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☆ It looks like Trump might regret RFK Jr.'s campaign
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Madison Hall | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Conventional wisdom suggests that RFK Jr.'s presidential campaign could stop Biden from reelection. Biden leads Trump in an NBC News survey when third-party candidates are in the mix. AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump's allies may end up regretting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s long shot presidential campaign. In the survey, NBC found that a greater share of Trump voters flock to the noted vaccine skeptic's campaign when their presidential choices are expanded beyond just Trump and Biden. Trump leads Biden by 2 points (within the margin of error) in a two-on-two rematch, but the advantage flips to Biden by the same margin when the field is expanded to Biden, Trump, Kennedy, Jill Stein, and Cornel West.

Persons: Biden, Trump, —, Donald Trump's, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, Joe Biden's, Jill Stein, Cornel West, Timothy Mellon, Mike Pence, Democrat — Organizations: RFK Jr, NBC, Service, NBC News, Trump, Biden, Kennedy, GOP, New, Democratic Party, The New York Times, Democrat, Democratic Locations: New York, The

☆ India election: Modi’s Muslim remarks spark ‘hate speech’ accusations as mammoth vote deepens divides
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been accused of delivering Islamophobic remarks during an election rally Sunday, triggering widespread anger from prominent Muslims and members of the opposition. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking during a rally in Sydney, Australia, on May 23, 2023. Kalpit Bhachech/Getty Images Narendra Modi, then BJP secretary is welcomed at Ahmedabad Railway Station by the party's followers on January 31, 1992. Kalpit Bhachech/Dipam Bhachech/Getty Images Narendra Modi pictured in India on January 23, 1998. Brent Lewin/Bloomberg/Getty Images India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on June 22, 2023.

Persons: CNN —, Narendra Modi, Islamophobic, Modi’s, Modi, ”, ” Modi, Matthew Abbott, Hiraben, Damodardas, Dipam Bhachech, Lal Krishna Advani, Subhas Chandra Bose, Kalpit Bhachech, Kalpit, Negi Yasbant, Amit Dave, Ajit Solanki, Kevin Frayer, Saurabh Das, AP Modi, Manish Swarup, Lucas Jackson, Barack Obama, Adrien Helou, Reuters Modi, Adnan Abidi, Stringer, Mark Zuckerberg, David Paul Morris, Marco Longari, Angela Merkel, Tobias Schwarz, Emmanuel Macron, Charles Platiau, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, India's, Jair Bolsonaro, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Amit Shah, Money Sharma, Boris Johnson, Phil Noble, Anthony Albanese, Brent Lewin, Pedro Ugarte, Joe Biden, Doug Mills, Paul Mashatile, Jacoline, Imtiyaz Khan, Amr Alfiky, Rana Ayyub, Asaduddin Owaisi, “ Modi, Mallikarjun Kharge Organizations: CNN, CNN — India’s, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Indian National Congress, of India, India's, New York Times, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Getty, Modi, Hospital, Narendra, India Today, AP, Madison, Garden, Reuters, Washington , D.C, French National Space Agency, of Yoga, Meta, Facebook, Bloomberg, European, Saudi Arabia's Crown, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Kyodo, British, Summit, Qudos Bank, White, Anadolu Agency, Anadolu, United, United Arab Emirates, Sangh, Hindu, “, Hate Locations: Rajasthan, Sydney, Australia, Gujarat, India, Ahmedabad, Ahmadabad, Varanasi, New Delhi, United States, Washington, Washington ,, Toulouse, France, Xian, AFP, Menlo Park , California, U.S, Pretoria, South Africa, China, Berlin, Paris, Rashtrapati, Russian, Brasilia, Glasgow, Red, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, Abu Dhabi, United Arab, BJP, “

☆ Oil prices retreat as U.S. crude build, rate cut concerns come to the fore
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The front month U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude contract for May , which expires on Monday, fell 12 cents to $83.02 a barrel. Iran is the third largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, according to Reuters data. ANZ analysts said in a note that volatility in the Middle East will keep oil markets "jittery". On Saturday, a blast at an Iraqi military base killed a member of a security force that includes Iran-backed groups. Separately, on Sunday, Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah said it downed an Israeli drone that was on a combat mission in southern Lebanon.

Persons: Brent, Tina Teng, Austan Goolsbee Organizations: West Texas, Chicago Federal, Energy, U.S . House, Organization of, Petroleum, ANZ, Hezbollah Locations: Israel, Iran, U.S, Ukraine, China, Iraqi, Sunday, Lebanese, Lebanon, Gaza

☆ Nancy Pelosi says she respects Mike Johnson and hopes Trump isn't 'his puppeteer'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Nancy Pelosi offered muted praise for Speaker Mike Johnson. Pelosi had a famously fraught relationship with fellow Californian and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. AdvertisementFormer Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she respects Speaker Mike Johnson even if she strongly disagrees with his politics, a sign that the top Republican holds some sway with congressional Democrats. AdvertisementThe former speaker told The Atlantic that she viewed Johnson as "a person of integrity," adding she was "not here to criticize him." The expectation is that if Greene follows through with her threat to force a vote on Johnson, standing Democrats will help protect him.

Persons: Nancy Pelosi, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy, —, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Donald Trump, McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, Greene, Paul Gosar of, Thomas Massie of Organizations: Service, Republican, Rep, Georgia Republican, New York Times, Florida Republican, Reps Locations: Georgia, Florida, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Ukraine

☆ Citi upgrades energy sector, says geopolitical tensions could keep oil prices higher for longer
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The energy sector should continue to outperform as oil prices are likely to remain higher for longer on geopolitical risk even without a major escalation in the Middle East, according to Citi. The energy sector has gained 13% this year, outperforming the broader S & P 500 . .GSPE .SPX YTD mountain S & P 500 energy sector outperforms Refinery stock Marathon Petroleum is leading the sector's performance with a gain of 33% year to date. "Our commodity team see higher for longer oil given the geopolitical risk even as a severe escalation seems unlikely." "However, in the short-term, the global reflation theme and tensions in the Middle East are keeping prices supported," the Citi team told clients.

Persons: Dirk Willer Organizations: Citi, Energy, Marathon Petroleum, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Brent Locations: Refinery, Israel, Iran, Rafah, Russia, Saudi Arabia

☆ Kevin McCarthy is haunting Mike Johnson
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

House Speaker Mike Johnson can blame his problems on his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Anyone may have struggled to wrangle this slim Republican majority. He offered three seats on the powerful House Rules Committee to more conservative members. The Rules Committee keeps the House moving, but Johnson has been forced to maneuver around it in the face of likely opposition to major bills. AdvertisementFormer House Speaker Newt Gingrich summed up Johnson's reality rather grimly.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Johnson, Matt Gaetz, McCarthy's, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tom Cole, Cole, We've, George Santos, Santos, Newt Gingrich, it's, he's, Gingrich Organizations: Republican, California Republican, Caucus, Florida Republican, Georgia Republican, Speaker's, Democrats, Pentagon, Oklahoma Republican, Politico, GOP, CNN, Republicans, Rep Locations: California, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma

☆ Why the oil market shrugged as Iran and Israel appeared on the brink of war this week
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. crude oil and global benchmark Brent finished out the week about 3% lower, despite the fact that Iran and Israel traded direct strikes against each other's territory for the first time. Fears that oil prices could shoot to $100 a barrel or above did not materialize. The market has essentially erased the risk premium associated with the Iran-Israel tensions after traders bid up prices last week on war fears. "These skirmishes did not impress the oil markets, which believe that no disruption to oil flows will occur." Papic said a sustained war between Israel and Iran is difficult to imagine and may even be practically impossible.

Persons: Ali Mohammadi, Israel, Manish Raj, John Kilduff, Marko Papic, Papic, Brent, Kilduff, CNBC's Organizations: Persian Gulf, Bloomberg, Getty, Brent, Israel's, Israel, Traders, Velandara Energy Partners, Again, International Atomic Energy Agency, Clocktower Locations: Bandar Abbas, Iran, Israel, U.S, Damascus, Syria, Tehran

☆ In India’s 2024 election, BJP’s main opposition appears increasingly weak in face of Modi juggernaut
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Helen Regan | Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

Supporters of India's opposition party, Indian National Congress, during an election rally in Puducherry on April 15, 2024 R. Satish Babu/AFP/Getty ImagesDemocracy under threat? Dipam Bhachech/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Modi worked his way through the ranks of the BJP, establishing himself as a respected politician. Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty Images Modi hugs French President Emmanuel Macron after a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, on June 3, 2017. Brent Lewin/Bloomberg/Getty Images India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on June 22, 2023. Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images Modi offers a toast during a State Dinner with President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, on June 22, 2023.

Persons: ”, Narendra Modi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Indira Gandhi, Gandhi, ” Hazari Lal Rajput, Satish Babu, Modi, Modi’s, Matthew Abbott, Hiraben, Damodardas, Dipam Bhachech, Lal Krishna Advani, Subhas Chandra Bose, Kalpit Bhachech, Kalpit, Negi Yasbant, Amit Dave, Ajit Solanki, Kevin Frayer, Saurabh Das, AP Modi, Manish Swarup, Lucas Jackson, Barack Obama, Adrien Helou, Reuters Modi, Adnan Abidi, Stringer, Mark Zuckerberg, David Paul Morris, Marco Longari, Angela Merkel, Tobias Schwarz, Emmanuel Macron, Charles Platiau, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, India's, Jair Bolsonaro, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Amit Shah, Money Sharma, Boris Johnson, Phil Noble, Anthony Albanese, Brent Lewin, Pedro Ugarte, Joe Biden, Doug Mills, Paul Mashatile, Jacoline, Imtiyaz Khan, Amr Alfiky, Arati Jerath, “, it’s, Rahul Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Indira, India’s, Jawaharlal Nehru, gunning, ” Modi, shouldn’t, Mohammad Irfan, —, Arvind Kejriwal, Altaf Qadri, Kejriwal, Atishi, you’re, Jerath, Gandhi ‘, ’ Modi, Christophe Jaffrelot, CNN Modi, Rasheed Kidwai, Rahul, Diptendu Dutta, Mamata Banerjee, Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, ” Kidwai, ” Jerath Organizations: CNN, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Indian National Congress, Getty, Democracy, Modi’s BJP, Pew, New York Times, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Modi, Hospital, Narendra, India Today, AP, India's, Madison, Garden, Reuters, Washington , D.C, French National Space Agency, of Yoga, Meta, Facebook, Bloomberg, European, Saudi Arabia's Crown, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Kyodo, British, Summit, Qudos Bank, White, Anadolu Agency, Anadolu, United, United Arab Emirates, Developmental Inclusive Alliance, Indian, Aadmi Party, Delhi, AAP, Aam Aadmi Party, All, Trinamool, West, All India, Congress, “, “ Democracy Locations: India, Uttar Pradesh, Ramlila, Puducherry, Modi’s, Sydney, Australia, Gujarat, Ahmedabad, Ahmadabad, Varanasi, New Delhi, United States, Washington, Washington ,, Toulouse, France, Xian, AFP, Menlo Park , California, U.S, Pretoria, South Africa, China, Berlin, Paris, Rashtrapati, Russian, Brasilia, Glasgow, Red, Ayodhya, Abu Dhabi, United Arab, INDIA, Delhi, India’s, Lok Sabha, Atishi, ”, Manipur, Siliguri, West Bengal, Tamil

☆ What stalled this year’s seemingly infallible stock market rally
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Investors had hoped that corporate earnings would help revive the stalled rally, but a strong start to the season hasn’t been enough to excite investors. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.10% in the week ending April 18, up from 6.88% the previous week, according to Freddie Mac data released Thursday. Mortgage rates are climbing based on expectations that the Federal Reserve won’t cut interest rates anytime soon. The Fed doesn’t directly set mortgage rates, but its actions do influence them, and persistently hot inflation readings are keeping the Fed on hold. If inflation stalls any further, or even worsens, mortgage rates could climb higher this year.

Persons: —, hasn’t, Jerome Powell, “, ”, Michael Landsberg, Pierre, Olivier Gourinchas, Israel, Brent, Bryan Mena, Freddie Mac, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s, Read, Anna Cooban, Tim Cook, Pham Minh Chinh, Cook, Apple “ Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Data, Employers, Fed, Landsberg Bennett, Wealth Management, Monetary Fund, Treasury, Investors, CNN, Federal, China Apple, Vietnamese, Apple Locations: New York, East, Iran, Israel, Syria, Vietnam, China, Hanoi, Beijing

☆ Oil prices get short-lived boost from attack on Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Laura He | Olesya Dmitracova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was down 0.4% at $86.8 per barrel, having earlier spiked more than 3%. The Israeli military has not commented, and Iran has not identified the source of the attack. Iran launched the attack in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria earlier this month. Iran is a big oil producer but exports most of its crude to China because of long-standing international sanctions. Mexico also said earlier this month that it would cut back oil exports because of strong domestic demand.

Persons: Brent, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, ” Neil Shearing, Richard Bronze Organizations: London CNN, CNN, Capital Economics, Organization of, Petroleum, ANZ, United, Nikkei, Kospi, Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Locations: Hong Kong, London, Iranian, Isfahan, East, Iran, Syria, Hormuz, China, United States, Mexico, Asia, Israel, Tel Aviv

☆ A top House Democrat wants to remove Trump's Secret Service protection if he's sent to prison
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Bennie Thompson wants to deprive Donald Trump of Secret Service protection if he's sentenced to prison. As a former president, Trump is entitled to Secret Service protection for life. "Unfortunately, current law doesn't anticipate how Secret Service protection would impact the felony prison sentence of a protectee — even a former President," Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, said in a statement released by his office. One of the biggest concerns would be what happens to Trump's Secret Service detail. The Secret Service also protects major presidential candidates.

Persons: Bennie Thompson, Donald Trump, he's, Trump, —, doesn't, Thompson, Trump's, Stormy Daniels, Joe Biden Organizations: Secret, Service, Mississippi Democrat, New, Trump, Democrat Locations: Mississippi, Manhattan, New York

☆ Israel and Iran: All-out war, or measured retaliation?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Atta Kenare | AFP | Getty Imageswatch nowBut a full-blown conventional war would be devastating to both sides and highly destabilizing for the Middle East. Are these tit-for-tat blows between Israel and Iran clear evidence of all-out war, or carefully calibrated retaliation strikes? "With Israel's apparent strikes on Iran today, retaliating for Iran's attack on Israel last Sunday, we now have a direct nation-on-nation hot war," he told CNBC's "Capital Connection" Friday. 'Ball is back in Iran's court'Not everyone agrees that the line into wider war has been crossed, however. Within hours of the Israeli strikes, risk assets were already on their way back down, with international oil benchmark Brent crude turning lower for the session after a brief spike.

Persons: Atta Kenare, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Ebrahim Raisi, Clay Seigle, CNBC's, Ehud Olmert, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Olmert, Ian Bremmer, Michael Singh, Israel, Rob Casey, Casey Organizations: AFP, Getty, Washington, Rapidan Energy Group, Israeli, Military, Israel, Eurasia Group, National Security Council, Wall Street, Signum Global Advisors, Anadolu, International Atomic Energy Agency, Brent Locations: Palestine Square, Tehran, Israel, Iran, U.S, Damascus, Gulf of Oman, Hormuz, Anadolu

☆ Oil prices jump on escalating tensions in the Middle East after strike on Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Oil prices jumped on Friday while Asian markets tumbled, with global investors worrying about an escalation in conflict in the Middle East after explosions were reported near the Iranian city of Isfahan. Iran launched the attack in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria earlier this month. “Israel’s response could determine whether oil supplies are ultimately under threat.”Elsewhere, ongoing oil disruptions remain high, the analysts added. In Hong Kong, PetroChina, Asia’s largest oil and gas supplier, advanced 2.3%. Sinopec, the world’s largest oil refining company by capacity, rose 1.3%.

Persons: Brent, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, ”, “, Korea’s Kospi, Cosmo Energy Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, ANZ, United, Stock, Nikkei, China’s, Energy, Eneos Corp, Oil Corp Locations: Hong Kong, Iranian, Isfahan, Israel, Iran, Syria, United States, Mexico, Asia, China’s Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul

☆ Oil disruption fears in the Middle East are getting real after reports of an Israel strike on Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewOil prices jumped while stocks sold off after reports of an escalation in Middle East tensions. International benchmark Brent crude oil futures rose as much as 4.2% before trading 2.8% higher at $89.54 a barrel at 11:15 p.m. EDT. The strike on Friday came days after Iran attacked Israel on Saturday with a barrage of more than 300 missiles and drones. Israel didn't claim responsibility for the strike, but Iran held it accountable and vowed retaliation. Oil markets shrugged off Iran's attack on Israel as the market assessed the conflict would remain contained.

Persons: —, Israel didn't, Israel, Kyle Rodda, Rodda Organizations: Service, Brent, US West Texas, Business, ING, Stock Locations: East, Israel, Iran, Iran's, Damascus, Syria

☆ Oil prices jump 3% on reports of explosions in Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

A view of oil-well in action during sunset at Elk Hills Oil Field as gas prices on the rise in California, United States on April 14, 2024. Oil prices jumped more than 3% after unconfirmed reports of explosions near the Iranian city of Isfahan. Iran's Fars news agency reported that explosions were heard near the Isfahan airport, but emphasized that the reasons were unknown. Global benchmark Brent traded 3.63% higher at $90.27 a barrel, while the U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose 3.66% to $85.76 per barrel. Spot gold prices surged to a fresh all-time high of 2,411.09 per ounce, while the yen strengthened 0.45% to 153.93 against the U.S. dollar.

Organizations: Brent, U.S . West Texas, U.S . Locations: Elk, California, United States, Iranian, Isfahan, Iran's Fars, U.S

☆ European markets head for mixed open after Wall Street logs another day of declines
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Crude oil futures fell more than 3% Wednesday as the market dismissed the risk of a wider war between Israel and Iran that could disrupt supplies. The West Texas Intermediate contract for May delivery lost $2.76, or 3.23%, to $82.60 a barrel. June Brent futures were down $2.87, or 3.19%, at $87.15 a barrel. U.S. oil and the global benchmark are down more than 3.5% for the week. "Theories of Iran-Israel tension disrupting oil supplies have fizzled out," said Manish Raj, managing director of Velandera Energy Partners.

Persons: Brent, Manish Raj, — Spencer Kimball Organizations: The West Texas Intermediate, Velandera Energy Partners Locations: Israel, Iran, The, U.S

☆ U.S. oil falls below $83 as war fears ease after Israel refrains from immediate Iran counterattack
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Crude oil futures were mixed Thursday after a selloff earlier in the week as traders discounted fears of a war between Israel and Iran that could disrupt crude supplies. The West Texas Intermediate contract for May delivery added 4 cents, or 0.05%, to settle at $82.73 a barrel. U.S. crude oil had gained nearly 1% to a session high of $83.47 before pulling back. Oil sold off more than 3% Wednesday as Israel has refrained so far from striking back against Iran for the Islamic Republic's unprecedented weekend air assault, reducing fears of a major war in the Middle East. U.S. crude oil and the global benchmark have fallen below the prices reached after Israel's airstrike against Iran's diplomatic compound in Damascus, Syria at the start of the month, the event that triggered the current round of hostilities.

Persons: Brent, we've, Phil Flynn Organizations: The West Texas Intermediate, Oil, Price Futures Group, Israel's Locations: Israel, Iran, The, Damascus, Syria

☆ House conservatives have a special group dedicated to preserving their power. Of course, it's called the FART team.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

House conservatives have organized a crack team to monitor to potential ways to undermine their power. The House Freedom Caucus has formed a Floor Action Response Team. AdvertisementThe far-right House Freedom Caucus has formed a crack team of conservative lawmakers to monitor the House floor lest Speaker Mike Johnson or other Republicans try to limit their power. Massie is also not a member of the Freedom Caucus, whose membership is technically secret, but he does support many of the caucus' broader aims. Gaetz teamed up with seven other House Republicans and House Democrats to boot McCarthy from power.

Persons: —, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, Thomas Massie, Massie, Lauren Boebert, Boebert, I'm, Kevin McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, McCarthy's, Gaetz, McCarthy, Chip Roy, Ralph Norman, Mike Lawler, Lawler Organizations: Service, Politico, Caucus, Freedom Caucus, Georgia Republican, Kentucky Republican, Republican, Colorado Republican, Blaze Media, Republicans, House Democrats, GOP, New York Republican Locations: Georgia, Ukraine, Kentucky, Colorado, Florida

☆ Oil inches up after U.S. reimposes Venezuela oil sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The sun sets beyond an oil pumping unit, also known as a "nodding donkey" or pumping jack, at a drilling site operated by Tatneft OAO near Almetyevsk, Russia. Oil prices rose in early trade on Thursday, slightly paring the previous session's losses after the United States said it would reinstate oil sanctions Venezuela, while the European Union talked of fresh curbs on Iran. The U.S. said it would not renew a license set to expire on Thursday that had broadly eased Venezuela oil sanctions, moving to reimpose punitive measures in response to President Nicolas Maduro's failure to meet his election commitments. Looking to prevent a wider conflict, European Union leaders decided on Wednesday to step up sanctions against Iran. According to JP Morgan estimates, worldwide oil consumption so far in April has averaged 101 million bpd, or 200,000 bpd below its own forecast.

Persons: OAO, Brent, Nicolas Maduro's, Morgan Organizations: ANZ Research, European Union, Iran, The U.S . House, Federal Locations: Almetyevsk, Russia, States, Venezuela, European, Iran, U.S, United States, Israel, The, Ukraine

☆ White House will 'make sure gas prices remain affordable' heading into summer, Biden advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

President Joe Biden's top economic advisor said Thursday that the White House will "make sure gas prices remain affordable" when asked whether the administration would consider tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. We'll continue to monitor closely and want to make sure that those gas prices remain in current ranges," Brainard said. U.S. crude oil hit a high of $87.67 per barrel this year before pulling back to around $83 a barrel. The White House is keeping a close eye on "geostrategic risk" in the Middle East, Brainard said. Daniel Yergin, vice chairman of S&P Global, said oil prices above $90 presents a problem for the broader market.

Persons: Lael Brainard, Joe Biden's, Brainard, Biden, Lloyd Austin, John Podesta, Tuesday Biden, –, Daniel Yergin, It's, Yergin, CNBC's Organizations: AAA, Summit, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, JPMorgan, Brent, P Global Locations: East, Eastern Europe, Israel, Ukraine, Iran

☆ Direct Iran-Israel war could spike oil by $30 to $40, Bank of America says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A direct war between Israel and Iran could lead to substantially higher oil prices through 2025, according to Bank of America. This scenario assumes that Iran's crude oil production falls by up to 1.5 million barrels per day due to the war. Crude oil prices have fallen for three consecutive trading sessions in the wake of Iran's weekend missile and drone assault against Israel. The bank has penciled in the first Fed interest rate cut in December, and oil prices would come down by then though remain elevated. "Should supply losses build up regionally, it may also prove difficult to access spare production capacity, so oil prices would likely settle above $150/bbl for several months," the bank's analysts forecast.

Persons: Brent, Israel, Michael Bloom Organizations: Bank of America, Israel, Bank, Federal, bbl, Israeli Locations: Israel, Iran, OPEC, U.S

☆ Senate Democrats unceremoniously kill Mayorkas impeachment trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

On Wednesday, Senate Democrats voted to declare as unconstitutional both articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas — effectively ending the trial. It put a swift end to what had been a monthslong process by House Republicans, championed originally by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. Democrats agreed with Schumer's move, effectively rendering the articles moot and the trial over before House Republicans could present their case. Senate Republicans were also unsuccessful in their effort to pressure vulnerable Democrats to back their push for a longer trial. Greene forced her colleagues to vote on moving forward with Mayorkas' impeachment last November.

Persons: —, Alejandro Mayorkas —, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Sen, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, he's, Chuck Schumer, Schumer's, Schumer, Eric Schmitt, Ted Cruz, Mitch McConnell, Jon Tester, Montana, Mayorkas, Mike Gallagher, Wisconsin —, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Greene, Mark Green of Organizations: Service, of Homeland, House Republicans, Business, Senators, Missouri Republican, Republicans, Texas Republican, Senate, GOP, White House, Homeland, Democrats, House Homeland Security, Homeland Security Locations: Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Alaska, Utah, Missouri, Texas, Wisconsin, Southern, Mark Green of Tennessee

☆ 'Volatility could explode': The S&P 500 is ripe for a correction as tensions in the Middle East flare and inflation sticks, experts warn. Here's what to do with your money.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Since late October last year, the S&P 500 has risen as much as 27% on strong economic data and excitement about AI. Losses were steepest last week when Iran fired missiles at Israel, exacerbating regional and global tensions. But as more labor market and inflation data has come out, investors now believe a cut is off the table until at least July. The S&P 500 has now dipped below its 20-day moving average, like it did last summer when yields rose above 4.35%. "The VIX, SKEW and Put/Call Ratio all indicate that sophisticated investors are on edge and volatility could explode to 52-week highs in the weeks ahead," Essaye said.

Persons: —, that's, Israel, James Demmert, Demmert, Adam Turnquist, Turnquist, Tom Essaye, Essaye, selloff, Solita, It's, Marcelli, it's Organizations: Service, Business, Brent, Research, Federal Reserve, LPL, MAs, UBS Americas, UBS Global Investment Locations: Iran, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen

☆ Middle East tensions pose the biggest threat to rate cuts, European Central Bank policymaker says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Tensions in the Middle East pose the biggest threat to a prospective interest rate cut from the European Central Bank, according to ECB policymaker Robert Holzmann. "At this stage, I think the biggest threat is geopolitics, because we have seen what's happened in the Middle East," Austrian central bank governor Holzmann told CNBC's Karen Tso on Wednesday. Holzmann singled out ramifications for energy prices as the single most important factor in terms of Europe's fight to tame inflation. "As summer approaches we can start reducing the level of restriction in monetary policy, provided that inflation continues to fall as projected." He recently told Reuters that the ECB could moderate rates in June, indicating a growing consensus for a near-term move.

Persons: Robert Holzmann, Holzmann, Karen Tso, policymaker Olli Rehn, Rehn Organizations: European Central Bank, ECB, International Monetary, Bank of, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Reuters Locations: Austrian, Hormuz, Iran, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Bank of Finland, London

☆ Oil prices dip as demand concerns outweigh Middle East supply fears
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Oil storage drums stacked in the Keihin industrial area of Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, on Monday, April 15, 2024. Oil prices eased in early trade on Wednesday as worries about global demand due to weak economic momentum in China and fading hopes for U.S. interest rate cuts in the near term outweighed supply fears on heightened tensions in the Middle East. Oil prices have softened so far this week as economic headwinds pressured investor sentiment, curbing gains from geopolitical tensions, with eyes on how Israel might respond to Iran's attack on Israeli territory over the weekend. "Demand concerns increased due to expectations that U.S. interest rate cuts are likely to be delayed and weaker-than-expected economic data from China," said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, president of NS Trading, a unit of Nissan Securities. "Since the market had been rising until last week on supply worries amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the relatively restrained Iranian aggression has not provided the ground for buying up," he said.

Persons: Hiroyuki Kikukawa Organizations: Brent, NS, Nissan Securities Locations: Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, China, Israel

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