United States

When the world was faced with a sudden surge in inflationary forces in 2021-22 due to a severe shock in supply and spikes in energy prices, all major central banks reacted?together. This is unlikely to happen again. Five years ago, supply disruptions caused by pandemics led to a united - but belated cycle of interest rate hikes among the world's largest central banks. This cycle accelerated in response to the skyrocketing prices of energy triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. By the time the European Central Bank raised rates in July 2022 (and the Bank of Japan did not), every...

The oil prices continued to rise on Monday. Brent is on track for a monthly record after the Yemeni Houthis launched their first attack on Israel, escalating the Iran War. Brent futures were up 66?cents (0.6%), or $113.23 per barrel, at 1031 ET (1431 GMT), after closing 4.2% higher Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate?futures rose $2.2 or 2.2% to $101.83 following a 5.5% gain in the previous session. Brent's price has risen by 58% in the last month. This is the highest monthly increase since 1988. Brent also outperformed gains during the Gulf War of 1990. U.S. Crude, on the...

Oil prices dropped on Friday, and were on track to have the steepest weekly drop?in the past six months. This was after U.S. president Donald Trump announced that talks with Iran on a 'peaceful end' had been going well and he would pause his attacks on Iran’s energy plants for ten days. Brent futures dropped 84 cents or 0.8% to $107.17 a barrel at 0353 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Futures lost $1.02 or 1.1% to $93.46 a barrel. On a weekly basis, both benchmarks traded 4.6% lower despite Brent increasing 5.7% and WTI gaining 4.6% Thursday due to fears...

The 'State Department' reported that U.S. Secretary Marco?Rubio met with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on a Thursday. He reportedly expressed "gratitude" for the KRG allowing oil from Iraq to reach international markets, including Kurdistan in Iraq. The State Department issued a statement saying that "the secretary expressed his gratitude to Kurdistan Regional Government, for allowing oil from Iraq to reach the global markets, including the 'Iraq Kurdistan Region. The Iran War has risen oil prices and shook global markets. The State Department said Rubio had "offered his sincere condolences to families of those Peshmerga who were...

It might seem odd to be more bullish about stocks at a time when the U.S. economy is masked by a fog of war, and oil costs $100 per barrel. From a valuation perspective, the case is compelling. Barclays strategists outlined this?this past week, when they increased their S&P500 price?and earning forecasts. They are not the only bulls. They argue that corporate America won't be able to escape the economic impact of the Iran war or energy shock. However, it is still in a relatively good position. Take technology, the engine that has driven Wall Street's recent boom. Recent concerns...

The U.S. grid operators PJM and Constellation Energy have told Constellation Energy the 'former Three -Mile Island nuclear /power?plant' in Pennsylvania will likely not be able connect to the grid before 2031. This is four years later than originally planned. Constellation is working to restart operations at its nuclear power plant, which will be renamed Crane Clean Energy Center to "feed Microsoft data centres". Constellation's chief?external and growth officer, David Dardis said that the company will be ready to produce electricity at the plant before its goal of 2027. It is also in talks with the grid operator PJM interconnection...

It might seem odd to get more bullish about stocks at a time when the U.S. economy is so obscured by the "fog" of war and oil priced at $100 per barrel. From a valuation perspective, earnings and growth are compelling. Barclays strategists emphasized it when they increased their S&P 500 price and earnings predictions this week, and they are?not alone in the bullish camp. They argue that corporate America will not escape the economic impact?of?the Iran War and energy shock. However, it is still relatively well-positioned. Take technology, the engine that has driven Wall Street's recent boom. Recent concerns...

A man who claimed to have been injured in an explosion at Valero Energy’s Port Arthur, Texas refinery Monday night filed a suit on Wednesday with a state district court, alleging that the?company?failed?to properly maintain the refinery. The lawsuit filed at the Jefferson County District Court of Beaumont, Texas, is seeking more than $1,000,000 in damages. A Valero spokesperson had no immediate comment on Wednesday night. Valero filed a report with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on Tuesday. The company stated: "An unexpected release of fluid from Complex?2 caused an ignition event, and multiple process units were upset."...

