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☆ Gas prices have surged 40 cents in a month
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But something unusual is happening this year: Gas prices are rocketing higher. Although that’s a far cry from the record of $5.02 a gallon last June, gas prices have increased by 12 cents in the past week and 40 cents in the past month. AAA says some states have experienced much bigger gains over the past month, including Colorado (95 cents), Georgia (68 cents), Delaware (63 cents), Florida (60 cents) and Ohio (59 cents). That helps explain why gas prices in Colorado have surged by nearly $1 a gallon over the past month. Oil prices bounce off lowsBeyond the refinery problems, oil prices have crept higher, helping to drive prices at the pump northward.

☆ Aviation's best bet for cutting emissions is a new kind of fuel — but there's nowhere near enough of it
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Bianca Giacobone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sustainable aviation fuel can be up to 80% less carbon intensive than conventional jet fuel. The US wants 3 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel by 2030. Sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, is similar to conventional jet fuel, but it's much less carbon-intensive during its full lifecycle. From production to combustion, it releases up to 80% less carbon dioxide than conventional jet fuel, according to data from the International Air Transport Association. "There are very few that have seen the vision" of converting to SAF production.

☆ Chevron annual profit doubles to record $36.5 billion, but misses estimates
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Chevron on Friday posted a record $36.5 billion profit for 2022 that was more than double year-earlier earnings but fell shy of Wall Street estimates, undercut by asset writedowns and a retreat in oil and gas prices. The second largest U.S. oil producer's adjusted net profit for 2022 beat by about $10 billion its previous record set in 2011. But $1.1 billion in writedowns in its international oil and gas operations in the fourth quarter left earnings short of forecasts for an adjusted net profit of $37.2 billion. High prices from strong demand and shortages since Russia's invasion of Ukraine position Western energy firms to show a combined $200 billion profit for the year, according to analysts. In the final quarter, Chevron posted adjusted earnings of $7.9 billion, or $4.09 per share, up 61% from a year ago.

Jet fuel this year will be the largest source of oil demand growth, says the International Energy Agency, which monitors energy consumption. In Singapore, jet fuel is trading around $122.30 per barrel, up 14% in the last two weeks. "Overall, we expect jet demand to increase significantly this year," he told an earnings call on Thursday, as air travel continues to rise. U.S. jet fuel inventories ended last year at 34 million barrels, the lowest since 1990, according to U.S. government data. Total jet fuel supplied, a proxy for demand, stood at 1.56 million barrels per day in 2022, the highest since 2019.

The U.S. Pentagon presented its best arguments, publicly and privately, against sending Abrams - its most advanced battle tanks - to Ukraine. The reversal ended a rare public division in the alliance that Washington officials feared Moscow could exploit. TANK DELIVERIES LIKELY MONTHS AWAYIn Washington, senior U.S. officials had privately expressed consternation at Germany's attempts to tie the Abrams tanks to delivery of the Leopards. He also discussed the issue in multiple phone conversations with Biden this month, senior Biden administration officials said. But at one point during Austin's trip, Washington asked Berlin to stop publicly tying Germany's approval of the Leopard tanks to the Biden administration sending Abrams tanks.

☆ Germany sending Leopard tanks to Ukraine, ending rift among Western allies
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Patrick-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Patrick Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Ukrainian military leaders have said they need hundreds of the tanks to break through Russian defenses. Germany has more than 300 active Leopard tanks and more in storage. Several countries use Leopard tanks, including Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden. “The question is whether 100 tanks of different varieties will be enough to eject Russian forces from Ukraine. The deployment of Leopard tanks was the most significant, he said, because of its conventional diesel-powered engine, as opposed to the Abrams tanks, which are powered by jet fuel.

The decisions by Washington and Berlin come as the Western allies help Ukraine prepare for a possible spring counter-offensive to try to drive Russia out of territory it has seized. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any Abrams shipments would be a waste of money as they "burn" like other tanks in Ukraine. The total cost of a single Abrams tanks can vary, and can be over $10 million per tanks when including training and sustainment. "I am certain that many experts understand the absurdity of this idea," the Kremlin's Peskov said about the Abrams tanks. "The United States was willing to make a significant commitment to assist them in making theirs," the source said.

WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The United States, in a reversal, appears to be dropping its opposition to sending M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine and an announcement could come as soon as this week, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Tuesday. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they were not aware of a final U.S. decision to send the Abrams to Ukraine, a move that could encourage Germany to follow. Such a decision by the United States would come just days after Washington argued against sending the Abrams, despite demands from Kyiv and public pressure from Berlin as it faced calls to send German-made Leopard battle tanks. Ukraine says heavily armored Western battle tanks would give its troops more mobility and protection ahead of a new Russian offensive that Kyiv expects in the near future. The disclosure about the softening U.S. position came the same day that Poland said it had submitted a formal request asking Germany to allow the re-export of its Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine.

☆ Western defense leaders meet amid dissent over tanks for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Russia is regrouping, recruiting and trying to re-equip,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned as the meeting opened. We need to dig even deeper,” Austin told the gathering of as many as 50 defense leaders who were attending in person and by video. The U.S. has also declined, at least so far, to provide M1 Abrams tanks, citing the extensive and complex maintenance and logistical challenges with the high-tech vehicle. The United Kingdom announced last week that it would send Challenger 2 tanks, describing it as a natural progression of military aid to Ukraine. At a Pentagon briefing Thursday, spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said the Leopard and Challenger aren’t comparable to the Abrams tanks because the Abrams is much harder to maintain and wouldn’t be a good fit.

☆ China's recovery may mean the Fed will have to hike rates longer
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, CHINA - Tourists pose for a photo at the Shanghai Disney Resort as the resort kicked off a month of festivities from January 13 to February 10 to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. As the end of China's stringent Covid restrictions quickens the country's economic recovery, concerns about pent-up Chinese demand — and the inflation that may follow — could mean bad news for the U.S. Federal Reserve. "In our view ... a stronger China increases the chances of a stubbornly hawkish Fed," Tavis McCourt, institutional equity strategist at Raymond James, said in his 2023 Outlook. With activity expected to pick up from China, demand for a variety of commodities will drive , McCourt said. "Demand is going to come back really quickly."

☆ Air fares will have to rise to clean up aviation
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

He said that financiers and energy suppliers should invest in SAF production, including in emerging markets. The wealthy people in this room and wealthy nations should be funding the energy transition in aviation to help support developing countries,” he added. Holland-Kaye said that companies can play a major role accelerating the adoption of SAF because business travel accounts for about 30% of fuel used in aviation. In 2021, the industry pledged to replaced 10% of global jet fuel supply with SAF by 2030. Clean energy investments need a major boost if the world is to meet its climate goals, according to Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency.

☆ JPMorgan upgrades this under-the-radar Latin American airline, says it can rally 50%
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Copa 's stock could rally as air travel continues to rebound and industry-wide headwinds ease, according to JPMorgan. Analyst Guilherme Mendes upgraded the Latin American airline's stock to overweight from neutral. Mendes said Copa is attractive given its financials, specifically its debt-to-EBITDA ratio and liquidity. To be sure, Mendes noted factors like increased competition, weaker air travel recover than expected and re-elevated fuel prices could impact the stock's performance. Within the broader air travel sector, the analyst pointed to capacity increases and a 30% drop in jet fuel prices since October as evidence of an improving environment.

☆ Exclusive: Exxon prepares to start up $1.2 bln Texas oil refinery expansion - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Erwin Seba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Initial startup of a 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) crude distillation unit (CDU) at the 369,000 bpd refinery is expected by Jan. 31, the sources said, making the Beaumont refinery the second largest in the United States. SHALE OIL TO DIESELExxon had no immediate comment on the start up of the new processing unit, called the Beaumont Light Atmospheric Distillation Expansion (BLADE) project. BLADE, considered as early as 2014 and formally approved in 2019, was planned to process Exxon's crude oil pumped from the Permian shale field in West Texas and New Mexico. Operators at the Beaumont refinery this week were purging the new CDU of air in preparation to introduce its first crude, the people familiar with the matter said. POST-PANDEMIC MILESTONEExxon's Beaumont expansion marks a return to an era of steady refining capacity gains through processing tweaks and adding new equipment to existing plants.

