United States

According to sources familiar with the plans of the administration, the White House is considering?how it can use the Defense Production Act in order to increase U.S. oil refinery capacity. The conflict with Iran has exposed the country's vulnerability due to global crude supply disruptions and price increases. This extraordinary move highlights the growing pressure on the Trump administration to demonstrate that it can control the impact of rising fuel prices for consumers and businesses in advance of the midterm elections scheduled for November. Sources said that the proposal to use the act was brought up at a recent White...

Stocks in the U.S. rose on Friday, as oil prices fell. This helped to put stocks "on track" to finish a tough week on a positive note. Dell has jumped more than 11%, setting a new record. Hewlett Packard Enterprise jumped nearly 10%, and HP gained around 7% after Oracle's strong results. Gains in the stock market have helped to ease pressure on stocks at a period when fluctuating interest rate expectations, an intensifying Middle East conflict, and high Treasury yields had weighed heavily. After several days of defensive positions, today's movement looks like a regression to mean. "The market...

U.S. index futures rebounded on Friday as oil prices dropped and investors hoped that the consumer inflation report would end a 'rough' week on a positive. Oracle's premarket price jumped by nearly 7% after it surpassed estimates for its quarterly results on Thursday. This reassured investors that their AI investments are paying off. Nvidia gained 0.8%. The market is weakened by fluctuating interest rates expectations as the stock markets navigate through a convergence of factors, such as the Middle East conflict intensifying and the elevated Treasury yields. After Thursday's slightly higher-than-expected Producer Price Index, which did not reassure investors, the...

U.S. stock index futures rebounded as oil prices dropped on Friday, and investors placed their hopes in the consumer inflation report. This helped end a tough week with a positive ending. Oracle's premarket price jumped by nearly 7% after it surpassed estimates for its quarterly results, announced late Thursday. This reassured investors that their AI investments are paying off. Nvidia gained 0.9%. The market is weakened by fluctuating interest rates expectations as stocks face a number of challenges, such as the intensifying Middle East conflict or the elevated Treasury yields. The market now faces the Consumer Price Index report, another...

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump stated that the United States could strike Iran's Pickaxe Mountain and urged Tehran to be "cautious". "We've noticed that Pickaxe is a little busy." Trump told the Republican Convention that he would advise Iran to not be cute, because they will have to be hit very hard. Pickaxe Mountain is located near Iran's badly damaged Natanz uranium-enrichment facility. It has two deep-buried tunnel systems. Trump has been threatening strikes on Pickaxe Mountain at least since mid-July. Trump and the Republican Party are concerned about the rise in gas and oil prices as a result of...

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that top 'White House' advisers, including Vice President JDVance and Secretary Marco Rubio have privately warned Donald Trump that the conflict could last 'throughout the rest of his presidency. The White House did not respond immediately to a comment request. Journal: The 'advisers' told Trump privately in the Situation Room and the Oval Office that Iran could continue to resist U.S. Pressure, possibly prolonging the conflict past Inauguration day in January 2029. The reported warning is in contrast to Trump's public statements about the war. The president stated on Wednesday that he expects 'the...

The price of oil topped $100 per barrel for the first time in six weeks on Wednesday as an increase in fighting between U.S. forces and Iranian forces heightened concerns about supply coming from 'the -region. This also raised fears over inflationary pressures, and increased energy costs for businesses and consumers. Brent, the global benchmark for oil, has increased by 25 percent since early last week as hope fades of a permanent solution to the six-month old U.S./Iran conflict. This week, the rally intensified after Iran-backed Houthi attacked Saudi energy installations and set them ablaze. The increased risk of disruptions...

Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, hit $100 per barrel Wednesday. This was the first time this has happened since late July. However the price increase is relatively slow despite the escalating conflict in the Middle East that fuels fears of more disruptions to oil shipments. Russell Hardy, CEO Vitol - the world's largest independent oil trader - told the APPEC Conference in Singapore on Tuesday that the Middle East has exported approximately 9 million barrels of crude per day and another 1 million bpd in refined products in recent days. This compares to roughly 20,000,000 barrels of...

Iran threatened the United States with "economic warfare" on Tuesday and said it had ?fired an advanced missile at U.S. warships,underscoring the risks of further escalation in the war only days after both sides traded blows again. The six-month war has been marked by periodic flare-ups and pauses. Last Saturday, U.S. forces attacked three Iranian oil tanks. Iranian state media reported on Sunday that Iran had fired the Qassem Basir rocket. Iran continues to block shipping in the Strait of Hormuz despite U.S. efforts to open it. There is also no progress toward a diplomatic breakthrough which could end the...

TotalEnergies announced on Monday that it had cleared a number of?commercial and contractual hurdles in its Papua LNG Project, bringing the project closer to a decision. The French energy giant said that it had completed the tendering process for the engineering, procurement, and construction work of liquefied gas facilities. Contracts are now awaiting approval from its joint-venture partners. TotalEnergies reported that by rebidding?contracts and optimising project design, they have been able to save close to $4 billion in costs since 2024. This has brought down the capital spending?to?around $14 billion. ExxonMobil already operates the nearby PNG LNG plant. The company...

According to Thursday's regulatory filings, shareholders of Dominion Energy & NextEra Energy have approved the $66.8 Billion merger. The two companies announced their merger plan in May. This is expected to result in one of the largest electric utilities around, with an expansion of data centers that use a lot of energy to support artificial intelligent. Dominion, a Virginia-based company, serves the world's largest concentration of data centres. After nearly two decades stagnant electricity consumption, a resurgence of electricity demand has led to a wave major utility mergers. The deal is pending regulatory approvals and will create the third largest...

Weapons experts reviewed video and images verified by the Iranian authorities and concluded that it was likely a direct strike by an American munition, not a ricochet from another target. The incident in Kuhestak, a small town in Iran, has reignited concern about the civilian cost of the U.S.-Iran war. It is the most dramatic case to date since a missile hit an Iranian primary school and killed scores of students and teachers in February. U.S. Central Command announced that its forces had carried out multiple strikes in Iran's southern region on Sept. 1. These targeted air defense systems, radars,...

U.S. consumer price increases accelerated in August as gasoline prices rebounded after two consecutive monthly drops. This boosted financial market expectations of a rate hike by the Federal Reserve next week. Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Labor Department announced on Friday that Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% in August after increasing by 0.1% in July. Consumer inflation increased by 3.4% in the 12-month period ending August after increasing by the same amount in July. The economists polled predicted that the CPI would increase by 0.4% in the month of August and 3.4% on an annual basis. The CPI increased...

U.S. consumer price increases are likely to accelerate in August, as gasoline prices?rebound after two consecutive monthly declines. This would confirm financial market expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike next week. Labor Department's upcoming Consumer Price Index report will follow the Producer Price Index, which was released on Thursday. The Producer Price Index is the measure of inflation that the U.S. Central Bank uses to track its 2% inflation target. The Fed Governor Christopher Waller said at a NEXT Newsmaker Event that he would be inclined to maintain rates if the data showed that inflation pressures had cooled....

The price of oil rose on Friday, and both major benchmarks will 'end the week above $100 per barrel for the first time since mid-May. This is due to the increasing number of attacks on key shipping routes across the Middle East. Brent crude futures rose $1.05 or 1% to $108.68 per barrel at 0045 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude rose 95 cents or 1% to $103.45 per barrel. Both benchmarks were up over 6% Thursday. The benchmarks gained nearly 13% on a weekly basis - the biggest gain since the week ending July 17. The Houthis, who are...

The Venezuelan opposition-controlled boards that have supervised U.S.-based refiner Citgo Petroleum for ?the last seven years are preparing to ?wind down as soon as this ?month, ?following a shake-up by Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez, two sources involved in the preparations said. Rodriguez started preparing to take control of the refinery owned by Venezuela earlier this year after Washington recognized her government. Her government replaced Nicolas Maduro’s administration, after he had been captured by U.S. troops in January. According to U.S. courts filings, the interim president's administration replaced law firms who had previously?represented Venezuelan and state-run PDVSA oil company in...

