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☆ China auto industry body 'firmly opposes' EU probe on Chinese EV subsidies, urges objectivity
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Employees work on the assembly line of C11 electric SUV at a factory of Chinese EV startup Leapmotor on April 26, 2023 in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province of China. Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesThe European Union should "objectively" consider China's electric vehicle industry and its highly competitive industrial supply chain, the head of a China automobile industry body on Thursday. This comes a day after the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, unexpectedly launched an "anti-subsidy" investigation into China's EV makers. "The EU should view the development of China's electric vehicle industry objectively, rather than arbitrarily employing unilateral economic and trade tools to restrict the development or increase operating costs of China's electric vehicle products in Europe," he added. He added that Chinese cars exported to Europe are generally retailing at nearly double the prices in mainland Chinese markets.

Persons: Cui Dongshu, Cui, Ursula von der Leyen Organizations: Visual China, Getty, European Commission, European Union, China's, China Passenger Car Association, CNBC, of Locations: Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China, Europe, Strasbourg, EU, U.S, Beijing

Brent crude settled down 1 cent to $90.64 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled down 22 cents to $87.29. "Much of this reduced supply has simply served to offset a major slowdown in global oil demand," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena, Illinois. Meanwhile, Europe is expecting a light refinery maintenance season this autumn as refiners look to profit from high margins, which could support crude demand. The IEA last month lowered its 2024 forecast for oil demand growth to 1 million bpd, citing lacklustre macroeconomic conditions. OPEC's August report, meanwhile, kept its 2.25 million bpd demand growth forecast unchanged.

Persons: Brent, Wally Adeyemo, Jim Ritterbusch, Ras Lanuf, Wood Mackenzie, Naeem Aslam, OPEC's, Robert Harvey, Natalie Grover, Florence Tan, Emily Chow, Emelia Sithole, Andrea Ricci, Chizu Organizations: cnsphoto, REUTERS, West Texas, Monday U.S, Ritterbusch, Associates, U.S, Zaye, European Central Bank, International Energy Agency, Organization of, Petroleum, IEA, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Russia, United States, Galena , Illinois, U.S, Libya, Zueitina, Brega, Es Sidra, Europe

An aerial view shows tugboats helping a crude oil tanker to berth at an oil terminal, off Waidiao Island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China July 18, 2022. cnsphoto via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Oil prices edged lower on Monday after fresh Saudi and Russian crude output cuts had driven prices to 10-month highs last week. The IEA last month lowered its 2024 forecast for oil demand growth to 1 million bpd, citing lacklustre macroeconomic conditions. OPEC's August report, meanwhile, kept its 2.25 million bpd demand growth forecast unchanged. Among economic factors in the spotlight, the European Central Bank (ECB) is due to announce its monthly interest rate decision this week. Reporting by Robert Harvey, Natalie Grover, Florence Tan and Emily Chow Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brent, OPEC's, Naeem Aslam, Robert Harvey, Natalie Grover, Florence Tan, Emily Chow, David Goodman Organizations: cnsphoto, REUTERS, Saudi, U.S, West Texas, International Energy Agency, Organization of, Petroleum, IEA, European Central Bank, European Commission, Zaye, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, United States

☆ Oil prices ease, supply cuts keep Brent above $90 per barrel
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Florence Tan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Brent crude fell 49 cents, or 0.5%, to $90.16 a barrel by 0022 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $86.77 a barrel, down 74 cents, or 0.9%. "Concerns about Chinese economic growth weighed on sentiment across commodities," ANZ analysts said in a note. "The move was exacerbated by a stronger USD, which kept investor appetite low," they added, referring to the greenback which has risen for eight straight weeks. The International Energy Agency and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are due to release their monthly reports this week. "Any sign of strong demand from oil market reports from IEA and OPEC will likely push oil prices higher," ANZ analysts said.

