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☆ U.S. producer prices unexpectedly fall in March
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Hannah BeierWASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - U.S. producer prices unexpectedly fell in March as the cost of gasoline declined, and there were signs that underlying producer inflation was subsiding. The annual PPI rate is subsiding as last year's large increases drop out of the calculation. Goods prices fell 0.3% in February. Excluding the volatile food and energy components, core goods prices rose 0.3% after a similar gain in February. Excluding food, energy and trade services components, producer prices gained 0.1% in March.

Administration officials believe the U.S. and global economy has now entered a more predictable, less volatile phase. This year, gasoline prices have stabilized at lower levels, U.S. oil production is approaching record highs and the job market, while still strong, is cooling down along with inflation, administration officials say. The OPEC move could complicate Biden's efforts to tame nagging inflation and dampen gasoline prices at home, according to multiple interviews with U.S. officials and analysts. The recent U.S. banking crisis has added another layer of uncertainty to global and U.S. forecasts as well, forecasters warn. Discussions with refiners about expanding capacity or limiting fuel exports have dried up since last summer, oil executives told Reuters.

☆ 3 signals that show a US recession is farther away than most investors think
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Recent economic data suggests a US recession is farther away than most investors think. A rebound in gasoline demand and calmness in the bond market are sending bullish signals about the economy. Gasoline demand has reboundedDemand for gasoline in the US turned positive in March, jumping 3.8% year-over-year. The rebound in gasoline demand has been buoyed by a near 20% decline in gasoline prices. The rebound in gasoline demand is a reversal of recent trends, as gasoline demand was consistently tracking below the prior year's levels.

The buying came as OPEC+ announced cuts totalling more than 1 million barrels per day on April 2 and after fund managers had already purchased 61 million barrels the previous week. Purchases centred on crude, in both Brent (+73 million barrels) and NYMEX and ICE WTI (+60 million barrels), with small sales of European gas oil (-2 million) and U.S. diesel (-3 million) and no change in U.S. gasoline. CRUDE SQUEEZEWith its surprise announcement, OPEC+ successfully squeezed the shorts in crude petroleum, with bearish positions reduced to the lowest for 11 weeks since late January. Since March 21, funds have purchased a total of 174 million barrels of crude, the fastest rate since December 2019 and before that September 2017. Bearish short positions were cut by 113 million barrels while fund managers added 61 million barrels of new bullish long positions.

The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card is still available as an upgrade from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card . You can find Priority Pass lounges and restaurants by searching for your airport on the Priority Pass website or through the Priority Pass app. Priority Pass LoungesTypically, airport lounges in the Priority Pass network are off-limits to the general public unless you have access through a membership, airline ticket, elite status, or via a paid day pass. Priority Pass Restaurants, Cafés, Spas, and MoreIn addition to airport lounges, the Priority Pass network includes restaurants and cafés at airports like Houston (IAH) and San Francisco (SFO). Credit Cards With Priority Pass Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Is Priority Pass membership automatic when you open an eligible credit card?

☆ These are the best credit cards for large purchases
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Andrew Kunesh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

Here, we’ll break down 6 of the best credit cards for large purchases. We’ve broken the list down by cards best for purchase protection, financing and other benefits so you can find the best credit card for your next large purchase. 6 of the best credit cards for large purchasesJust because a card is listed as one of the best in this article doesn’t mean it’s the best for your large purchase or financial situation. Aeroplan Credit Card: Best bonus for $20K+ purchasesThe Aeroplan Credit Card has various spending bonuses. Find out which cards CNN Underscored chose as its best travel credit cards currently available.

This marked a sharp turnaround after fund managers sold a total of 281 million barrels over the two preceding weeks, the fastest rate of selling for almost six years. Most of the buying came from the closure of previous bearish short positions (-48 million barrels) rather than initiation of new bullish longs (+13 million). Buying was concentrated in NYMEX and ICE WTI (+49 million barrels), U.S. gasoline (+14 million), U.S. diesel (+5 million) and European gas oil (+1 million) with sales of Brent (-9 million). Short positions in NYMEX and ICE WTI were slashed (-51 million barrels) but no new bullish positions were established and in fact long positions were trimmed marginally (-2 million). U.S. GAS POSITIONSFund managers are becoming less bearish about the outlook for U.S. gas prices following the full re-opening of Freeport LNG’s export terminal.

Big gas producers including Chesapeake Energy Corp (CHK.O) and Comstock Resources Inc (CRK.N) are reducing their drilling. "About a third of U.S. gas production is associated gas - produced from oil wells," said Jacques Rousseau, a managing director at research firm ClearView Energy Partners LLC. Gas from the Permian also has climbed to record highs every month this year. PRODUCTION REMAINS STICKYU.S. gas production remains on track to hit 100.67 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) this year, up from last year's record 98.09 bcfd, according to the U.S. government. Despite low gas prices, U.S. drillers have 160 rigs seeking gas up 16% from a year ago, according to data from Baker Hughes Co (BKR.O).

The Hilton Honors American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card , and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card are offering a higher number of points than usual, but these offers are about to disappear. Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Details Rewards Earn 12x Hilton Honors Points at Hilton per dollar for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card. The best Hilton card for you depends on your spending habits and how often you stay with Hilton.

March 31 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs, with the quarterly count dropping for the first time since 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co (BKR.O) said in its closely followed report on Friday. U.S. oil rigs fell one to 592 this week, while gas rigs decreased two to 160. For the month, the total oil and gas rig count rose two rigs, the first monthly increase since November. For the quarter, the total oil and gas rig count fell by 24 rigs, the first quarterly decline since the third quarter of 2020. The drop in gas prices has already caused some exploration and production companies, including Chesapeake Energy Corp (CHK.O), Southwestern Energy Co (SWN.N) and Comstock Resources Inc (CRK.N), to announce plans to reduce production by cutting some gas rigs.

☆ South Korea delays decision on energy price hikes for Q2
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, March 31 (Reuters) - South Korea will announce higher electricity and natural gas prices for the second quarter in the next few days, the energy ministry said on Friday, after the government failed to reach an agreement with parliament on the new rates. It cited people's living conditions, global energy prices, possible impacts on inflation and the local bond market, and the financial standing of public enterprises as factors to be considered for the decision. In the first quarter, South Korea raised electricity prices by 9.5%, which was the biggest hike in four decades, to reflect a surge in global energy prices. Gas prices were kept steady. Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WASHINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed a Republican energy reform bill intended to bolster U.S. oil and gas production while scaling back climate initiatives, the first major legislation of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's majority. The House passed the Lower Energy Costs Act by a mostly partisan 225-204 vote. The bill would deliver on a top 2022 Republican campaign pledge to lower Americans' energy costs but faces little chance of making it through the Democratic-led Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has declared it "dead on arrival." "The Senate is not going to waste our time on a bill that sets America back decades on our transition to clean energy," Schumer said in a Senate speech shortly before the House vote. Party disagreement over the House bill partly reflected gaping divisions over how to streamline permitting for energy projects, a goal otherwise shared by both Republicans and Democrats.

☆ Australia's biggest pension funds cut China exposure, buy fossil fuels
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SYDNEY, March 30 (Reuters) - Two of Australia's largest pension funds pulled money out of Chinese stocks and boosted positions in the country's fossil fuel sector in the final six months of 2022, according to filings published on Thursday. Both funds collectively increased their shareholdings in Woodside Energy Group (WDS.AX), Australia's largest independent natural gas producer, by roughly 14 million shares. The disclosures come just days after activist investors accused the big Australian pension funds of failing to push fossil fuel producers like Woodside hard enough to decarbonise. The figures reveal pension funds pulling back from China during the back half of 2022, a time when investors across the developed world were reconsidering exposure to a country still subject to strict COVID lockdowns. Aware Super said in a statement it had a "relatively small exposure" to China mostly via external managers.

☆ 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.

☆ Factbox: EU keeps on doing business with Russia despite sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Here is a list of areas where the EU keeps on doing business with Russia. TRADE FLOWSIn 2021, Russia was the EU's fifth-largest trading partner with goods exchange worth 258 billion euros, according to the EU executive European Commission. Since the invasion in 2022, the value of EU imports from Russia fell by a half to around 10 billion euros last December. Gas is not covered by EU sanctions, but Moscow slashed pipeline deliveries to Europe since the invasion. The EU imported 2.1 billion euros worth of nickel in 2021, up to 3.2 billion euros last year, according to Eurostat.

Hedge funds and other money managers sold the equivalent of 142 million barrels in the six most important contracts in the seven days ending on March 21, after selling 139 million barrels in the week to March 14. Fund managers have slashed their combined position to just 289 million barrels (6th percentile for all weeks since 2013) from 570 million (46th percentile) on March 7. The fund community liquidated 163 million barrels of previous bullish long positions in the two most recent weeks, while establishing 115 million barrels of new bearish short ones. The most recent week saw heavy sales across the board, including Brent (-63 million barrels), NYMEX and ICE WTI (-48 million), U.S. gasoline (-15 million), U.S. diesel (-6 million) and European gas oil (-10 million). Anticipating the erosion of the surplus, funds have bought the equivalent of 774 billion cubic feet in the last seven weeks.

Best 5% Cash Back Credit Cards of April 2023Read on to see our picks for the best 5% credit cards and learn which ones best suit your needs. 5% Cash Back Credit Cards Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Is there a credit card that earns 5% cash back on everything? Compare the Best 5% Cash Back Credit Cards Chase Freedom Flex℠Discover it® Cash BackCiti Custom Cash℠ CardU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® CardInk Business Cash® Credit Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. US Bank Cash Plus card reviewBest for Small Business PurchasesInk Business Cash Credit CardIn some respects, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card crushes others on this list. The main drawback of the Ink Business Cash® credit card is its limited selection of 5% cash back categories.