Benchmark Brent crude futures surpassed $100 per barrel on Wednesday. This was the first time that the symbol had been breached since July 24, as the intensifying conflict in the Middle East fueled a growing concern about oil exports from the region. Brent crude futures were up $2.15 or 2.2% to $100.07 a bar by 0721 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.70 or 1.83% at $94.73 a bar. Brent crude prices are up by 25% since the beginning of last month, as hope for a permanent solution to the U.S.-Iran conflict fades. The attacks this week by the?Houthis,...

The oil price rose for the 4th straight session, with a gain of more than $1 on early Wednesday trade. Brent crude futures were up 1.4% to $99.33 per barrel at 0212 GMT. U.S. West Texas intermediate crude was $94.34 per barrel, an increase of 1.4%. Brent crude prices jumped by 25% since early August, as the hopes of a permanent solution to the six-month old war faded and fighting flared up again. Prices are now fast approaching $100 per barrel. The 'Middle East War' intensified Tuesday as Iranian-backed Houthis launched strikes against several Saudi cities, further entangling a U.S....

The New York Federal Reserve reported that the outlook of U.S. households for inflation remained unchanged in August as their?worries?about the job market?and the state of?their?personal finances grew. In the latest Survey of Consumer Expectations from the regional Fed bank, respondents held steady to their projections of inflation of 3.6% a year hence and 3% in five years. They also marked down inflation expectations in three years from 3.3% to 3.2%. The report stated that respondents in August predicted higher gasoline prices within a year. Although households' inflation expectations did not change much, their outlook for hiring and personal finances...

Senior industry executives stated on Tuesday that the global diesel supply would remain tight because of a 'lack of spare refinery capacity', Russia’s export ban and the approaching peak winter demand. The wars in Ukraine, Iran and Russia have affected refineries in Russia, the Middle East and Europe, driving diesel margins up to record levels. Crude supplies to Asia are also reduced. Russell Hardy, Vitol's CEO, said at the APPEC Conference on Tuesday that there was a real shortage of products. We are missing 2,000,000 barrels a DAY from Russia and we're also missing nearly 2,000,000 barrels a DAY from...

The oil prices continued to rise?on?Tuesday, as the risks of a long-term conflict in the Middle East increased after Iran threatened retaliation against any new U.S. attack on its assets. This heightened concerns over supply disruption. Brent crude futures rose 34 cents or 0.35% to $97.34 per barrel at 0000 GMT. U.S. West Texas?Intermediate Crude was $92.63 per barrel, up $1.15 or 1.26%. Brent reached its highest level in the previous session since?July 24, as traders built a risk premium to prices amid increased?tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. This is a major artery for crude oil shipments around the...

Iran will increase the price of gasoline starting Tuesday for those who use more than 110 litres of fuel per month, according to a government spokesperson. Fatemeh Mohajerani, in comments reported by the state media, said that the price for the first and second quotas (which include 110 litres) will remain the same, but that the price for the third quota would be increased to 100,000 Iranian Rials per litre. This is equivalent to around?4 U.S. Cents at the current free-market price. The government discussed and delayed the increase in the price of?Iran’s gasoline, which is among the lowest in...

The IAEA announced that a local ceasefire brokered by it took effect Saturday in order to allow repairs at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, controlled by Russia, to be made to restore external power. Since August 20, the plant has been relying on diesel emergency generators to cool vital safety systems. The U.N. Nuclear Watchdog said that if power is not restored to the facility or additional fuel cannot be delivered, a blackout could occur within days. IAEA stated that Ukrainian technicians would begin working on the damaged Ferosplavna electric line after demining the area. In the first weeks following...

The war in the Middle East is still driving up energy costs. Americans are facing record high gasoline prices for Labor Day Weekend, just as midterm Congressional election campaigns begin. Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy analyst, says that the national average gas price is likely to reach $4.03 per gallon on Labor Day. This will be a significant increase over the previous record of $3.83 set in 2012. De Haan, in a blog post, wrote that "Gasoline is not at all-time highs, but it's at the highest level ever recorded for this late in the year. This means Americans may see...