Persons: Brent, Baker Hughes, WTI, Tony Sycamore, Florence Tan Organizations: cnsphoto, REUTERS, Rights, West Texas, ANZ, International Energy Agency, Organization of, Petroleum, OPEC, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, Rights SINGAPORE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, United States, Europe

☆ Qualcomm says it will supply Apple with 5G modems for iPhones through 2026
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Qualcomm said Monday that it will supply Apple with 5G modems for smartphones through 2026. Wall Street analysts and Qualcomm officials had previously said they expected Apple to use an internally developed 5G modem starting in 2024. Qualcomm currently supplies Apple with 5G modems for its iPhones, but Apple has been working to build its own modems to move away from Qualcomm chips. A Qualcomm official said the company was not updating its guidance to take in account the Apple sales. Apple is expected to announce new iPhones, likely called iPhone 15, on Tuesday, which will use Qualcomm modems.

Persons: TechInsights Organizations: Apple, Qualcomm, Wall Street, UBS, Intel, CNBC Locations: Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, China, United States

☆ China's Leapmotor unveils C10 SUV at Munich car show
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Robotic arms assemble cars in the production line for Leapmotor's electric vehicles at a factory in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China, April 26, 2023. China Daily via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsMUNICH, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology (9863.HK) on Monday unveiled the C10 sports utility vehicle at the IAA car show in Munich, adding this would be its first model for global markets. Leapmotor said that it would launch five models for overseas markets in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and America over the next two years. Reporting by Zoey Zhang; Writing by Christoph Steitz; Editing by Miranda MurrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Leapmotor, Zoey Zhang, Christoph Steitz, Miranda Murray Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology, HK, Monday, IAA, Thomson Locations: Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China, Zhejiang, Munich, Europe, Asia, East, America

☆ Tencent, others begin enforcing China's new oversight move on apps
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The moves comply with new rules introduced last month as Beijing tightens oversight of mobile apps in the country. "The Android app stores have confirmed that new apps require the app filings from Friday onwards, and existing apps must have it from March 31 onwards," Rich Bishop, CEO of app publishing firm AppInChina said. "It forces all global apps on these app stores to either establish a local entity or work with a local partner." As of Monday, it is not yet checking apps' filing status, AppInChina said, citing its own checks. The notice also said app stores will have to clearly mark each app's filing status on their platforms.

Persons: Aly, Rich Bishop, AppInChina, Vivo, Tencent's, MIIT, Josh Ye, Brenda Goh Organizations: World Internet Conference, REUTERS, Tencent Holdings, HK, Reuters, Tencent, Huawei Technologies, Apple, Ministry of Industry, Information Technology, Huawei, Xiaomi, Thomson Locations: Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, China, HONG KONG, Beijing

However, in a hopeful sign for growth, conditions did not materially worsen even though the survey showed factories under persistent pressure. China's major manufacturing rivals in the region Japan and South Korea also reported sharp declines in output on Thursday. "It's too early to tell, but today's print suggests that a sequential uptick in growth activity in the third quarter could still be possible," said Louise Loo, senior economist with Oxford Economics. Policymakers remain under pressure to boost domestic demand as the global economy continues to slow. Going forward, "the actual implementation and effectiveness of policy support will be the key indicator to watch," he added.

Persons: It's, Louise Loo, Pan Gongsheng, Frederic Neumann, Bruce Pang, Jones Lang Lasalle, Joe Cash, Qiaoyi Li, Ellen Zhang, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, National Bureau of Statistics, PMI, Oxford Economics, Reuters, People's Bank of, Global Research Asia, HSBC, Jones, Thomson Locations: Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, Rights BEIJING, Japan, South Korea, People's Bank of China, United States, Europe, Asia

India's EV market is small, with Tata Motors (TAMO.NS) dominating sales that made up less than 2% of all cars sold last fiscal year. All sources declined to be identified as the talks are still ongoing and a final decision has not been made. Founded in 2015, Leapmotor has less than 2% share of China's fragmented EV market, where it sells four mass market electric models. This has also forced MG Motor India to find local investors like JSW so it can raise equity. Leapmotor also has been in partnership talks with other major automakers, including Stellantis (STLAM.MI) and Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), according to media reports.

