. They also anticipated U.S. employment data to provide further economic signals. As of 0210 GMT, spot gold remained unchanged at $3,372.82 per ounce. U.S. Gold Futures fell 0.1% to $3395.50. Matt Simpson, senior analyst at City Index, said that gold is in a holding pattern, and it's at the mercy of Trump's headlines on trade. It's supported but hesitant to move above this week’s high. The volatility is also suppressed as we wait for the comments of FOMC members, and Friday's NFP Report. It could be a sign of a more positive jobs report, which would weigh on gold. In May, the U.S. service sector contracted for the first month in almost a year as businesses were faced with higher input costs amid fears of stagflation. The Federal Reserve announced a slowdown of U.S. Economic Activity, citing increased costs and prices due to tariff increases since the previous policy meeting. Bullion has gained momentum since U.S. president Donald Trump reiterated on Wednesday his call for Fed chair Jerome Powell to reduce interest rates. Investors are awaiting the nonfarm payrolls data on Friday for more information about the labor market. Trump's doubled tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum took effect. His administration is seeking "best offers from trade partners" to avoid additional levies scheduled for July. Trump said that Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, was "extremely difficult to deal with", highlighting tensions before a long-awaited phone call between two leaders scheduled for this week. In a low interest rate environment, gold, which is a safe haven during periods of economic and political uncertainty, tends thrive. Other than that, silver spot fell by 1.3%, to $34.51, platinum increased 0.9%, to $1,093.07, and palladium remained at $1.001.70.
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Asian shares continue to rise, while the dollar languishes in front of the ECB
The U.S. Dollar remained stagnant as the European Central Bank released its outlook on a turbulent global economy. Dollar fell in the previous session due to weak U.S. data on jobs and services. Friday will bring more important employment data. The damage to the U.S. economic system is becoming more evident as a result of President Donald Trump's erratic trade policies, and bilateral agreements remain unrealised. Canada was preparing possible retaliations against new U.S. tariffs on metals, while the European Union announced progress in its trade negotiations with Washington. Market watchers will therefore pay more attention to the signals that Christine Lagarde gives about future decisions. Kyle Rodda is a senior analyst for Capital.com. He said that there's uncertainty regarding the guidance given by the central bank, due to the uncertain outlook of U.S. global trade policy and U.S. Trade Policy. If the central bank fails to provide sufficiently dovish advice, it could disrupt the equity markets and give the euro upward momentum. Trump's doubled tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum took effect on Wednesday. They were aimed at Canada and Mexico. On the same day, Trump's administration asked trading partners for "best offers" to prevent other import levies from taking effect in July. Ryosei Acaza, Japan's top trade negotiator, will be in the U.S. for a second round of negotiations on Thursday. Friedrich Merz is due to travel to Washington as well. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan rose 0.7% in the early trading, while Japan's Nikkei index fell 0.2%. The dollar index (which measures the greenback versus a basket currencies) was flat at 98.85, after a 0.5% decline on Wednesday. The dollar gained 0.1% to 142.92 yen. The euro traded at $1.1416, unchanged from the previous trading session when it had gained 0.4%. Gold lost its gains of the previous day, while oil fell after an increase in U.S. stocks and Saudi Arabia slashed its July crude prices for Asian buyers. Spot gold was down 0.1% to $3,372.7 an ounce. U.S. crude fell 0.2% to $62.75 per barrel. The Euro Stoxx futures for the entire region were not much changed, while U.S. stocks futures, S&P 500 E-minis were down by 0.1%.
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Copper prices rise on weaker dollar
London copper prices rose slightly on Thursday, despite a weaker dollar. The market's focus was on the ongoing trade talks between the U.S. As of 0102 GMT the three-month copper contract traded on the London Metal Exchange rose 0.31%, to $9,651 a metric ton. The most actively traded copper contract at the Shanghai Futures Exchange was largely unchanged, at 78.190 yuan. Dollar-denominated investments are cheaper for holders of currencies other than the dollar. On Wednesday, U.S. president Donald Trump said that his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping was "extremely difficult to make a trade with". This exposed frictions, after the White House had raised expectations for a long-anticipated phone call between these two leaders. Canada was preparing possible retaliations, while the European Union announced progress in trade negotiations on Wednesday as the new U.S. Metals Tariffs caused more disruption to the global economy, and increased urgency in negotiations with Washington. ANZ reported that "Trump's tariffs of 50% on aluminum and steel have raised expectation that he would soon follow through on his pledge to impose tougher duties on copper, as well." Tin prices on the LME fell around 0.3%, to $31,935 per ton. This was after they had hit a record high of $17,648 a ton on Wednesday. The reason for this is that there are concerns about the slow resumption in supply from Myanmar's rich tin state Wa. Lead added 0.5% at 16,720 yuan and tin was up 1.4% on Thursday. Nickel fell 0.2% to 121.800 yuan. Aluminium gained 0.5%. Nickel edged up 0.1% to $15,415 and lead fell 0.4% to $1982. Click or to see the latest news in metals, and other related stories. DATA/EVENTS - (GMT 0600 Germany Industrial orders MM 0400 Germany Manufacturing O/P cur price, Consumer Goods SA 0830 US S&P GLOBAL pmi: MSC COMPOSITE – OUTPUT MAY 1215 EU ECB refinancing, deposit rate Jun 1230 US international trade $ Apr 1230 US initial jobless Clm 31 may, w/e
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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 Association, in a recent statement, said that parts manufacturers face "serious and real-time risk" to their supply chain. The group stated that "the situation is still unresolved, and the level concern is very high." "Immediate action and decisiveness are needed to avoid widespread disruptions and economic fallout in the vehicle suppliers sector." The White House has not yet commented. In a letter sent on May 9th, the supplier group expressed urgent concerns over the Chinese restrictions. The group was joined by the trade group that represents General Motors (GM), Toyota (Toyota), Volkswagen, Hyundai, and other major automakers. MEMA and Alliance for Automotive Innovation, in a letter to Trump's administration, wrote: "Without reliable, timely access to these magnets and elements, automotive suppliers would be unable produce key automotive components such as automatic transmissions and throttle bodies. They also could not manufacture sensors, seatbelts, speakers, lights and motors. Exports of rare-earth magnets from China have halved since April, as companies struggled to deal with a complex application process that requires hundreds of pages of documentation. In a post on social media last Friday, Trump accused China for violating the terms of an agreement reached in May that would temporarily reduce tariffs and other trade restrictions imposed by both sides. The restrictions are already having an impact on U.S. automobile companies. Ford said it shut down production at its Chicago plant of the Explorer SUV for a whole week in May due to a shortage of rare-earth metals. (Reporting and editing by Sandra Maler, Christian Schmollinger, and David Shepardson)
The Supreme Court's top cases
In the current term of the U.S. Supreme Court, there are cases that involve guns, gender affirming medical care for minors who identify as transgender, online pornography and religious rights, TikTok and preventive healthcare. There are also cases that concern funding Planned Parenthood, job discrimination and federal regulation powers over nuclear waste storage, vape products and voting rights.
Take a look at the recent and upcoming cases that the justices will be deciding.
'GHOST GUN' On March 26, the court upheld a federal rule targeting "ghost guns", which are largely untraceable, imposed by former Democratic President Joe Biden in an effort to crackdown on firearms that have been used in crimes across the country. The ruling by 7-2 overturned the lower court decision that the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives exceeded its authority when it issued the 2022 rule aimed at parts and kits of ghost guns. The court found the regulation to be in line with the 1968 federal Gun Control Act.
TRANSGENDER RIGHTS During arguments on 4 December, the court's conservative judges indicated that they were willing to uphold Tennessee's Republican-backed ban on gender affirming medical care for minors who are transgender. This case could have a significant impact on other state laws that target transgender individuals. Biden's Administration appealed the decision of a lower court upholding Tennessee’s ban on medical treatment, including hormones and surgery for minors suffering from gender dysphoria. This refers to the distress caused by the incongruity of a person’s gender identity with the sex assigned at birth. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
MEXICO GUN LAWSUIT On March 4, the justices showed sympathy for a request by two American firearms companies to dismiss the Mexican government’s lawsuit accusing the companies of aiding the illegal trafficking of guns to drug cartels, and fueling the gun violence in Mexico's southern neighbor. The justices heard arguments from Smith & Wesson, a firearms manufacturer and distributor of Interstate Arms in their appeal against a lower-court ruling allowing the lawsuit on the basis that Mexico had plausibly alleged the companies aided illegal gun sales and harmed its government. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
U.S. TIKTOK BAN On January 17, the justices upheld a federal law that would ban TikTok from the United States if the Chinese parent company ByteDance failed to sell the short video app within a time limit set by Congress. The Justices ruled, 9-0, that the law passed by Congress and signed by Biden last year did not violate First Amendment protections against government abridgment. The justices upheld a lower court decision that had upheld this measure. Biden's replacement, Republican President Donald Trump chose not to enforce it and instead gave both parties time to work out a compromise.
Online Pornography The Justices heard arguments about whether the First Amendment protects against government interference in speech when a Texas law requires that pornographic sites verify users' ages to limit access by minors. The justices voiced concerns over the availability and accessibility of online pornography, but also expressed concern about burdens placed on adults who wish to view constitutionally-protected material. A trade group representing the adult entertainment industry has appealed the decision of a lower court that upheld the Republican-led State's age verification mandate. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION On February 26, the court heard arguments in a case where a woman claimed that she was denied a job promotion and demoted because of her heterosexuality by a state government agency in Ohio. The justices seemed to favor making it easier for those from "majority backgrounds" to bring workplace discrimination cases, such as straight or white people. Marlean Ames, the plaintiff, said that she worked with a homosexual supervisor when, in 2019, she was demoted and passed over for promotion to a woman gay. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL The court will hear a case that tests the separation between church and state. Two Catholic dioceses are attempting to establish the first taxpayer-funded charter school in Oklahoma. St. Isidore Catholic Virtual School was shut down by a lower court, which ruled that the funding arrangement for the school violated First Amendment restrictions on government endorsements of religion. Arguments will be held on April 30.
RELIGIOUS TASKS EXEMPTION In a case that could have constitutional implications, a Wisconsin Catholic diocese's arm is seeking a religious exemption to the state unemployment insurance tax. The Catholic Charities Bureau of the Catholic Diocese of Superior appealed the lower court's rejection of its exemption request. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the bureau, it could force Wisconsin and other states that have similar tax programs in place to expand their exemptions to conform to the First Amendment protections in the U.S. Constitution. The arguments are scheduled for 31 March.
LGBT SCHOOL BIBLES The court accepted a request from religious parents who wanted to prevent their children from attending classes in a Maryland district public school when LGBT stories are read. This is yet another case that involves the intersection of religion and LGBT rights. Parents of children attending Montgomery County Public Schools filed an appeal after lower courts refused a plaintiff's request for a preliminary order ordering the district not to read these books. Arguments will be held on April 22.
OBAMACARE PREPARED CARE MANDATE This court will determine the legality of an important component of the Affordable Health Care Act, which gives a taskforce established under the Obamacare healthcare law the power to demand that insurers provide preventive medical services without cost to the patient. The court heard an appeal from the Biden administration against a lower-court ruling which sided with a Christian group of businesses that objected to the fact that their employee health plans covered HIV-prevention medication. They also argued that task force structure was in violation of the U.S. Constitution. Arguments will be held on April 21.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FINANCE The court will examine South Carolina's attempt to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood. This case could support conservative states in the U.S. who want to deny Planned Parenthood government funding for reproductive healthcare and abortion. A lower court ruled that the Republican-governed state could not terminate funding for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic under the Medicaid insurance program. Arguments will be held on April 2.
NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE On March 5, the justices heard arguments over whether the Nuclear Regulatory Commission had the authority to issue licenses for certain nuclear waste facilities, amid objections raised by the state Texas and oil industry interests. The U.S. Government and a company awarded a license to operate an operation in western Texas by the NRC appealed the ruling of a lower court declaring that the storage arrangement was illegal. The NRC regulates nuclear energy in the United States. The NRC is expected to make a decision by the end June.
FLAVORED VAPOR PRODUCTS On December 2, the court heard arguments in defense of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its refusal to allow two ecigarette companies to sell flavored products, which regulators believe to be a risk to health. The lower court ruled that the FDA failed to follow the proper legal procedures in federal law when they rejected the applications for the sale of these nicotine-containing products. The end of June is the expected date for a ruling.
EPA AUTHORITY On March 4, the court handed a major blow to the Environmental Protection Agency with a ruling of 5-4. The case involved a wastewater treatment plant owned by San Francisco. This could make it more difficult for regulators and water quality inspectors to monitor pollution. The court ruled that EPA had exceeded its authority in a law against pollution by putting vague restrictions on a permit for the facility which discharges into the Pacific Ocean. In recent years, the court has limited the EPA’s power as part of a number of rulings that have curbed the federal regulatory agencies’ powers.
TAILPIPE Emissions A major case that tests the power of the Democratic-governed California to combat greenhouse gases is a challenge by fuel producers against California's standards on vehicle emissions and electric vehicles under a federal law on air pollution. Valero Energy, along with fuel industry groups, appealed the lower court's decision to reject their challenge against a Biden administration decision to let California set its own regulation. Arguments will be held on April 23.
The Supreme Court is hearing a dispute regarding the legality and operation of the TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERIES FUND, a fund that Congress authorized to be operated by the Federal Communications Commission in order to increase access to telecommunications. The conservative Consumers' Research group and others accused Congress of illegally delegating authority to an independent federal organization. The FCC, along with a coalition including interest groups and telecoms companies, appealed an earlier court decision which found that Congress had violated the Constitution when it gave the FCC the authority to manage the fund. Arguments will be held on March 26.
LOUISIANA ELECTORAL MAP On March 24, the justices heard arguments in a bid to preserve an election map that increased the number of Black-majority districts in the state. This was in response to a legal challenge brought by a group voters who identified themselves as "non African American." Three federal judges determined that the map of Louisiana's six U.S. House of Representatives district - which now has two Black-majority areas, instead of one - violated the Constitutional promise of equal treatment. The ruling is expected to be made by the end June.
Death Penalty Case On February 25, the court threw away Richard Glossip’s conviction in Oklahoma for a murder-for hire plot that took place in 1997 and gave him a fresh trial. In a 5-3 decision, the justices concluded that prosecutors had violated their constitutional obligation to correct false testimony from their star witness. The justices reversed the lower court decision which had upheld Glossip’s conviction. They also allowed his planned death to proceed despite Glossip’s claim that prosecutors had wrongly withheld information that could have helped his defense.
(source: Reuters)