United States

Wall Street closed higher on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached an 'all-time high thanks to surging shares in financial companies, while energy companies jumped following a U.S. military?strike which captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. Investors believe that Washington's action against Venezuela's government will allow U.S. companies access to the largest oil reserves in the world. The Trump administration will meet this week with executives of U.S.-based oil companies to discuss increasing Venezuelan production. Exxon Mobil, Chevron and other heavyweights have both surged in the S&P 500 Energy Index. After Washington's military intervention, weapons manufacturers have also seen a...

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern on Monday over a possible increase in instability?in Venezuela following the capture by the U.S. of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro. The 15-member Security Council met at the U.N. Headquarters in New York, just hours before Maduro had to appear before a Manhattan federal judge on drug charges - including narcoterrorism conspiracy. Maduro denies any criminal involvement. Guterres made the statement in a letter to the U.N. Political Affairs chief, Rosemary DiCarlo. Guterres called for all Venezuelan actors, including the government and opposition parties, to engage in a democratic and inclusive dialogue. He...

Phillips 66, a U.S.-based refiner, announced on Monday that it had?agreed? to purchase the assets and infrastructure from the Lindsey Oil Refinery located in northern?England after the site was liquidated. It will also integrate the key facilities with its Humber?Refinery. The Lindsey Refinery closed last July after the previous owner Prax went bankrupt, putting 420 jobs on the site in danger. Phillips 66 did not reveal the value of the deal, but said that it decided to not restart standalone operations in the refinery after a thorough review during the bid process. The site, they stated, was 'unviable as is,...

Phillips 66 announced on Monday that it has agreed to purchase the assets - and infrastructure - of the Lindsey Oil Refinery, located in northern England, after the site was liquidated. It will then 'integrate' the key facilities within its Humber Refinery. After a thorough review of the bid process, the U.S. refiner announced that it would not restart standalone operations in the British refinery due to the site's size, capabilities and facilities. Phillips stated that the Humber Refinery Complex will integrate storage and infrastructure assets from Lindsey, which will improve supply flexibility, as well as support both traditional?and alternative...

Keir starmer, British Prime Minister said that the United States was responsible for justifying its actions after it captured President Nicolas Maduro. He described the situation as being "not straight forward." "What Venezuela needs is a peaceful, democratic transition." Starmer said that this was the?position we held before the weekend and it is still our position. "International law is a framework, anchor, or benchmark against which we judge all other governments' actions. It is up to the U.S., of course, to justify "the actions" that they have taken. It's not easy. Even today, new developments continue to occur." Maduro was...

U.S. president Donald Trump threatened military action against Colombia's government on Sunday, telling reporters such an operation "sounds great to me". Bogota was furious. The remarks came after the United States captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro during a raid early on Saturday morning and whisked to New York?to face charges of drug-trafficking. Trump said to reporters on Air Force One that Colombia was also sick. It is run by a "sick" man who enjoys selling cocaine to the United States. He will not be doing this for long. When asked directly if the U.S. was going to pursue a military...

Venezuela's defaulted government bonds surged Monday after the surprise capture of President Nicolas Maduro by?U.S. Capture of President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro was detained and removed to the U.S. after a military "raid" in Caracas on Saturday. This has fueled expectations that this will be one of largest and most complex sovereign debt restructurings ever. Analysts predict that the bond prices issued by Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the state oil company of Venezuela, will rise up to 8 cents per dollar or 20% in early European trading. JPMorgan analysts wrote in a client note that Venezuela and PDVSA bonds had roughly...

Investors warn that the geopolitical risk may be underestimated by markets after Donald Trump threatened to take further action in America. After President Trump announced that the U.S. will take over the oil-producing nation, investors held their nerve, despite oil prices falling modestly. Gold prices rose, however, due to safe-haven flows. Trump's threats towards Colombia and Mexico, while Washington hasn't made such an aggressive intervention in Latin America since 1989 when it invaded Panama, highlighted the aggressive change in U.S. policies and brought geopolitical risks to the forefront for financial markets in the beginning of the year. Vishnu Varathan is...