☆ Oil trades flat amid China demand hopes, caution ahead of U.S. inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Emily Chow | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SINGAPORE, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Oil prices traded mostly flat on Thursday, giving up gains made earlier in the day, as optimism over China's demand outlook was tempered by caution ahead of upcoming inflation data from the United States. Both benchmarks had risen 3% in Wednesday's session, boosted by hopes for an improved global economic outlook and concern over the impact of sanctions on Russian crude output. "China is speeding up stockpiles for crude oil ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, as the demand outlook has been improved amid a U-turn in its COVID policy," said Tina Teng, an analyst at CMC Markets. Upcoming U.S. inflation data, however, is a key risk factor for oil, CMC Market's Teng added. An international price cap imposed on sales of Russian crude took effect on Dec. 5.

Jan 12 (Reuters) - Oil prices edged up on Thursday, building on gains in the previous session as China's demand outlook improved, though gains were limited ahead of upcoming inflation data from the United States. Both benchmarks rose 3% in Wednesday's session, boosted by hopes for an improved global economic outlook and concern over the impact of sanctions on Russian crude output. Top oil importer China is reopening its economy after the end of strict COVID-19 curbs, boosting optimism that demand for fuel will grow in 2023. Upcoming U.S. inflation data however is a key risk factor for oil, CMC Market's Teng added. An international price cap imposed on sales of Russian crude took effect on Dec. 5.

☆ Oil slips as U.S. crude, fuel inventories reignite demand concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Crude oil storage tanks at the Juaymah Tank Farm in Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia, in 2018. Oil prices fell on Wednesday, erasing the previous session's gains, after industry data showed an unexpected build in crude and fuel inventories in the United States, the world's biggest oil user, which reignited worries about fuel demand. Analysts polled by Reuters expected crude stocks to fall by 2.2 million barrels and distillate stocks to drop by 500,000 barrels. The big focus this week is on U.S. inflation data, due on Thursday. A weaker dollar can boost oil demand as it makes the commodity cheaper for buyers holding other currencies.

☆ Australia retail sales jump in November, inflation resumes climb
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Wednesday showed retail sales jumped 1.4% in November from October to a record A$35.9 billion ($24.7 billion). "High jet fuel prices combined with strong consumer demand in November pushed airfare prices up, with accommodation prices also rising," said Michelle Marquardt, ABS Head of Prices Statistics. The combination of robust consumption and still rising inflation underline the challenge facing the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) as it tries to cool the economy. "That underlines that interest-rate sensitive spending categories are feeling the pinch from the RBA's aggressive tightening last year," said Thieliant. ($1 = 1.4512 Australian dollars)Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Edwina GibbsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ American Airlines retaliated against cabin crew who reported illnesses caused by toxic fumes on aircraft, say federal investigators
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

American Airlines retaliated against employees who reported work-related illnesses, per the DOL. Cabin crew said they were discouraged from reporting illnesses after jet fumes entered the cabin. In a statement, the Department of Labor (DOL) said flight attendants reported worker illnesses to the airline caused by jet fuel fumes seeping into aircraft cabins. But an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — initiated by a whistleblower tip-off — found that upon reporting these illnesses, the airline retaliated against employees. The effects on passengers of toxic jet fumes entering the cabin are unclear.

American Airlines illicitly retaliated against flight attendants who reported toxic fumes entering airplane cabins, according to an investigation by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). According to a whistleblower investigation initiated in August, the Texas-based carrier responded to the flight attendants' complaints by docking attendance points and discouraging them from reporting work-related injuries and illnesses. "The fact that American Airlines is assigning points that can lead to termination for lingering effects of toxic fume inhalation and other work-related injuries is unacceptable," the association said. In a statement, American said: "The safety of our team members and customers is always American’s top priority. We are reviewing the findings of the OSHA investigation."

