United States

Anu 'Aiyengar', JPMorgan Global Head of Advisory & M&A told a reporter that dealmakers will have another banner year - 2026 - with a record amount of deals on the way. CEOs are seeking the safety and scale of a large company to help them weather the mounting geopolitical and economic risks. Anu?Aiyengar, JPMorgan's Global Head of Advisory and M&A, said in an interview that last year saw the second highest amount of M&A deals ever, totaling $5.1 trillion. This was despite the stomach-churning gyrations caused by President Donald Trump’s changing trade policies, as well as a government shut down...

?U.S. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a second round of attacks against Venezuela had been canceled following the South American country's cooperation. On Friday, the president announced that Venezuela would be releasing many political prisoners in a show of "seeking peace" following last week's dramatic U.S. operation which resulted in capturing?President Nicolas Maduro. "This is an important and intelligent gesture. Trump stated on "Truth Social" that the U.S.A. and Venezuela work well together in rebuilding their oil and natural gas infrastructure, which is much larger, better and more modern. His post continued, "Because of the?cooperation', I have cancelled the...

Investors were rattled by renewed worries?over U.S. Tariffs, which led to a fall in Indian equity benchmarks for the fifth straight session. The Nifty 50 dropped 0.75%, to '25,683.3. ', while the Sensex slipped 0.72%, to 83576.24. Each index lost around 2.5% for the week. 15 of 16 major sectors declined during the week. Small-caps fell by 3.1%, while mid-caps dropped 2.6%. According to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, U.S. president Donald Trump has supported a bipartisan measure targeting countries that do business with Russia. The bill would impose tariffs of up to 500% on imported goods. India is 'the second...

Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury secretary, said that the largest oil companies will likely move more slowly in making investments in Venezuela. Independent oil companies or "wildcatters" are more likely to move quickly. Bessent, who made his most comprehensive remarks since U.S. troops removed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, refuted the notion that oil companies are reluctant to invest. He said that his phone was ringing from small firms wanting to "get to Venezuela today." He said to the Economic Club of Minnesota that smaller firms were different than majors such as Chevron, and other multinational corporations, which faced more bureaucracy. "When...

According to four sources with knowledge of the situation, Harry Sargeant III, a billionaire energy entrepreneur who is also a Republican donor and a member of his team, advises the Trump administration about how to engineer the return to Venezuela of American oil companies. Sargeant's involvement, a man with long-standing connections to Venezuela's petroleum industry, shows how the Trump administration relies on U.S. executives to guide it in the energy sector of the country following the dramatic U.S. operation last week that led to the arrest of Nicolas Maduro. As U.S. forces continue to seize?oil tanks?linked to Venezuela, Secretary of...

Portuguese energy company Galp is in talks with private equity-backed Moeve to merge their refining and?chemicals businesses as well as fuel retail businesses. They announced the deal on Thursday. According to their non-binding contract,?Galp, Spain's Moeve and the United Arab Emirates state-owned investment firm Mubadala, as well as U.S. investment firm Carlyle Group plan to form two new companies. One would run 3,500 retail fuel stations, primarily in Spain and Portugal. It would sell more than 6 million metric tonnes of refined products per year. The other would run Moeve’s Huelva, Algeciras and Galp’s Sines oil refineries. Three facilities with...

The day ahead for European and global markets on Thursday Donald Trump has been the subject of many headlines over the last 24 hours. He promised to stop defense contractors from paying dividends and buying back shares until weapons production increased. He supported a bipartisan bill that targeted countries doing business in Russia. The United States was also removed from dozens of U.N. and international organizations. His vice president said that the U.S. would exert "incredible" pressure on Venezuela by controlling its oil sales. Trump's plans for Greenland are also worth mentioning. But the markets don't seem to give a...

The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. president Donald Trump, along with his advisers, are planning to dominate the "Venezuelan Oil Industry" for many years. Trump told his aides that he believed his efforts could lower oil prices as low as $50 per barrel. The report cited people who were familiar with the situation as saying that the U.S. was considering a plan in which they would exert?some control? over Venezuela's PDVSA state-run oil firm, including purchasing and marketing the majority of its oil production. Could not confirm immediately the report. The White House didn't immediately respond to the?'?zeit imediat??'?...

PDVSA, Venezuela's state oil company, said Wednesday that it was?progressing with negotiations with the United States regarding oil sales.?A board member of the company informed?the?U.S. Will need to purchase cargoes at the international price. Washington announced on Tuesday that it had reached a deal with Caracas for access to up $2 billion of Venezuelan crude. This is a sign the Venezuelan government has responded to President Donald Trump’s demand that they be open to U.S. companies and risk further military intervention. Trump has said that he wants Delcy Rodrguez, the interim Venezuelan president, to be installed in this week's after...

Trump warns of more military operations following Maduro's capture Murphy, a Democrat, says that the plan is stealing oil at gunpoint' Rubio: US will make sure oil companies can access Venezuela during the recovery phase. Simon Lewis and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON - On Wednesday, Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, said that the United States had a three-step strategy for Venezuela. The plan will start 'with stabilizing the country, after U.S. troops seized Nicolas Maduro,' then ensure that U.S. companies have access to Venezuela during the recovery phase, and lastly oversee a transition. Donald Trump warned that he would launch...

MEXICO CITY. Jan. 7 - Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum stated on Wednesday that Mexico was not sending more crude oil to Cuba than in the past, but that amidst recent events in Venezuela Mexico had become an "important" supplier of crude oil to Cuba. Sheinbaum's comments were made during her morning press conference, in response to the question of whether Mexico was now the primary oil supplier for Cuba following the United States blockade of oil exports from Venezuela since mid-December. "We are not sending more oil than we have historically." She said. "Ofcourse, with the current Venezuelan situation, Mexico...

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that the United States must control Venezuela's oil revenue and sales to achieve the changes it seeks to see in Venezuela. Wright stated that he had been speaking with?U.S. Wright said he was speaking to?U.S. Donald Trump announced over the weekend that the U.S. will "take control" after U.S. troops ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. This could allow U.S. companies to access the vast oil reserves of Venezuela. Wright added that instead of blocking the oil as it is now, the government will sell it to buyers around the U.S. Wright said that the?sales will...

Poland's Prime Minister is concerned about the strain that the United States' threats to 'take over Greenland' is putting on NATO. He said this on Friday. Warsaw, as a loyal ally, should be honest about its concerns with Washington. Poland sees the United States and NATO in a 'critical role in its security, in light of a 'increasingly assertive Russia. Policymakers in Warsaw are concerned that divisions in the alliance might embolden Moscow. The NATO alliance would be shocked if the U.S. took Greenland away from Denmark, a long-time ally. It would also deepen the divide that exists between Trump...

According to a White House spokesperson, despite Denmark's repeated assertion that Greenland was not for sale the U.S. president Donald Trump and his staff are "talking" about a possible?purchase. Even as a hypothetical thought experiment, assuming the presence of a seller willing to sell an autonomous territory like Greenland, the discussion quickly encounters imponderables. For example, how could a meaningful price be established? Nick Kounis is the chief economist at Dutch ABN AMRO Bank. He noted that there was no agreed framework for valuing nations. Finding historical benchmarks of fair value is also difficult. In 1946, the U.S. made an...

AustralianSuper, BlueScope Steel's largest shareholder, said that a $9 billion takeover bid from SGH & Steel Dynamics in the U.S. undervalued the company and it supported its decision to reject this offer. After announcing its increase from 12.5% on Thursday, the pension fund now holds 13.52% in BlueScope. BlueScope, which rejected the SGH Steel Dynamics offer of?A$30 a share on Wednesday, said that it was "significantly undervalued" and accused the acquirers for trying to purchase BlueScope 'on the cheap. AustralianSuper's spokesperson stated that "we?support the BlueScope Board's decision to?reject?the offer" and to'remain focused' on executing the strategy of the company...

BlueScope Steel’s largest investor, AustralianSuper said on Friday that it supported the Australian company's decision to reject a $9 billion offer from U.S.-based Steel Dynamics and?SGH?. After announcing its increase in stake on Thursday, the pension fund now holds 13.52 % of BlueScope. BlueScope rejected the $A30 offer from?SGH & Steel Dynamics on Wednesday, saying that it was "very significantly undervalued". The company also accused the acquirers of trying to buy BlueScope 'on the cheap. AustralianSuper's spokesperson stated that "we support the BlueScope Board's decision to reject the offer and remain focused on executing the company's strategy, without distraction." The...

According to documents and officials reviewed by, the Trump administration and U.S. Congress will launch a plan to reverse former president Joe Biden's ban on mining in northern Minnesota. This plan is intended to prevent future administrations taking similar measures. The Twin Metals project in Antofagasta, which is one of North America's biggest untapped reserves of these critical minerals, has been developing for the last year. The plan's details have never been revealed before. Trump has refocused on domestic mining projects in the United States, even though his administration continues to push for mineral access. Greenland Ukraine And elsewhere Minnesota's...

Gold prices fell on Thursday, as investors prepared for futures sales?linked?to? a commodity index reshuffle. A stronger U.S. Dollar added pressure to the price of gold by making it more expensive for overseas buyers. As of 0921 GMT, spot gold dropped 0.6% to $4.427.28 per ounce. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery fell 0.6% to $4435.40. "Gold and Silver remain under pressure, as the annual commodity index rebalancing begins. In the next five business days, COMEX metal futures may see sales in the region of $6-$7 billion. This is according to Ole Hansen of Saxo Bank, who heads commodity strategy....

Gold prices fell on Thursday, as a strong dollar weighed on investors. They were preparing for a major U.S. employment report due later this week, which will be used to assess the Federal Reserve’s policy and gauge U.S. influence on Venezuela. As of 0539 GMT, spot gold dropped 0.4% to $4435.62 an ounce. U.S. gold GCcv1 futures for February delivery dropped 0.4% to $4444.40. Bernard Sin, Regional Director- Greater China at MKS PAMP, said that traders are weighing increased geopolitical pressures, such as the U.S.'s intervention in Venezuela, against macroeconomic signals coming from the United States. The?dollar remained near its...

Gold prices fell on Thursday as a result of a strong dollar. Investors were preparing for the release of a key U.S. employment report this week, which will be used to assess the Federal Reserve’s policy and gauge U.S. influence on Venezuela. As of 0539 GMT, spot gold dropped 0.7% to $4423.20 an ounce. U.S. gold GCcv1 futures for February delivery dropped 0.7% to $4432.0. Bernard Sin, Regional Director- Greater China at MKS PAMP, said that traders are weighing increased geopolitical pressures, such as the U.S.'s intervention in Venezuela, against macroeconomic signals coming from the United States. The?dollar remained near...

Gold prices fell 'on Thursday due to a strong dollar. Investors were preparing for a major jobs report that will be released later this week. This could give more insight into the U.S.'s monetary policy and they are also assessing U.S. pressure against Venezuela. As of 0344 GMT spot gold fell 0.3% to $4440.67 an ounce, dropping from a high reached in the previous session. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery also fell by 0.3%, to $4449.60. "Traders are weighing up heightened geopolitical tensions, such as the U.S.'s intervention in Venezuela, and the prospect of Greenland becoming a flashpoint due...

BlueScope Steel shares were down by 2% on early Thursday trading after the company turned down an A$13.2 Billion ($8.87 Billion) takeover bid from Australian conglomerate SGH and U.S. based Steel Dynamics. BlueScope's shares were trading slightly below the A$30 per share cash offer, which indicates investors believe a deal can still be struck despite the official rejection by the board. SGH shares traded 0.7% lower on Thursday after BlueScope stated that the offer "significantly undervalued" SGH after trading closed Wednesday. Steel Dynamics shares ended Wednesday's U.S. trade 2.8% lower. Macquarie analysts predicted that the takeover fight would continue. They...

Gold prices dropped more than?1% Wednesday, as investors booked profits following a recent rally. However, it did pare some losses after weaker-than expected U.S. job data increased bets on Federal Reserve rate reductions. As of 11:16 am, spot gold fell 1.1%, to $4,445.32 an ounce. ET (1616 GMT). Prices dropped as much as 1,7% to $4,422.89 in the earlier session. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery were down 0.9% to $4,456.10. David Meger is the director of metals trading for?High Ridge Futures. He said, "We view today's pullback as a general profit-taking after that recent surge." Meger said that the...

A?U.S. A?U.S. ETF provider is seeking approval to launch?the first-ever?exchange-traded funds tracking companies exposed Venezuela. The U.S. capture over the weekend of President Nicolas Maduro sparked an asset rally. Teucrium, a Vermont-based company, filed a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the launch on Teucrium Venezuela exposure?ETF. The ETF will track the stocks and depositary receipts for companies classified as Venezuelan, or that derive at least 50% revenue from this South American country or are based in major trading partners with significant exports into Venezuela. Teucrium's spokesperson said the company was working on the ETF "prior to...