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Many companies have complained about poor railroad service over the past couple years as the industry worked to recover from the depths of the pandemic. It, however, welcomed regulators establishing some clear minimum service standards for railroads that never existed before and requiring railroads to report more details about their performance. Getting the rule right is important because roughly 75% of refineries and petrochemical manufacturers are only served by a single railroad. Canadian regulators have long had similar rules that allow companies to hire other railroads to deliver their goods. The Canadian rules don't require companies to prove they are getting poor service like the proposed new U.S. rules.

Persons: Scott Jensen, Martin Oberman, ” Oberman, Rob Benedict, Benedict, Ian Jefferies, ” Jefferies, Jeremy Ferguson, ” Ferguson Organizations: — Companies, Surface Transportation, American Chemistry Council, Chemistry, American, and Petrochemical Manufacturers, Association of American Railroads, Transportation Division, International Association of, Rail, Transportation Workers Locations: OMAHA, Neb, U.S, North America, Canada, Mexico

☆ Oil edges lower as markets shrug off supply jitters
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Mohi Narayan | Thomson Reuters | Reports On Everything How Asia S Fuel Use Recovers The Fallout Of To Tracking How The Global Energy Transition Impacts Refinery Expansion Plans | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW DELHI, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Oil prices reversed course on Wednesday after rising over 1% in the previous session, as investors shrugged off jitters arising from supply cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia and a firm dollar capped the upside. A stronger dollar can weigh on oil demand by making the fuel more expensive for holders of other currencies. "Iran is producing close to 3.1 million barrels per day (bpd) and plans to pump around 3.4 million bpd. Reflecting supply concerns in the near term, the front-month Brent futures traded near 9-month highs at $4.13 a barrel above prices in six months. Sachdeva, however, added that the annual refinery maintenance period in the U.S. from September to October could limit demand for crude and potentially act as a restraining factor on rising oil prices.

Persons: Alexander Novak, Novak, Sachdeva, Mohi Narayan, Arathy Somasekhar, Christopher Cushing, Stephen Coates, John Stonestreet Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, Rystad Energy, ING Economics, ING, REUTERS, U.S, Saudi, Acme Investment Advisors, Thomson Locations: DELHI, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Volgograd, U.S, New Delhi, Houston

☆ Oil gains on supply woes after OPEC+ output cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Mohi Narayan | Thomson Reuters | Reports On Everything How Asia S Fuel Use Recovers The Fallout Of To Tracking How The Global Energy Transition Impacts Refinery Expansion Plans | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Investors had expected Saudi Arabia and Russia to extend voluntary cuts into October, but the three-month extension was unexpected. "These bullish moves significantly tighten the global oil market and can only result in one thing: higher oil prices worldwide," Jorge Leon, senior vice president at consultancy Rystad Energy, said in a note. The Saudi and Russian voluntary cuts are on top of the April cut agreed by several OPEC+ producers, which extends to the end of 2024. "The decision to prolong output cuts underscores their dedication to price stability in a challenging market environment," Sugandha Sachdeva, executive director and chief strategist at Acme Investment Advisors, said. Sachdeva, however, added that the annual refinery maintenance period in the U.S. from September to October could limit demand for crude and potentially act as a restraining factor on rising oil prices.

Persons: Jorge Leon, Leon, Alexander Novak, Novak, Sachdeva, Mohi Narayan, Arathy Somasekhar, Christopher Cushing, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, . West Texas, Rystad Energy, Saudi, Acme Investment Advisors, Thomson Locations: Volgograd, Russia, DELHI, Saudi Arabia, West, U.S, New Delhi, Houston

Bola Tinubu, President of Nigeria, arrives for the closing session of the New Global Financial Pact Summit, Friday, June 23, 2023 in Paris, France. Lewis Joly/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Nigeria has secured nearly $14 billion of pledges from Indian investors and seeks an economic cooperation pact with the South Asian nation, a presidential spokesperson said on Wednesday. Skipperseil Ltd's founding Chairman Jitender Sachdeva and India's Bharti Enterprises each pledged $1.6 billion over four years to build power generation plants and $700 million in Nigeria, respectively, Ngelale said. Tinubu is attending at the invitation of India, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the bloc. "We are ready to give you the best returns for investment possible, there's nowhere else like our country," Tinubu said in the statement.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Lewis Joly, India's Jindal, Ajuri Ngelale, Skipperseil, Jitender Sachdeva, Ngelale, Tinubu, Nidhi Verma, Felix Onuah, Elisha Bala, Shivam Patel, Christina Fincher, Richard Chang Organizations: New Global Financial, South, India's Jindal Steel, Indorama Corp, India's Bharti Enterprises, Defence Industries Corporation, Thomson Locations: Nigeria, Paris, France, DELHI, West, New Delhi, India, Africa's, South Africa, Abuja