Best 5% Cash Back Credit Cards of May 2023Read on to see our picks for the best 5% credit cards and learn which ones best suit your needs. 5% Cash Back Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Is there a credit card that earns 5% cash back on everything? Compare the Best 5% Cash Back Credit Cards Chase Freedom Flex℠Discover it® Cash BackCiti Custom Cash℠ CardU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® CardInk Business Cash® Credit Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. US Bank Cash Plus Card ReviewBest for Small Business PurchasesInk Business Cash Credit CardIn some respects, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card crushes others on this list. Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card ReviewHonorable MentionStore Credit CardsIf you do a high volume of spending with a single retailer, then a store credit card may be your best option.

☆ The banking crisis is doing Fed's work and creating a window for stocks to rally
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

Work from home has in part jacked up food prices, and the increase is about 14% above just last year. The only bank that looks like Silicon Valley Bank is First Republic Bank (FRC) because it, too, has suffered huge deposit withdrawals. Nike (NKE)said China orders were good, so did Club stock Starbucks (SBUX). As counterintuitive as it is, the banking row will give the 4.8% fed funds rate a chance to cool consumer spending. This gives stocks a window to advance until we begin earnings season with what will no doubt be a cautious banking sector.

☆ Best Credit Card for Gas and Groceries
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

That’s why we named this card our Best Gas Card for Online Shoppers. For new card members, the Blue Cash Everyday Card offers a $200 cash back bonus. This card, our Best Overall pick for the Best Gas Credit Card, offers 3 points per dollar on restaurants, gas stations and a handful of other categories. Our Gas Credit Card Credit Card MethodologyTo review Best Gas Credit Cards, Buy Side from WSJ looked for cards that offered 3% or greater rewards on gas purchases. To find out more about how we choose credit cards—and to meet our panel of experts—you can check out Buy Side from WSJ’s full best credit cards methodology.

Working stocks in underground storage amounted to 1,900 billion cubic feet on March 17, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the highest for the time of year since 2020 and before that 2017. Stocks were 242 billion cubic feet (+15% or +0.54 standard deviations) above the prior ten-year seasonal average (“Weekly natural gas storage report”, EIA, March 23). The seasonal storage surplus was a total transformation from a deficit of 263 billion cubic feet (-8% or -0.98 standard deviations) on Jan. 1 and 427 bcf (-13% or -1.52 standard deviations) on Sept. 9. But liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports increased to a record 3,866 billion cubic feet, an even faster increase of 8.6% compared with 2021. Related columns:- U.S. gas prices near record low amid over-production (Feb. 22)- U.S. gas prices slump to maximise power burn (Feb. 10)- U.S. gas prices slump on production surplus (Jan. 12)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

☆ Ford’s path to electric glory requires rocket fuel
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Jonathan Guilford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, March 23 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Ford Motor (F.N) has set itself a destination: to be a leader in electric vehicles. The U.S. auto manufacturer disclosed the losses generated by its EV business, now called Ford Model e. Investors can now better see how ambitious this journey is. Model e generated an operating loss of $2.1 billion in 2022, steeper than 2021’s hit of roughly $900 million. The automaker reiterated guidance that its electric car business, known as Ford Model e, will generate 8% operating profit margins by late 2026, from a margin of negative 41% in 2022. The company expects to reach run-rate production of 2 million electric vehicles by the end of 2026, from 96,000 last year.

LONDON, March 22 (Reuters) - Portfolio investors dumped petroleum futures and options at one of the fastest rates on record in the early stages of the banking crisis, as traders anticipated an increased probability of a recession hitting oil consumption. Hedge funds and other money managers sold the equivalent of 139 million barrels in the six most important futures and options contracts over the seven days ending March 14. Fund managers have sold a total of 148 million barrels since the end of January, taking their combined position to 432 million barrels (20th percentile for all weeks since 2013). In the most recent week, there were heavy sales of Brent (-65 million barrels), NYMEX and ICE WTI (-59 million), U.S. gasoline (-12 million) and European gas oil (-7 million), with only minor buying of U.S. diesel (+4 million). Related column:- U.S. bank failure places oil prices under pressure (March 13, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

☆ The best credit card for each type of purchase
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Jennifer Yellin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Since every credit card earns a different amount of points on your common category purchases, the bonus points earned might persuade you to get one credit card over another. Fortunately, there’s a credit card out there for every type of purchase. Let’s check out some of the best credit card to use for all of your spend categories. Best credit cards for each category purchase in 2023While the cards listed here are some of our favorites for their respective categories, they might not be the best for your needs. American Express Gold Card: Best for restaurantsThe Amex Gold card earns 4 points per dollar at restaurants in the U.S. and abroad.

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