The markets overshoot and the recent dramatic increase in bets placed on higher interest rates due to the Middle East energy crisis is the latest example: although the move was logical, its magnitude remains questionable. The Iran War shows no signs of stopping and the?markets are still in flux. Rates traders may need to take a break and re-evaluate. The abrupt change in global 'rate outlook' reflects concerns about the short-term impact on inflation of the soaring prices for oil and gas. Federal Reserve now has a higher probability of raising U.S. interest rates in this year rather than cutting...

Confindustria, Italy's leading business lobby, forecast that the economy would grow by 0.5% in this year. This is a reduction from the 0.7% it had predicted in October. It also warned of'strong' 'downside risks' if the Iran conflict continues. The third largest economy in the Eurozone saw its gross domestic product rise by 0.5%, marking the third consecutive year of growth below 1%. Confindustria stated in its bi-annual report that the 0.5% growth scenario for 2026 was based on an "optimistic hypothesis" that?the conflict in Iran would be over by March's end. The business group warned that if the hostilities...

Sources familiar with the situation said that Indian billionaire MukeshAmbani's?Reliance Jio Platforms? has been in talks with?13?marquee investors to sell 8% of their individual stakes at the upcoming Mumbai listing for the company which will be transforming its telecoms into AI. Ambani’s Jio Platforms is expected to file for approval in Mumbai of its IPO as early as this coming week. The list includes Meta with a stake worth 9.99% and Google?with 7.73%. Vista Equity Partners, KKR and KKR are also big investors. Investors include three sovereign Gulf funds: the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Mubadala, and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority....

The Philippines' ambassador to the United States stated that it is working closely with Washington in order to securing waivers and exceptions to allow oil to be purchased from sanctioned U.S. countries. This will 'ensure supply. The Philippines, which is heavily dependent on imported fuels, declared on Tuesday a national energy emergency in order to deal with Middle East War fallout, including oil procurement. In a series of phone messages, Jose Manuel Romualdez said: "We're working with the State Department on getting waivers or exemptions for oil purchases from sanctioned U.S. countries." Romualdez responded that "all options" are being considered...

Federal Reserve Chair?Jerome Powell said on Monday that the U.S. Central Bank can wait to see the impact of the Iran War on the economy and inflation. He noted that policymakers usually look past shocks like those caused by higher oil prices. Powell told a Harvard University macroeconomics class that he felt his policy was in a "good?place" to watch how the war with Iran will affect the economy and inflation. The Iran war is now in its fifth week, and the U.S. As gasoline prices increase to an average of around $4 per gallon, the Fed is faced with...

Officials said that Bangladesh approached the U.S. on Monday to request a temporary waiver of sanctions in order to import Russian diesel. Middle East turmoil is disrupting global energy markets and straining fuel supplies. Officials from the energy ministry said that Dhaka had requested a similar waiver to India and proposed imports of up 600,000 metric tonnes of Russian diesel. Monir Chowdhury is a joint-secretary at the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources. State-run agencies have increasingly relied on the volatile market to fill in the energy gap. The 175 million strong nation is dependent on imports to meet?95% its...

U.S. consumer confidence fell more than anticipated in March, reaching a three-month low as inflation fears and the war in the Middle East cast a cloud over the economy's?outlook. The decline reported by 'University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers Friday' occurred across a range of age and political party groups. Middle- and high-income consumers, as well as stockholders, saw the largest decreases. Oil prices have risen by more than 30% since the U.S. - Israel war against Iran, which has lasted for a month. AAA data showed that retail gasoline prices rose $1, to average $3.98 a gallon. The S&P...

Robert Golob, Slovenia's prime minister, launched talks on a broad alliance with political party leaders on Friday following an inconclusive election. He pledged urgent measures to assist the Alpine country's?economy cope with rising energy costs. After the March 22 elections, Golob's Freedom Movement has won 29 parliamentary seats. This is one more than the right leaning Slovenian Democratic Party led by populist former premier Janez Jansa. Either party needs coalition partners in order to achieve a majority of 90 seats, which makes smaller parties potential kingmakers. Golob, the incumbent, has invited all the parties that have won parliamentary seats -...

A survey on Friday showed that U.S. consumers' sentiment sank to a?low of three months in March, as the war?in?the Middle East increased oil prices and sparked volatility on financial markets. This prompted a re-evaluation of?the prospects for?the U.S. economy. Surveys of Consumers at the University of Michigan reported that its Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 53.3 in December from 55.5 in January. The economists surveyed by?forecast the index to ease to 54.0. In February, it was 56.6. Joanne Hsu is the director of Surveys of Consumers. She said that consumers with higher incomes, stock wealth and who were affected...

Oil prices dropped in the early morning trade of Friday, and have been down for a volatile week after U.S. president Donald Trump announced that talks with Iran on ending the war are going "very well", and that he will pause his attacks on Iran's energy facilities for 10 days. Brent futures dropped 90 cents or 0.8% to $107.11 per barrel as of 0024 GMT. U.S. West Texas intermediate futures also fell 83 cents or 0.88% to $93.65 a barrel, reducing gains from a previous bullish session. Brent gained 5.7% on Thursday while WTI gained 4% on fears of a...

White House Press Secretary Karoline L. Leavitt stated that the United States issued a stern warning on Wednesday to Iran, saying President Donald Trump would strike 'harder' if Tehran refused to accept they had been "defeated militaryly". "President Trump is not a bluff, and he's prepared to unleash hell." Leavitt, in a briefing to reporters, said that Iran shouldn't?miscalculate" again. She said that if Iran does not accept the present reality, or if it fails to understand they are militarily defeated and will remain so, President Trump will make sure they get hit harder than they ever have before. The...

Chicago soybean futures declined on Wednesday. They tracked losses in soyoil due to lower crude oil prices, based on reports that the U.S. was seeking a ceasefire of a month for its war against Iran. The price of corn and wheat futures also declined. As of 0325 GMT, the?most active?soybean contracts on the Chicago Board of Trade slipped 0.2% to $11.52-3//4 a bushel. Soyoil dropped 0.8% to 65.21cents per pound. CBOT corn fell 0.7% and wheat dropped 6%, to $4.59-1/2 per bushel. The oil prices fell more than 5% on Wednesday, as a result of reports that the U.S. had...

U.S. crude oil futures dropped about 4% in early trading on 'Wednesday,' on the prospect that a possible ceasefire would ease?disruption of a global?oil supply. This was after reports that Washington sent Tehran a fifteen-point plan for ending the Middle East war. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI),?futures, dropped as low as $87.80 per barrel at the?open and were down $3.49 or 3.8% at $88.86 per barrel by 2305 GMT. WTI gained 4.8% on the Tuesday before paring its gains in volatile trading after settlement. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. is making progress in its...

Valero Energy Corp completed the temporary shutdown of ?its 380,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery in ?Port Arthur, Texas, on ?Tuesday ?following a Monday night explosion and fire in a diesel hydrotreater unit, people familiar with the plant operations said. The explosion of the diesel hydrotreater unit 243, which produces 47,000 bpd, did not cause any injuries. The date for the reopening has not been announced. Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said that the cause was unknown but they did not believe it to be an intentional act intended to?damage the refinery. Donta Miller said, "No, it's not that," when asked whether there was...

Smithfield Foods beat analysts' estimates for the fourth quarter results on Tuesday, thanks to strong?demand. It also said that the Middle East conflict will?raise fuel, corn, and packaging costs. Shares of the?U.S. Pork processors jumped by 5% on the morning market after issuing a positive annual profit and sales forecast. Mark Hall, CFO of the company, said that while input costs are expected to remain high by historical standards they will be lower in 2025. The company has increased prices to offset the rising costs of raw materials. It has also seen an increase in demand as more consumers cook...

On Tuesday, oil prices soared on fears of a shortage, after Iran denied that it had?talks? with the United States about ending the Gulf War, in contradiction to U.S. president Donald Trump, who claimed a deal would be reached soon. Crude futures dropped by more than 10% after Trump ordered the delay of attacks on Iran's power plants for five days, claiming that he had held talks with Iranian officials who were not named, and they had reached "major agreements". Brent futures were up $1.25 or 1.3% to $101.19 a barrel by 0858 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose $2.15...