Pakistan steps up Iran diplomacy, reaffirms Saudi defence pledge
Pakistan’s military chief is heading to Iran for talks as Islamabad pushes for dialogue between Tehran and Washington, while reaffirming its ...
Oil prices rose on Monday after the United States clinched a trade deal with the European Union and may extend a tariff pause with China, relieving concerns that higher levies could have hurt economic activity and limited fuel demand.
Brent crude futures inched up 20 cents, or 0.29%, to $68.64 a barrel by 0336 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude stood at $65.31 a barrel, up 15 cents, or 0.23%.
"The U.S.-European Union trade deal and a possible extension in the U.S.-China tariff pause are supporting global financial markets and oil prices," IG markets analyst Tony Sycamore said.
"With the risk of a prolonged trade war and the importance of the August tariff deadlines being steadily defused, markets have responded positively," he added in a note.
Sunday's U.S.-EU framework trade pact sets an import tariff of 15% on most EU goods, half the threatened rate. The deal averted a bigger trade war between two allies that account for almost one-third of global trade and could crimp fuel demand.
Also set for Monday is a meeting in Stockholm of senior U.S. and Chinese negotiators aiming to extend before an 12 August deadline a truce holding off sharply higher tariffs.
Oil prices settled on Friday at their lowest in three weeks weighed down by global trade concerns and expectations of more oil supply from Venezuela.
State-run oil company PDVSA is readying to resume work at its joint ventures under terms similar to Biden-era licenses, once U.S. President Donald Trump reinstates authorisations for its partners to operate and export oil under swaps, company sources said.
Though prices were up slightly on Monday, gains were limited by the prospect of OPEC+ further easing supply curbs.
A market monitoring panel of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and their allies is set to meet at 1200 GMT on Monday.
It is unlikely to recommend altering existing plans by eight members to raise oil output by 548,000 barrels per day in August, four OPEC+ delegates said last week, though another source said it was too early to say.
ING expects OPEC+ will at least complete the full return of 2.2 million barrels per day of the additional voluntary supply cuts by the end of September.
That would work out to a supply hike in September of at least 280,000 barrels per day. However, there is clearly room for a more aggressive hike according to experts.
The producer group is keen to recover market share while summer demand is helping to absorb the extra barrels.
JP Morgan analysts said global oil demand rose by 600,000 bpd in July on year, while global oil stocks rose 1.6 million bpd.
In the Middle East, Yemen's Houthis said on Sunday they would target ships of companies that do business with Israeli ports, regardless of nationality, in what they called a fourth phase of military operations against Israel over the Gaza conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for continuing to target Russia's energy infrastructure, while Russian strikes on Kyiv overnight killed at least one person and damaged a metro station.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Norway for talks about the Russia-Ukraine war. He is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who arrived in Oslo earlier. Witkoff will also meet European officials.
The day after waiving sanctions and tariffs related to Russian exports, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he has yet to announce a final decision on the matter as Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials want more time to evaluate the situation.
French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the violence, looting and vandalism that erupted during cost-of-living protests across France. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held crisis talks on Monday, calling for partial curfews and raising the possibility of a state of emergency.
An oil tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said late Sunday.
As fuel prices surge nearly 37 per cent and protests over living costs turn violent, French President Emmanuel Macron is seeking fresh energy supplies and partnerships in the Gulf. But can diplomacy abroad ease mounting pressure at home?
Azerbaijan and Georgia are targeting more than $2 billion in bilateral trade as the neighbouring countries strengthen energy partnerships, expand transport links and pursue new investment opportunities.
More than 200 U.S. business leaders have joined Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Uzbekistan as Washington steps up efforts to turn closer diplomatic ties with Central Asia into trade and investment deals.
Thirty-five years after restoring independence, Azerbaijan's economy has more than tripled in real terms. Official data reveal how investment, manufacturing, private enterprise and digital development have reshaped the country's economic landscape.
U.S. President Donald Trump has lifted sanctions on Russian diesel exports and announced a Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire aimed at easing fuel prices ahead of November’s midterm elections. But can Moscow deliver and will the move will bring meaningful relief to markets?
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment