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Companies TotalEnergies SE FollowBAGHDAD, April 4 (Reuters) - Baghdad has reached an agreement to hold a 30% stake in TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) long-delayed $27 billion Iraq project, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday. The deal was signed in 2021 for TotalEnergies to build four oil, gas and renewables projects with an initial investment of $10 billion in southern Iraq over 25 years. Iraq's demand for a 40% share in the project was a key sticking point as TotalEnergies wants a majority stake. The agreement to lower the share to 30% was struck after meetings in Baghdad over the past few days, an industry source said. "The deal should be activated within days," a senior Iraqi oil ministry official said.

☆ Up to 1 mln people 'disappeared' in Iraq in last half century - UN
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GENEVA, April 4 (Reuters) - Up to 1 million people have been "disappeared" in Iraq during a tumultuous last half century spanning the dictatorial rule of Saddam Hussein, U.S.-led military occupation and the rise of Islamic State militants, the United Nations said on Tuesday. The U.N. Committee on Enforced Disappearances urged Iraq, which has one of the highest numbers of missing people in the world, to seek victims and punish perpetrators. But that was hampered by the lack of definition of enforced disappearance as a crime in Iraqi law, its report said. "The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances urged Iraq to immediately establish the basis to prevent, eradicate and repair this heinous crime," it said. Up to 290,000 people, including some 100,000 Kurds, were forcibly disappeared by Hussein's "genocidal campaign" in Kurdistan between 1968 and 2003, the U.N. report said.

☆ Iraq to ask Turkey to restart northern oil exports after initial KRG deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, April 2 (Reuters) - Iraq's federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have reached an initial agreement to restart northern oil exports this week, a KRG spokesman said on Sunday, and Baghdad will write to Turkey to request a resumption in pipeline flows. Baghdad had argued that Turkey had violated a joint agreement by allowing the KRG to export oil to Ceyhan without its consent. The resumption of pipeline flows from Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region will still need approval from Turkey. "A letter of request to resume oil flows will be sent by Baghdad to Ankara," a KRG official told Reuters on Sunday. Sources last week told Reuters that Turkey wants an unfinished court case settled with Iraq before the pipeline reopens.

☆ Morning Bid: A holiday kickoff to the second quarter, and a US jobs report
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Alden Bentley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 3 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Alden Bentley. Asia's data calendar across the rest of the week otherwise looks fairly tame and the main economic event for global markets will be U.S. payrolls data on Friday. So given the number of markets that are closed on, or before, Friday, the week could bring surprises of a pleasant, or not pleasant, variety. But any surprise headlines, be they OPEC or bank related, will have to be digested by thinned markets, which can bring excessive market swings. This week will bring CPI releases from Indonesia on Monday, South Korea on Tuesday and Thailand and the Philippines on Wednesday.

☆ Oil jumps $5 per barrel
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Florence Tan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SINGAPORE, April 3 (Reuters) - Oil prices jumped about $5 a barrel on Monday's open, jolted by a surprise announcement by OPEC+ to cut production further in an effort to support market stability. Brent crude hit the highest in nearly a month at the open, trading at $84.95 a barrel by 0039 GMT, up $5.06, or 6.3%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude touched its highest since late January and was at $80.47 a barrel, up $4.80, or 6.3%. Goldman estimated the output reduction could provide a 7% boost to oil prices, contributing to higher Saudi and OPEC+ oil revenues. Analysts at the National Australia Bank said the OPEC+ production cuts and demand recovery from top crude importer China could drive oil prices above $100 a barrel through third quarter.

Baghdad had argued that Turkey had violated a joint agreement by allowing the KRG to export oil to Ceyhan without its consent. Iraq's oil ministry in Baghdad said on Sunday it hopes to reach a final agreement soon with the KRG on resuming northern oil exports. Iraq's oil ministry said that details on the new export agreement would be announced "in due course". The resumption of pipeline flows from Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region will still need approval from Turkey. "A letter of request to resume oil flows will be sent by Baghdad to Ankara," a KRG official told Reuters on Sunday.

LONDON/BAGHDAD, April 1 (Reuters) - Iraq's federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) are close to striking a deal aimed at resuming northern oil exports, four sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Saturday. Revenues will be deposited in an account managed by the MNR and supervised by Baghdad, the KRG official said. Iraq's oil ministry spokesman could not immediately be reached outside regular business hours. Baghdad and the KRG have agreed to continue meetings following the resumption of oil exports to find solutions to other lingering problems. "[These include] the contracts of the foreign companies operating in Kurdistan and the Kurdish debts," the senior Iraqi oil official said.

BEIJING, March 31 (Reuters) - Oil prices ticked down in Asian trade on Friday as bullish sentiment about Chinese demand and potential Middle Eastern supply disruptions was tempered by uncertainty over U.S. economic data to be released later in the day. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell by 22 cents, or -0.3%, to $74.15, having gained about 8% this week. Markets are now waiting for U.S. spending and inflation data on Friday and the resulting impact on the U.S. dollar. "Disappointing data may cause concerns about Fed policy again and cap the recent gains," she added. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said U.S. crude oil stockpiles fell unexpectedly in the week to March 24 to a two-year low.

BEIJING, March 31 (Reuters) - Oil prices were very slightly down in Asian morning trade on Friday as bullish sentiment about Chinese demand and potential Middle Eastern supply disruptions was tempered by uncertainty over U.S. economic data on Friday. Markets are now waiting for U.S. spending and inflation data on Friday and the resulting impact on the U.S. dollar. Industrial activity in China has become a key determinant of prices in recent weeks after its ending of coronavirus-related restrictions, amid weaker global demand. Oil prices are set to cap a second straight week of gains after the largest bank failure after the 2008 financial crisis spooked traders and roiled markets. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said U.S. crude oil stockpiles fell unexpectedly in the week to March 24 to a two-year low.

SINGAPORE, March 31 (Reuters) - Oil prices climbed in early Asian trade on Friday as sentiment was boosted by an expansion in factory activity in China, the world's second largest crude consumer, and as concerns grew about Middle Eastern supply. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 17 cents, or 0.23%, to $74.54, having gained about 8% this week. China's manufacturing activity rose in March at a slower pace compared with a record breaking expansion in February, but still exceeded expectations by economists in a Reuters poll. Industrial activity in China has become a key determinant of prices in recent weeks following its ending of coronavirus-related restrictions, amid weaker global demand. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said U.S. crude oil stockpiles fell unexpectedly in the week to March 24 to a two-year low.

☆ Stocks rise and dollar falls while oil rallies
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Sinéad Carew | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., March 30, 2023. Economists polled by Reuters expect core prices rose by 0.4% in February and posted an annual increase of 4.7%. The U.S. dollar slipped to a one-week low against the euro as German inflation data helped lift the common currency. MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe (.MIWD00000PUS) closed up 0.72% while emerging market stocks (.MSCIEF) rose 0.67%. Gold prices gained with a weaker dollar and lower bond yields driving demand for the precious metal, while investors waited for U.S. inflation data to gauge the Fed's next move.

REUTERS/Umit BektasMarch 31 (Reuters) - An international arbitration ruling on March 23 prompted the shutdown of Iraq's northern crude oil exports through Turkey and sent oil prices back towards $80 a barrel. Iraq's federal government says its state-owned marketed SOMO is the only party authorised to manage crude exports through Ceyhan. Turkey was also asked to pay 50% of the discount at which KRG oil was sold, three sources said. According to a Turkish source, Iraq's initial demand was for about $33 billion. This comprised 370,000 bpd of KRG crude and 75,000 bpd of federal crude, a source familiar with pipeline operations said.

☆ OPEC oil output falls on Angola, Iraq outages - Reuters survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Alex Lawler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has pumped 28.90 million barrels per day (bpd) this month, the survey found, down 70,000 bpd from February. OPEC+ lowered its output target by 2 million bpd, of which about 1.27 million bpd was to come from the 10 participating OPEC countries. With the declines in Angola and Iraq this month, compliance with the agreement increased to 173% of pledged cuts, according to the survey, against 169% in February. ANGOLA, IRAQThe largest drop of 100,000 bpd was in Angola due to a small export programme and field maintenance on the Dalia stream. Among countries with higher output, Nigerian production again posted OPEC's biggest increase in March, the survey found, bringing the country closer to a target to lift output to 1.6 million bpd this quarter.

Also supporting prices was a Wednesday report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration that U.S. crude oil stockpiles fell unexpectedly in the week to March 24 to a two-year low. These factors offset bearish sentiment after a lower than expected cut to Russian crude oil production in the first three weeks of March. The 300,000 bpd production decline compared with targeted cuts of 500,000 bpd, or about 5% of Russian output, sources familiar with the data told Reuters. Meanwhile, OPEC+ is likely to stick to its existing deal on reduced oil output at a meeting on Monday, five delegates from the producer group told Reuters. "If all goes as expected, and we manage to avoid a recession, oil prices will dance around $75-$85/bbl in the coming months," FGE analysts said in a note.

☆ Nasdaq's rip higher looks like a bear market rally, says Wolfe's Chris Senyek
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNasdaq's rip higher looks like a bear market rally, says Wolfe's Chris SenyekChris Senyek, chief investment strategist at Wolfe Research, and CNBC's Mike Santoli join 'The Exchange' to discuss the two sides of the bear and bull case, address recession fears, and predict the Fed's next steps.

☆ TSX rises for fifth day as Filo Mining gains
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Johann M Cherian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ET (14:11 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index (.GSPTSE) was up 55.48 points, or 0.28%, at 19,893.13. Filo Mining Corp (FIL.TO) shares rose 4.8% after CIBC started the coverage of the miner with an "outperform" rating and a target price of C$38. Canadian equities are set to end the first quarter at 3% higher if gains hold. "Things are feeling a lot better than they did a few weeks ago, so people are allocating back to equities heading into quarter end," said Greg Taylor, chief investment officer at Purpose Investments. After a recent spike in investor concerns about a financial meltdown, banks (.GSPTXBA) are set to end the quarter down more than 1%.

President Joe Biden has said he will sign the measure if it passes both the Senate and House and reaches his desk. Supporters of repeal also said it recognized that Iraq is no longer an adversary but has become a U.S. security partner. The resolution also would repeal the Gulf War AUMF approved in 1991 after Saddam's Iraq invaded Kuwait. The Iraq AUMFs have been labeled "zombie" authorizations because they never expire but their original purpose no longer applies. In 1971, Congress voted to repeal the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which had provided authority for the Vietnam War.

☆ Oil dips on profit taking, markets debate supply tightness
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Arathy Somasekhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Brent crude closed 37 cents, or 0.5%, lower at $78.28 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude fell 23 cents, or 0.3%, to $72.97. On the supply side, worries of tightness after an unexpected draw in U.S. oil stockpiles and a halt to some Iraqi Kurdistan oil exports were partially offset by a smaller-than-expected output cut in Russia. U.S. crude oil stockpiles fell unexpectedly last week, the Energy Information Administration said, as refineries ramped up operations after maintenance season and U.S. imports fell to a two-year low. Supply concern were, however, eased by reports that Russian oil production fell by around 300,000 bpd in the first three weeks of March, less than the targeted cuts of 500,000 bpd. A stronger greenback hurts oil demand as crude becomes more expensive for buyers who hold foreign currencies.

☆ Oil gains for 3rd day on Kurdish supply concern, easing banking fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Alex Lawler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Crude exports of 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) from Iraq's semi-autonomous northern Kurdistan region were halted on Saturday following an arbitration decision that confirmed Baghdad's consent was needed to ship the oil. "The longer the stoppage continues, the tighter the supply outlook will become," said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM. On Wednesday, Norwegian oil firm DNO said it had begun shutting down production at its fields in Kurdistan. We can see that risk sentiment has recovered to some extent, which pushed (the) global stock markets and crude oil rebound," said CMC Markets analyst Leon Li. Attention will focus on official U.S. inventory data from the Energy Information Administration at 1430 GMT to see if it confirms the crude stock decline.

☆ Oil gains for 3rd day on Kurdish supply concerns, easing banking fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil wells are seen at an oil facility by the Highway 5 near Bakersfield in California, United States on November 27, 2022. Brent crude futures rose 42 cents, or 0.5%, to $79.07 a barrel at 0046 GMT. A drawdown in U.S. crude oil inventories last week also lent support. U.S. crude oil inventories fell by about 6.1 million barrels in the week ended March 24, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Analysts had expected U.S. crude oil stockpiles to have risen last week, while distillate and gasoline inventories were seen down.

☆ Stocks gain, US treasury yields rise as banking fear eases
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Xie Yu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) edged up 0.3% by early morning Hong Kong time. U.S. Treasury yields rose on optimism that stress in the banking sector could be contained and as the Treasury Department saw soft demand for a sale of two-year notes. Benchmark 10-year yields rose to 3.5317%, up from its U.S. close of 3.528% on Monday. Two-year yields rose to 3.957%, up from a six-month low of 3.555% on Friday but below the almost 16-year high of 5.084% hit on March 8. By Tuesday morning Hong Kong time, Brent crude futures and West Texas Intermediate U.S. crude were both hovering around Monday’s closing levels.

ANKARA, March 28 (Reuters) - Turkey's Energy Ministry said on Tuesday that Iraq had been ordered by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to pay compensation to Ankara in a longstanding arbitration case related to oil exports from northern Iraq via Turkey. The Turkish energy ministry statement was released after Iraq's oil ministry said on Saturday the ICC had ruled in its favour in the case. The Turkish statement said the ICC had recognised a majority of Turkey's demands, without saying how much compensation Iraq had been ordered to pay. "(The ICC) ordered Iraq to pay a compensation to Turkey," the ministry said, without revealing the amount of compensation. "This case is in fact a reflection of disagreement between Iraq's central government and Iraq's Kurdish Regional Administration," the Turkish ministry said.

☆ The Nasdaq's really ignoring the credit risk, says Bear Traps' Larry McDonald
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe Nasdaq's really ignoring the credit risk, says Bear Traps' Larry McDonaldLarry McDonald, founder of The Bear Traps Report, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss whether the economy's seen the worst of the fallout from the banking crisis and more.

☆ Technology stocks just flashed their first sell signal since just before the market peaked in November 2021
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Nasdaq 100 just flashed a "sell" signal for the first time since November 2021, according to Fairlead Strategies. The sell signal suggests the stock market will soon roll over, leading to a return of strength in defensive sectors. Outperformance in utilities and health care stocks "would be naturally associated with the next market downdraft," Fairlead's Katie Stockton said. The sell signal was generated on Monday via the Tom DeMark Sequential indicator, which generated a counter-trend "13" sell signal. "The implications of the '13 sell' signal are for a two-week pullback in the Nasdaq 100, but sometimes they yield more lasting reversals."

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