Oil analysts say that the?crude production?in Venezuela will increase in time, following a 'dramatic U.S. attack and the capture of its President. This is likely to raise?global supplies?and weigh on prices long-term. American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on the weekend. U.S. president Donald Trump announced that Washington would seize control of the oil producing nation, and that the U.S. oil embargo remained fully effective. According to the London-based Energy Institute, the Organization?of Petroleum Exporting countries (OPEC) member has about 17% global oil reserves or 303 billion barils, ahead of OPEC leader Saudi Arabia. Venezuela produced a...

The Trump administration, after removing Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela's president from power in 2017, is betting that it can intimidate Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro's inner circle to follow the US. Sources familiar with the situation claim that Trump administration officials have threatened to take further military action, which could result in a similar fate for them. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that the United States might consider a second'military operation' in Venezuela if Venezuelan interim government did not cooperate. Trump told reporters on board 'Air Force One', which was traveling from Florida back to Washington, that he would consider...

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council and a senior legislator said at the weekend that "U.S. The actions of President Donald Trump in Venezuela are illegal and destabilising. However, they can be portrayed as an assertion of U.S. interest. Comments follow Trump's ?statement The United States has struck Venezuela, and Maduro and Maduro's wife have been captured and removed from the country. This prompted international reactions and calls for urgent UN discussion. Medvedev said to TASS that Trump's behavior was not only illegal, but also internally coherent as it served U.S. interest. "It is important to acknowledge...

According to Barclays, activist investors who want companies to improve their performance launched a record-breaking number of campaigns in 2025. Market volatility, favorable financing terms, and increased deal activity created the ideal environment for lobbying for change. Blue-chip activists including Elliott Investment Management and a large number of newcomers launched attacks in 2025 on global companies, urging them to improve operations, replace board members, or even sell themselves. Activists attacked well-known brands like athleisure brand Lululemon Athletica and ride-hailing service Lyft. PepsiCo, the maker of soda and snacks, and Yeti, a cooler and drinkware manufacturer, were also targeted. The data...

The oil prices rose on the first trading day in 2026, after they had suffered their worst annual decline since 2020 last year. This was due to Ukrainian 'drones' targeting Russian oil installations and a U.S. blockade that impacted Venezuelan exports. Brent crude futures rose 14 cents to $60.99 per barrel on Friday by 1:46 GMT. U.S. West Texas intermediate crude crude was up 14 cents at $57.56 per barrel. Russia and Ukraine traded accusations of attacks on civilians New Year's Day, despite intensive talks overseen?by U.S. president?Donald Trump aimed at ending the nearly four-year old?war. In recent months, Kyiv...

The price of oil rose on Friday, after the U.S. increased pressure on Venezuelan oil exports and carried out airstrikes in Nigeria's northwest against Islamic State militants at the government's request. Brent crude futures rose 24 cents (0.4%) to $62.48 per barrel by 0114 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI), also up 0.4% at $58.58, was up by 23 cents. Venezuela and Nigeria both produce a lot of oil. Nigeria's oilfields are primarily located in the southern part of the country. The airstrikes increased the geopolitical risk. The White House has directed U.S. forces to concentrate?on an "quarantine", of...

To speed up deliveries, the U.S. Transport Safety Regulator has extended an 'emergency waiver' on driving time limits for truckers transporting heating fuels. The extension was given on Tuesday because extreme cold and severe winter storms in Pennsylvania, as well as a major power outage at an important gas refinery, had 'disrupted' propane supplies and created immediate dangers to the public health, safety, and welfare of those states. U.S. regulations normally require truck drivers to take mandatory rest breaks and cap their daily?and weekday driving hours in order to reduce fatigue-related crashes. However, regulators may temporarily waive these limits to...

The oil prices were stable on Wednesday after they had risen in the five previous sessions. This was due to the robust economic growth of the United States and the threat of disruptions in supply from Venezuela and Russia. Brent crude futures fell 1 cent, to $62.37 per barrel at 0326 GMT. U.S. West Texas intermediate crude rose 1 cent, to $58.39. The two contracts have increased by about 6% each since the 16th of December, when they plummeted to levels not far from five-year lows. "What 'we've seen in the past week was a combination position squaring on thin...

MiniMed Group, part of Medtronic, filed an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States Friday as the medical device manufacturer moves forward with the spin-off?of its diabetes business. As the capital markets slow down for the holidays, corporate issuers prepare for a possible roadshow launch at the beginning of 2026 when the IPO marketplace kicks back into action. On Friday, the New York IPO paperwork was also filed by ARKO Petroleum, a fuel distributor and Aktis Oncology, a drug developer. MiniMed of Northridge, California, founded by Alfred Mann in 1983, has a range of products from glucose monitors to...

In its latest?U.S. filing, fuel distributor ARKO Petroleum revealed a decline in revenue for the nine-month period. Companies are preparing to list in the first quarter of next year. The company posted a profit of $24.7 million on revenue of $4.27 billion for the nine months ended September 30. This compares to a profit last year, which was $32.7 million on revenue $4.92 billion. The offering is made as issuers prepare to list in the early part of next year, after the holiday season. They are hoping to take advantage a receptive marketplace. The year-end debut of tax firm Andersen...

The oil prices fell on Friday, and are expected to fall for the second consecutive week as rising prospects of a Russia/Ukraine deal counteract concerns about supply disruptions due to a Venezuelan blockade. Brent?crude?futures fell 9 cents or 0.2% to $59.73 a bar by 0456 GMT. U.S. West Texas intermediate crude traded 13 cents or 0.2% lower at $56.02 a bar. Brent fell 2.3% on a weekly basis while WTI?was down by 2.5%. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said on Thursday that he believed talks to end?the conflict in Ukraine were "getting closer to something". This is ahead of an...

In his White House address on Wednesday, Donald Trump credited the reduction of gasoline prices, increased power generation and boost to the coal industry. Here is a fact-check: GASOLINE -PRICES Trump stated: "Gasoline has dropped below $2.50 per gallon across the majority of the United States." By the way, in some states, it's just $1.99 per gallon. According to AAA's daily survey, the national average price for a gallon is $2.896. This is down from $3.034 one year ago. According to AAA, the lowest gasoline prices are found in Oklahoma where the average price is $2.343. The price of gasoline...

Three people with knowledge of the matter claim that Saudi Arabia's?Midad Energy?is one of the top contenders for the international assets of Russian?oil giant?Lukoil, taking advantage deep political ties between Moscow and Washington. Sources have confirmed that the assets, which are valued at around $22 billion, include oilfields, refineries, and thousands of fuel station worldwide. About a dozen investors have made bids for these assets, including U.S. major oil companies Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and private equity firm Carlyle. Lukoil wants to sell off its foreign operations, which were crippled by the U.S. sanctions that were imposed on October to pressure...

The oil prices dropped in the early trade on Tuesday. This was a continuation of previous sessions'?losses as prospects of a Russia-Ukraine deal seemed to?strengthen, raising expectations for a possible?easing sanctions. Brent?crude futures dropped 24 cents or 0.40% to $60.32 a bar by 0101 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude was trading at $56.60 a bar, down 22 cents or 0.39%. U.S. officials said that the U.S. offered NATO-style security guarantees to Ukraine during talks with its president in Berlin. This unprecedented move sparked hope in some European capitals, that the?talks are drawing closer to negotiations to end the conflict....

The oil prices fell 4% on Friday as the'supply glut' and a possible Russia-Ukraine deal overshadowed any concerns about an impact of the U.S. seizing a tanker near Venezuela. Brent crude futures closed 16 cents lower at $61.12 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate oil was also down 16 cents, at $57.44. Both benchmarks have fallen by more than 4% in the last week. The market is still weighed down by the supply of crude oil... On the other hand, oil markets ignore the tensions between the U.S. On Wednesday, Donald Trump announced that the U.S. had seized an oil...

Oil prices were stable on Thursday, as investors focused their attention?back on the Russia-Ukraine talks and watched for any possible fallout after a U.S. seize of a sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela's coast. Brent crude futures fell 5?cents or 0.08% to $62.16 a barge at 0400 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude was down one cent, or 0.02% at $58.45 a barge. The benchmarks were higher on Monday after the U.S. announced that it had seized an oil-tanker off the coasts of Venezuela. Escalating tensions between both countries have raised fears about possible supply disruptions. "So far the seizure hasn't...