☆ Oil steady amid OPEC+ supply cut expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Mohi Narayan | Thomson Reuters | Reports On Everything How Asia S Fuel Use Recovers The Fallout Of To Tracking How The Global Energy Transition Impacts Refinery Expansion Plans | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW DELHI, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Oil prices were stable on Monday, amid expectations that major producers would keep supplies tight, as hopes grew for the Federal Reserve to leave interest rates unchanged to avoid dampening the U.S. economy. "Crude oil prices have been primarily driven by the anticipation of additional supply cuts from major oil-producing nations, Russia and Saudi Arabia," said Sugandha Sachdeva, executive vice president and chief strategist at Acme Investment Advisors. Sachdeva added, however, that the steady increase in U.S. oil production could limit further significant gains in price. Russia has already said it will cut exports by 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) in September, following a 500,000-bpd cut in August. "Because of the OPEC+ cuts, there's not sufficient supply (of sour crude) for all these complex refineries in India, Kuwait, Jizan, Oman and China," Hardy said.

Persons: Sugandha Sachdeva, Sachdeva, Alexander Novak, Russell Hardy, there's, Hardy, Mohi Narayan, Andrew Hayley, Simon Cameron, Moore, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Federal Reserve, Brent, . West Texas, Acme Investment Advisors, Organization of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: DELHI, U.S, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, India, Kuwait, Jizan, Oman, China, New Delhi, Beijing

☆ Saudi's SABIC to sell steel unit Hadeed to PIF for $3.3 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Saudi Basic Industries Corp (2010.SE) said on Sunday it had agreed to sell subsidiary Saudi Iron and Steel Company (Hadeed) to the Public Investment Fund (PIF) for an enterprise value of 12.5 billion riyals ($3.33 billion). SABIC, one of the world's biggest petrochemical companies, reported a massive slump in its second-quarter net profit on lower average sales prices and weaker demand. The fair valuation of Hadeed's net assets is expected to result in a non-cash loss of between 2 to 2.5 billion riyals in Q3 earnings, SABIC said. Separately on Sunday, it was announced the PIF had sold its 10.9% stake in National Gas and Industrialization Company through a private share sale for 491.2 million riyals ($130.96 million). ($1 = 3.7508 riyals)Reporting by Rachna Uppal; editing by David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: SABIC, Hadeed, Rachna, David Evans Organizations: Saudi Basic Industries Corp, Saudi Iron and Steel Company, Public Investment Fund, National Gas and Industrialization Company, Jadwa Investment, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Saudi

☆ China slowdown, oil output cuts in focus at key energy industry events
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Florence Tan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Oil, miniatures of oil barrels and U.S. dollar banknote are seen in this illustration taken, June 6, 2023. China's sluggish post-COVID growth, which has curbed fuel and petrochemical demand, will loom large over both events, while concerns about LNG supplies ahead of the northern hemisphere winter are set to dominate talks at Gastech. Russian oil exports have continued despite prices rising above price caps as the West is keen to maintain global supplies and keep prices down. Meanwhile, U.S. sanctions on Venezuela look poised to ease, improving global supply while abundant and cheap Iranian oil heads for China. While the balance in global LNG markets remains delicate, the longer term demand outlook is uncertain as big importers including Japan and Europe aim to reduce the use of fossil fuels.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Alexander Novak, Moscow, Amrita Sen, Sen, Saul Kavonic, Florence Tan, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference, OPEC, U.S, United, United Arab Emirates dirham, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Asia, Gastech, India, China, Ukraine, United Arab, Venezuela, Japan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Europe

☆ Column: US offshore wind goals need policy help to reach potential
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

LITTLETON, Colorado, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The weak showing at the first auction for offshore wind development rights in the Gulf of Mexico highlights the critical role that policymaking must play in making ambitious long-term climate goals compatible with current commercial realities. SMALL SCALE IMPACTOne of the biggest faults of the Gulf of Mexico wind leases is the absence of a viable pathway for wind power generators to profitably sell their power to electricity providers given current market conditions. In contrast to several utilities in the Northeast, which have state-level mandates to purchase certain volumes of power from offshore wind generators, the power systems covering Texas and Louisiana do not allow for similar power purchase agreements to be drawn up. Currently, there is a policy planning chasm between the Gulf Coast's power market systems and the long-term strategies of that region's largest employers and tax payers. But if legislators and corporate planners can recognise they may both gain from the emergence of a vibrant offshore wind energy sector that could cut power sector emissions and generate green hydrogen in abundance, there may be scope for closer collaboration and planning.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Gavin Maguire, Miral Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, Gulf, