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Energy Markets

Crude Oil

Crude Oil

MORNING BID EUROPE - Sell America, sell Japan

Tom Westbrook gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. Investors in Tokyo are waiting to see how U.S. market's react to the transatlantic tension over?Greenland. The U.S. market resumes trading after a long holiday. During that time, the rest of world sold its stocks and dollar as a response to President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on European Allies who opposed his efforts to "control the Danish Arctic territory". Trump told Norway's prime minister by text that he does not feel obliged to think "pure peace" anymore because he did not receive...

Crude Oil

Oil prices stable as Iranian protests diminish, lowering the chance of US attack

The oil prices were unchanged on Monday after rising the previous session. Iran's crackdown on protests has quelled the civil unrest, and reduced the chances of an attack by the U.S. on the Middle Eastern major producer, which could disrupt the?supplies. Brent crude was trading at $64.18 per barrel as of 0158 GMT. This is a 5 cents, or 0.08% increase. U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose 8 cents or 0.13% to $59.52 per barrel in February. The contract expires Tuesday, and the March contract, which is more active, was $59.36 up 2 cents or 0.13%. The unrest was quelled by...

Crude Oil

MORNING BID AMERICAS - Flood the zone

By Anna Szymanski What Mike Dolan, the ROI team and I are looking forward to reading, watching and listening to this weekend. From the Editor Hello Morning Bid readers! The week began with a bang and it is yet to be seen if it will end on a whimper. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell revealed that the Justice Department threatened to indict him on Sunday, drawing widespread condemnation. In a wide-ranging, multifaceted interview with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Trump stated that he did not plan to fire Powell and also hinted at a possible delay in intervening in Iran....

Crude Oil

As the market assesses supply risks, oil prices are rising.

The oil prices increased slightly on Friday, as participants in the market weighed supply risks. However, the likelihood of an?U.S. The likelihood of a U.S. strike against Iran has decreased. Brent rose 5 cents or 0.1% to $63.81 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate climbed 8 cents or?0.1% to $59.27 per barrel at 0749 GMT. Brent and WTI both reached multi-month highs in this week, after protests erupted in Iran and U.S. president Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of strikes against the country. Brent prices are still on track for a fourth consecutive week of gains. BMI analysts...

Crude Oil

The great stock rotation continues with MORNING BID Europe

Kevin Buckland gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. The move away from the high-flying technology?stocks, which set the pace for the record global equity 'rallies of last year, gained more momentum to the benefit?cyclical shares and?value stocks. As an example, Japan's high-tech Nikkei index dropped by 1% during the narrative. It had previously reached a record-high. The Topix index, which is a broader measure of the market, extended its record-breaking climb by 0.4%. The Russell 2000 index is currently outpacing S&P 500, with a 0.7% gain overnight while the larger index has...

Fossil Fuels

Oil pauses gains as Venezuela shipments resume, but Iran concerns loom

The oil market fell after four consecutive days of gains on Wednesday, as Venezuela resumed exports. Meanwhile, U.S. crude inventories and products rose. However there were fears that Iranian supplies would be disrupted due to deadly civil unrest. Brent futures fell 20 cents or 0.3% to $65.27 per barrel by 0525 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude was down 23 cents or 0.4% at $60.92 per barrel. Suvro Sarkar is an energy analyst with DBS Bank. He said that oil prices had already factored in a geopolitical premium in recent days, due to the rising tensions in Iran and drone...

Oil & Gas

Oil prices pause gains as Venezuela shipments resume but Iran concerns loom

The market is apprehensive about the possibility of Iranian supply disruptions after deadly unrest in this major Middle Eastern producer. Brent futures traded 9 cents lower or 0.14% at $65.38 per barrel at 0207 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude was down 12 Cents, or 0.2%, at $61.03 per barrel. Brent futures ended 2.5% higher Tuesday, while WTI rose 2.8%. Prices for both contracts have risen 9.2% in the last four trading sessions due to the?increasing protests against the fourth largest OPEC producer. U.S. president Donald Trump on Monday urged Iranians to continue protesting, and that help would soon be...

Crude Oil

Concerns about oil supply are heightened by the rising price of crude and the intensifying unrest in Iran

The oil prices rose on Monday due to a?growing 'concern that the intensifying protests against Iran could disrupt the OPEC producers supply. However, efforts by Venezuela to resume exports of crude oil are limiting gains. Brent crude futures rose 31 cents or 0.49% to $63.65 per barrel at 0006 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 30 cents or 0.51%, at $59.42. The two contracts both rose by a combined 3% in the last week, their largest weekly increase since October. This was due to Iran's clerical establishment stepping up its crackdown against the largest demonstrations since 2012....

Refined Products

Oil prices rise on worries about disruptions of supply in Venezuela and Iran

On 'Friday, oil prices rose for the second consecutive day, resulting in their third weekly increase, due to uncertainty over future supply from Venezuela and Iranian unrest. Brent futures gained 40 cents or 0.7% to $62.39 a barrel at 0400 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI), however, rose 35 cents or 0.6% to $58.11. Brent will rise 2.7% this week while WTI is up 1.4%. "Bottlenecks of the flow of sanctioned barley and steady demand signals seem to counter the backdrop for an oversupplied in 2026 at least for now," said Priyanka Sahdeva, Senior market analyst at Phillip Nova....

Crude Oil

Oil prices rise as fears about disruptions of supply in Venezuela and Iran increase

Oil prices rose again on Friday. They are now set to make their third weekly increase, due to uncertainty over the future supply from Venezuela, and because of increased concerns about Iranian production. Brent futures gained 44 cents or 0.71% to $62.43 a barrel at 0203 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI), however, rose 39 cents or 0.68% to $58.15. Brent will rise 2.7% this week while WTI is up 1.4%. The price of oil has increased since the U.S. Donald Trump's last-week seizure by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his claim that the U.S. would control the South...

Crude Oil

The spoils of oil

Rocky Swift gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. While Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro waits for his fate in a New York jail, it appears that nearly $2 billion of Venezuela's oil is also destined for the United States. Donald Trump's recent use of military force in achieving policy goals has resulted in the toppling of a?leader? and the country's oil reserves. He has hinted in recent days at possible strikes against Colombia, Mexico and Greenland. The markets have largely taken these events in stride. Crude oil has reacted the most to the...

Crude Oil

MORNING BID EUROPE-Venezuela upheaval tests markets

Gregor Stuart Hunter gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. The dramatic weekend that saw U.S. forces capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has caused the oil market to be roiled as the first full trading week of 2019 begins, even though the global stock markets appear to have ignored geopolitical risk for the moment. Brent crude futures fluctuated between gains and losses, but ended the day at $60.49. Traders are assessing the impact of the U.S. military attack on Venezuela, the country with the largest reserves of oil in the world, on global...

Environment

Environment

UK's Development Finance Agency anchors $1 Billion blended finance fund for Emerging Markets

JOHANNESBURG - British International Investment, a UK-based development finance institution, announced on Tuesday that it would contribute $40?million to a $1 billion blended finance 'fund' managed by Allianz Global Investors. The fund is intended to?boost climate investments in emerging market. In a joint statement, BII and 'Allianz' said that the Allianz Credit Emerging Markets Fund (ACE) has received $690 million so far in commitments. The fund was launched in London on Monday. Private investors will contribute up to $850 millions, with $150 million coming from development finance institutions like BII and multilateral lending. If ACE reaches its $1 billion goal,...

Environment

UK targets struggling water sector through new regulator

Britain will announce plans on Tuesday to improve England's Water Sector. They promise a "new regulator" with the power to check more on infrastructure and prevent sewage spills?and?supply outages. After years of underinvestment in the water sector, the government declared that the privatised system was broken. Meanwhile, the biggest provider of the country, Thames Water, struggles to survive, having been?loaded with debt. Two incidents in the last six weeks left thousands of homes in south east England with no water for several days. Last July, the creation of a regulator that would "combine existing authorities" was suggested. Environment Minister Emma...

Environment

UN Biodiversity Treaty comes into force and aims to protect 30% oceans by 2030

On Saturday, a landmark global treaty to preserve biodiversity on the high seas went into effect. It provides countries with a legally-binding framework to tackle threats like overfishing and achieve a 30% target for the ocean environment by 2030. After 15 years of negotiation, the U.N. Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty (BBNJ) was finalised in March of 2023. It will create a global "marine protection area" network in previously unregulated ocean ecologies in international waters. At a press briefing, Adam McCarthy, the first assistant secretary of the Australian Foreign Ministry and co-chairman of the treaty’s preparatory comittee, said: "It is...

Mining

Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources

Shanghai copper survives despite concerns about demand, margin rule

Shanghai Copper finished off its lows on Tuesday as investors shrugged off the sluggish market and the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE)'s move to increase margin requirements for certain contracts. After a drop of more than 1%, the most traded copper contract on the?SHFE?closed trading daytime up 0.04% to 101,280 Yuan ($14,544.41) per metric ton. As of 0740 GMT, the benchmark three-month price for copper at the London Metal Exchange increased by 1.10%. It now stands at $12,894.50 per ton. Red metal prices remained near record highs despite the sluggish demand for spot metals. The?SHFE also increased daily price limits and...

Mineral Resources

Shanghai copper prices drop as SHFE increases margin requirements and demand remains weak

The Shanghai Futures Exchange increased margin requirements on certain copper contracts, which led to a drop in the price of copper in China. As of 0330 GMT, the most-traded metric ton?copper contract traded on SHFE fell 0.65%, down to 100,580 Yuan ($14440.15). However, the benchmark three-month?copper? on the London Metal Exchange gained 0.65%, to $12,836.50 per ton. SHFE announced on Tuesday it will increase the margin ratios for certain metals, including copper, silver, gold, and aluminum futures contracts, and expand daily price limits from January 22, 2019. This?move was widely seen as a way to stabilize the market, since copper...

Mineral Resources

Rio Tinto's fourth quarter iron ore shipment rises 7%

Rio Tinto announced a 7% increase in its fourth-quarter iron-ore shipments, Wednesday. This was aided by a record quarterly production from the?Pilbara operation and strong rail and ports outload performances. Iron ore prices rose in the third quarter, boosted by a resilient demand from China, its top consumer, where strong steel exports helped to sustain buyer interest. Iron ore was shipped by the world's biggest producer of steel-making material, the Pilbara operation of Rio Tinto, in the three months ending December 31, up from 85.7 Mt last year. This exceeded the?Visible Alpha estimate of 88.2Mt. Rio shipped 326.3 metric tons...

Mineral Resources

Copper prices rise as industrial consumers balk

The price of copper dropped on Tuesday as industrial consumers began to resist paying high prices for inventory levels that are multi-year highs. Benchmark -three-month copper at the London Metal Exchange fell?0.8%?to $12,868 per metric ton by 1045 GMT. The previous session saw a 1.3% rebound. LME copper prices have risen by 30% in the last six months. Last week they reached a record high of $13,407, driven by speculation on the backs of fears that disruptions at mines would lead to shortages. Ole Hansen is the head of commodity strategy for Saxo Bank, Copenhagen. He said: "Copper can't run...

Mineral Resources

BHP denied permission to appeal UK judgement over 2015 Brazil dam failure

BHP has been denied permission to appeal a ruling that found it liable for a 2015 dam collapse in the southeast of Brazil. The London lawsuit could be worth tens or hundreds of millions of pounds. The London High Court ruled in November that BHP is legally responsible for collapse of Fundao Dam, located in Mariana (southeastern Brazil), which was owned by BHP's joint venture with Vale, Samarco. BHP's request for a?permission of appeal this ruling? was denied by High Court. BHP has said it will directly apply to the Court of Appeal. BHP's spokesperson stated in a press release...

Mineral Resources

Chinese data shows that copper prices are rising on the back of a weaker dollar

The copper price rebounded Monday, thanks to a lower dollar and better-than-expected data from China, the world's largest metals consumer. After two consecutive sessions of declines, the benchmark three-month 'copper price on London Metal Exchange rose 0.6% to $12,885 per metric ton at 1030 GMT. LME copper fell to a low of one week on Friday due to profit-taking, and worries about weak Chinese demand. It had fallen from its record high of $13,407 on Wednesday. The price of coal has risen 31% in the last six months on fears that shortages may occur this year due to mine disruptions....

Mineral Resources

BHP denied permission to appeal UK judgement over 2015 Brazil dam failure

BHP has been denied permission to appeal a ruling that they are 'liable for the collapse of a Dam in Southeastern Brazil?in 2015, as part of a London suit potentially worth tens of millions of pounds. The London High Court ruled in November that BHP is legally responsible for the collapsed Fundao Dam, located in Mariana (southeastern Brazil), which was owned by BHP and Vale's joint venture Samarco. BHP's request for permission to appeal this ruling was denied by the High Court. BHP may still apply directly to the Court of Appeal. After their initial win, the claimants' attorneys sought...

Mineral Resources

Trump says he is no longer bound to only think of peace when addressing Norway

In a letter, U.S. president Donald Trump told Norway's Prime Minister that he did not feel obligated to "think purely of Peace", because he hadn't?been?awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He also reiterated his demand for Greenland. Stoere said in a press release that the letter was written in response to a short message sent by Norway's Premier Jonas Gahr Stoere to Trump opposing his decision imposing tariffs on European allies for refusing to allow the U.S. to take control of Greenland. Trump's letter stated that he no longer felt obligated to only think of Peace. Although it will always be...

Mineral Resources

Andy Home: Tin price bubble is a source of trouble and toil for the global industry

London and Shanghai markets have seen a surge in tin prices, which are now at all-time highs. According to the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, the rally is "unreasonable". Last month, it warned all parties to "avoid following trends blindly". Beijing's warning has not deterred Chinese traders from chasing prices higher and higher. On Thursday, the volume of trading in the?tin contracts on Shanghai Futures Exchange (ShFE) exceeded one million metric tonnes. This is more than double the annual global physical consumption. Tin is in a clear speculative boom, which will burst as soon as trends change. The mismatch between...

Mineral Resources

European shares are down as miners and luxury stocks weigh.

The European share market was subdued Friday due to weakness in mining and luxury stocks. This marked a gloomy end to a week that had been dominated by?the beginning of a busy earning season along with geopolitical concerns. The pan-European STOXX 600 index finished at 614.38, while the luxury index fell 3.2%. This was its largest daily drop since early October. Richemont, one of the biggest losers, fell 5.4%, after BofA Global Research cut its recommendation for the Swiss jewellery firm to neutral from buy, and advised investors to "wait", citing inflated valuations following a recent rally. "European stocks are...

Mineral Resources

Mali's gold production plunges by 23% after Barrick halts operations and tougher rules are implemented

Mali's industrial?gold?output declined 22.9% in the year 2025 due to the long?suspension? of Barrick Mining operations because of a dispute about tougher mining regulations, according to preliminary figures released by the West African nation's Mines Ministry. Mali is one of Africa's biggest gold producers. It has been pushing for reforms to increase the value of this sector. This was enshrined into a mining code that was introduced in 2023. The government announced in December that a sweeping audit had led to the recovery by mining companies of arrears amounting to 761 billion CFA francs (US$1.2 billion). The tougher rules ruffled...

Mineral Resources

Caledonia will spend $132m on Zimbabwe's largest gold mine in this year

The company said that it plans to invest $132 million in this year's budget to start the development of what will become Zimbabwe's biggest?gold?mine once it is operational. The record gold prices are helping miners expand production. Gold spot prices reached a new record of $4,639.48 per ounce on early Wednesday. This was fueled by the escalating tensions with Iran, concerns over the Federal Reserve’s autonomy, and lower inflation readings which boosted bets for rate cuts. Caledonia stated in a production report that the planned expenditure, which is part of a total capital spending programme of $162.5 millions for 2026,...