Persons: JSW, Leapmotor, Sajjan Jindal, Aditi Shah, Zhang Yan, Neha Arora, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, DELHI, HK, MG Motor India, China's SAIC Motor Corp, EV, Tata Motors, MG Motor, Ford, JSW, Volkswagen, Thomson Locations: Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China, India, EVs, New Delhi, Shanghai

☆ China's so desperate to get people to marry and have babies, one county is offering $137 as a 'reward' if the bride is 25 years old or under
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A county in China is offering couples a cash reward of $137 if the bride is under 25. The county is also handing out childcare subsidies and benefits, to encourage people to have babies. Recently, a county in eastern China started offering couples 1,000 Chinese yuan, or $137, in cash if the bride is 25 years old or younger, according to a post on its official WeChat account last Thursday. They are even offering free public transport in the county for families with two or more kids under the age of 16. The push for marriage and babies comes after China saw a record low of 6.83 million marriages registered in 2022.

Persons: China's Organizations: Service Locations: China, Wall, Silicon, Changshan, Zhejiang province, Hangzhou, Singapore, South Korea, Japan

☆ Chinese county offers 'cash reward' for couples if bride is aged 25 or younger
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The notice, which was published on Changshan county's official Wechat account last week, said the reward was to promote "age-appropriate marriage and childbearing" for first marriages. It also included a series of childcare, fertility and education subsidies for couples who have children. China's legal age limit for marriage is 22 for males and 20 for females, but the number of couples getting married has been falling. That has driven down birth rates due to official policies which make it harder for single women to have children. ($1 = 7.2900 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Farah Master; Editing by Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: HONG KONG, Changshan, Farah Master, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, HONG

☆ Heavy rains, floods inundate China; Hunan province sees record rain, thousands evacuated
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

More than three thousand people were evacuated in northwestern Hunan province over the weekend as heavy rain was unleashed on Sangzhi, Shimen and Yongshun counties, and Zhangjiajie City, according to state media. It was the most extensive and widespread rain in Sangzhi since 1998, CCTV said. China has been gripped by weeks of rains and floods amid an unusually wet summer. In late July, storms from Typhoon Dokusri caused record rains to hit China in over a decade, with Beijing experiencing its heaviest rainfall in 140 years. There is also uncertainty over Typhoon Saola's path, said China Meteorological Administration, but it will bring heavy rainfall in the coastal areas including Fujian and Zhejiang provinces from Wednesday to Friday.

Persons: Sangzhi, Dokusri, Saola, Bernard Orr, Ethan Wang, Michael Perry Organizations: China Central Television, Beijing, Flood, Drought, Ministry of Emergency Management, China Meteorological Administration, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Hunan, Yongshun, Zhangjiajie City, Sangzhi, China, Guangdong, China's, Fujian, Zhejiang

☆ Amid fierce, bloody fighting in Ukraine, the US and China are training for new ways to get wounded troops away from the frontline
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Intense fighting and high casualties in Ukraine have raised new challenges for military medicine. This summer, the US and Chinese militaries both trained on new ways to evacuate wounded troops. Since the Korean War, US soldiers have become accustomed to rapid "medevac" by purpose-built medical vehicles, ships, or aircraft. US Marines conduct medical evacuation drills during an exercise in Bulgaria in August 2018. "This is the first time mobile air forces were introduced in a medical exercise," said Su Xingliang, head of the coastal defense brigade's support department.

Persons: Lance Cpl, Angel D, Travis US, Amy Picard, Su Xingliang, Sun Fei, Diego Herrera Carcedo Organizations: Service, US Marine Corps, US Air Force, Guardian, Air Force Times, New Zealand Air Force, Global Times, Chinese Communist Party, Getty, American College of Surgeons, Anadolu Agency, Artillery Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Korean, China, Bulgaria, Pacific, Beijing, South, Zhejiang Province, Taiwan, Xinhua, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, Ukrainian, Zaporizhzhya

Brent crude rose 15 cents, or 0.2%, to $83.36 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 16 cents, or 0.2%, to $79.05 a barrel. Prices traded lower for the majority of the session, before pushing higher in the last half hour of trading. Investor caution on the eve of his remarks lifted the safe-haven dollar, which makes oil more expensive for holders of other currencies, denting demand. Euro zone business activity also declined more than expected and Britain's economy looked set to shrink in the current quarter. On the supply side, Iran's crude oil output will reach 3.4 million barrels per day (bpd) by the end of September, the country's oil minister was quoted as saying by state media, even though U.S. sanctions remain in place.

Persons: Brent, Giovanni Staunovo, Jackson, Jerome Powell, Craig Erlam, Erlam, Shariq Khan, Ahmad Ghaddar, Mohi Narayan, Kim Coghill, David Evans, David Gregorio, Deepa Babington Organizations: cnsphoto, REUTERS, bbl, U.S, Fed, West Texas, UBS, U.S . Federal, Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, BENGALURU, Europe, New York, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, U.S ., Japan, Venezuela, American

Brent crude fell 16 cents, or 0.2%, to $83.05 a barrel by 11:41 a.m. EDT (1541 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 12 cents, or 0.2%, to $78.77 a barrel. "Disappointing data and nerves that the Federal Reserve could reinforce a hawkish stance are weighing on oil," said Fiona Cincotta, analyst at City Index. On the supply side, Iran's crude oil output will reach 3.4 million barrels per day (bpd) by the end of September, the country's oil minister was quoted as saying by state media, even though U.S. sanctions remain in place. U.S. crude inventories (USOILC=ECI) fell by 6.1 million barrels in the week to Aug. 18 to 433.5 million barrels, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 2.8 million-barrel drop.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Brent, Fiona Cincotta, Jackson, Powell, Shariq Khan, Ahmad Ghaddar, Mohi Narayan, Kim Coghill, David Evans, David Gregorio Our Organizations: cnsphoto, REUTERS, Fed, U.S . Federal, . West Texas, Federal, Wednesday Japan, Federal Reserve, Organization of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, BENGALURU, U.S, American, Saudi Arabia

China operates talent programs at various levels of government, targeting a mix of overseas Chinese and foreign experts. China has previously said its overseas recruitment through the TTP aimed to build an innovation-driven economy and promote talent mobility, while respecting intellectual property rights, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. It said that anyone who recommends a candidate who is then selected for the talent programs would receive "diamonds, bags, cars, and houses". In some cases, these people said, those experts will be offered roles at Chinese chip companies' overseas operations. ($1 = 7.1475 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Julie Zhu, Fanny Potkin, Eduardo Baptista and Michael Martina; editing by David CrawshawOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Florence Lo, Xi Jinping, Qiming, Dean Boyd, Nick Marro, Chen Biaohua, Chen, Ma Yuanxiao, Dawei Di, Di, Zhuji, Julie Zhu, Fanny Potkin, Eduardo Baptista, Michael Martina, David Crawshaw Organizations: REUTERS, Washington, Reuters, China, Ministry of Industry, Information Technology, U.S . Commerce Department, Xinhua, Ministry of Science, Technology, U.S, government's National Counterintelligence and Security Center, Economist Intelligence, China Center for Information Industry Development, China Semiconductor Industry Association, Qiming, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard, Stanford, HK, LinkedIn, Hangzhou Juqi Technology, Fortune, Beijing Institute of Technology, BIT's School of Integrated Circuits, Electronics, Britain's University of Nottingham, University of Hong, BIT, Communist Party's Organization Department, Zhejiang University, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: China, HONG KONG, SINGAPORE, WASHINGTON, U.S, China's, Qiming, Beijing, Hangzhou, ResearchGate, University of Hong Kong, Ma, Zhejiang, Wenzhou, Cambridge

☆ China launches 'unprecedented' crackdown on its healthcare industry amid economic woes
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —China has launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign targeting its hospitals, pharmaceutical industry and insurance funds as it grapples with mounting economic challenges and long-standing public frustration about high costs in the behemoth healthcare sector. Some areas have set up hotlines for phoning in tips about corruption in the sector, according to state media. At least one state media report has described the campaign as “unprecedented in the depth, breadth and intensity” of targeting the healthcare sector. Despite wide health insurance coverage, absolute costs of healthcare can be a heavy burden for many in China. “Given the economic slowdown and the shrinking fiscal revenue, the debt-ridden local governments really don’t have the capabilities to invest more in the medical sector and corruption continues to be an issue,” said Huang.

Persons: That’s, Xi Jinping, Ren Jianming, Yanzhong Huang, ”, Huang, Jade Gao, Xi Chen, ” Chen, Winning Health Technology Group’s, Zhou Wei, Sun Ningling, ” “ Organizations: CNN, behemoth, Communist Party, China News Service, Center for Integrity Research, Education, China’s Beihang University, Publishing, Council, Foreign Relations, Getty Images, Yale School of Public Health, Getty, Health Commission, NHC, Central Commission, CSI, Reuters, Shanghai Serum, Winning Health Technology, Peking University People’s Hospital Locations: China, Yunnan, Shanghai, Beijing, Zhejiang, United States, New York, AFP, Guangzhou, Shenzhen

A man walks past a sign of Geely's new premium electric vehicle (EV) brand Zeekr at its factory in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China April 15, 2021. Geely in December said Zeekr had confidentially filed for a U.S. IPO, without detailing size or listing date. If successful, a $1 billion IPO would be the largest U.S. listing by a Chinese firm for over two years since ride-hailing giant Didi raised $4.4 billion in mid 2021. Geely, formally Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (GEELY.UL), established Zeekr in April 2021 to tap into increasing Chinese demand for high-end EVs. ($1 = 7.2883 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Julie Zhu in Hong Kong and Scott Murdoch in Sydney; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: HONG KONG, Geely, Zeekr, Didi, Andy, Julie Zhu, Scott Murdoch, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Yilei, U.S, Zhejiang Geely Holding, Thomson Locations: Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China, HONG, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Singapore, London , New York, Boston , California, U.S, Zhejiang, Netherlands, Sweden, Israel, Kazakhstan, Sydney

☆ Factbox: China's incumbent and upcoming LNG traders
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Chen Aizhu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker is tugged towards a thermal power station in Futtsu, east of Tokyo, Japan November 13, 2017. Below is a list of China's main gas traders and their operations globally, according to information from company sources and traders. In May, PCI became the first Chinese firm to gain long-term access to gas storage at a European gas terminal. CNOOC also plans to create a London desk in the coming year or two, following PCI and Unipec. Sumitomo Corp (8053.T), which has a desk to trade piped gas in London is considering expanding into LNG trading, said a company spokesperson.

Persons: Issei Kato, Keith Martin, Wang Bingsi, CNOOC, Norinco, ENN, Chen Aizhu, Yuka Obayashi, Florence Tan, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, PetroChina International, PCI, London, Gazprom, China National Offshore Oil Company, Gas Co, ENN, LNG, Beijing Gas, Zhejiang Energy, Zhejiang Energy Zhejiang Energy, Exxon Mobil, Mexico, China Gas Holding, China Gas, JOVO Energy, Privately, SOUTH, Mitsubishi Corp, Marubeni Corp, Tokyo Gas, Korea's SK E, Sumitomo Corp, Thomson Locations: Futtsu, Tokyo, Japan, London, Singapore, Beijing, Dubai, Houston, Sinopec, China, Jiangsu province, ENN, U.S, Hebei, Shenzhen, CNOOC, Zhejiang Energy Zhejiang, Zhejiang, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, HK, Guangxi province, Yantai, Shandong province, Guangdong, Guangzhou, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, Asia

An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 86 cents, or 1.1%, to settle at $81.25 a barrel, and Brent crude futures rose 68 cents, or 0.8%, to settle at $84.80 a barrel. Those concerns, spurred on by output cuts from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, helped oil prices gain for seven straight weeks since June. Higher borrowing costs can impede economic growth and in turn reduce overall demand for oil. Hatfield said he expects demand to hold up in China despite its slowing economy and forecast oil prices would trade between $75 to $90 a barrel over the coming months.

Persons: Brent, WTI, Rob Haworth, Haworth, Jay Hatfield, Hatfield, Shariq Khan, Natalie Grover, Paul Carsten, Sudarshan, Shri Navaratnam, Jamie Freed, Conor Humphries, Jane Merriman, Barbara Lewis, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, West Texas, Brent, Organization of, Petroleum, U.S, Bank Asset Management, U.S . Federal Reserve, Infrastructure Capital Management, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, BENGALURU

An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. "Prices are likely to remain range-bound for now," Haworth said, adding that demand is in question for investors worried by the weak data from China. Higher borrowing costs can impede economic growth and in turn reduce overall demand for oil. Oil benchmarks were further depressed by seasonal demand weakness heading into the autumn, said Jay Hatfield, CEO of Infrastructure Capital Management. Hatfield said he expects demand to hold up in China despite its slowing economy and forecast oil prices would trade between $75 to $90 a barrel over the coming months.

Persons: Brent, Rob Haworth, Haworth, Jay Hatfield, Hatfield, WTI, Natalie Grover, Paul Carsten, Sudarshan, Shri Navaratnam, Jamie Freed, Conor Humphries, Jane Merriman, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . West Texas, U.S, Bank Asset Management, U.S . Federal Reserve, Infrastructure Capital Management, Organization of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, BENGALURU, U.S, London, Singapore

An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. China Daily via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies United States of America FollowSINGAPORE, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Oil prices looked set to snap a seven-week winning streak on Friday as concerns about China's slowing economic growth and the possibility of more U.S. interest rate hikes outweighed signs of tightening supply. Investors fret that higher borrowing costs could impede economic growth and in turn reduce overall demand, including for oil. Data released this week also showed that U.S. crude oil inventories fell by nearly 6 million barrels last week on strong exports and refining run rates. Despite recent economic weaknesses, China made a rare draw on crude oil inventories in July, the first time in 33 months it has dipped into storage.

Persons: Brent, Sudarshan Varadhan, Shri Navaratnam, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Companies United, U.S . West Texas, U.S, Federal, U.S . Labor Department, Organization of, Petroleum, ANZ Research, ANZ, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, Companies United States, America, SINGAPORE, U.S

An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. The U.S. Federal Reserve's focus on containing inflation amid stronger-than-expected economic data was keeping a lid on oil prices. That report followed similarly upbeat economic data earlier in the week, including U.S. retail sales, which all suggested the Fed may have to stick with higher rates for longer. Adding to the concerns, a recent batch of economic data from China, the world's second largest oil consumer, has highlighted the rapid loss in economic momentum there since the second quarter. However, China made a rare draw on crude oil inventories in July, the first time in 33 months it has dipped into storage.

Persons: Brent, Sudarshan, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . West Texas, U.S, Federal, U.S . Labor Department, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China

An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. Weekly products supplied, a proxy for demand, rose to the highest since December. Higher interest rates increase borrowing costs, which could slow economic growth and reduce oil demand. On a bullish note, China made a rare draw on crude oil inventories in July, the first time in 33 months it has dipped into storage. Data released on Wednesday showed that U.S. crude oil inventories fell by nearly 6 million barrels last week on strong exports and refining run rates.

Persons: Dennis Kissler, Naeem Aslam, OANDA's Moya, Arathy Somasekhar, Natalie Grover, Katya Golubkova, David Goodman, Christina Fincher, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Brent, . West Texas, BOK Financial, Travel, Energy, Zaye, Markets, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, Independence, U.S, China's, Houston, London, Singapore

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