More than 1.5 million homes and businesses lost power, oil refineries in Texas cut gasoline and diesel production on equipment failures, and heating and power prices surged on the losses. Oil and gas output from North Dakota to Texas suffered freeze-ins, cutting supplies. Freeze-ins - in which ice crystals halt oil and gas production - this week trimmed production in North Dakota's oilfields by 300,000 to 350,000 barrels per day, or a third of normal. Power prices on Texas's grid also spiked to $3,700 per megawatt hour, prompting generators to add more power to the grid before prices fell back as thermal and solar supplies came online. That is the biggest drop in output since the February 2021 freeze knocked out power for millions in Texas.

☆ Oil rallies on tight U.S. stocks as winter blast hits
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Sonali Paul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MELBOURNE, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose for a fourth straight day on Thursday with U.S. crude, heating oil and jet fuel stocks seen tight just as a chilly blast hits the United States and travel is set to soar for the holiday season. At the same time there was a decline in distillate stocks, which include heating oil and jet fuel, which defied expectations for a build. Jet fuel consumption is also expected to pick up with a post-COVID boom in travel for the end-of-year holiday season. "On our numbers...the crude market is finely balanced," said National Australia Bank's head of commodity research Baden Moore. A softer U.S. dollar has also buoyed oil prices, as crude becomes cheaper for buyers holding other currencies.

☆ Most Gulf markets firm on rising oil prices
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 22 (Reuters) - Most major stock markets in the Gulf rose in early trade on Thursday, as oil prices extended gains for a fourth session although global economic concerns limited gains. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) edged 0.1% higher, helped by a 0.3% increase in oil giant Saudi Aramco (2222.SE). Oil prices - a key catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - climbed for a fourth straight day with U.S. crude, heating oil and jet fuel stocks growing tighter just as a cold snap hits the United States and travel is set to soar for the holiday season. In Abu Dhabi, the index (.FTFADGI) added 0.1%, helped by a 0.6% increase in the country's biggest lender First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB.AD). The country, among the world's top exporters of liquefied natural gas, approved its 2023 fiscal year budget on Monday with revenue estimated to increase 16.3% next year, its finance minister said, thanks to rising average oil prices.

☆ Oil prices bounce as China demand hopes offset recession fears
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Alex Lawler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies Reopening of Chinese economy buoys demand hopesRising interest rates and recession fears weighU.S. to begin purchases for strategic reserveLONDON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Monday after tumbling by more than $2 a barrel in the previous session as optimism over the Chinese economy outweighed concern over a global recession. China, the world's top crude oil importer, is experiencing its first of three expected waves of COVID-19 cases after Beijing relaxed mobility restrictions but plans to step up support for the economy in 2023. Despite a surge in COVID cases, optimism over the reopening of the Chinese economy and its accommodative policy improve oil's demand outlook, said CMC Markets analyst Tina Teng. The U.S. Federal Reserve and European Central Bank raised interest rates last week and promised more. "The prospect of further rate rises will hit economic growth in the New Year and in doing so curb demand for oil," said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM.

China, the world's top crude oil importer and No. 2 oil consumer, is experiencing its first of three expected waves of COVID-19 cases after Beijing relaxed mobility restrictions. "Despite a surge in COVID cases, the reopening optimism and accommodative policy improve oil's demand outlook," CMC Markets analyst Tina Teng said. An announcement by the U.S. Energy Department on Friday that it will begin repurchasing crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for delivery in February next year also supported the outlook for stronger prices. This will be the United States' first purchase since this year's record 180 million barrel release from the stockpile.

☆ Airlines can price climate change into your plane ticket. There are reasons to not buy it
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Trevor Laurence Jockims | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

United Airlines , for example, has committed to net zero carbon by 2050 without any contribution from traditional carbon offsets. Southwest Airlines ' "Wanna offset carbon?" Consumer psychology and the environmentIt's not just about the dollar amount of the carbon offset purchase in the consumer psychology. If airline travelers want to stay environmentally conscious without paying carbon offset fees, Keyes recommends choosing cheaper airlines when traveling. "It's true that we all have a part to play in reducing carbon emissions.

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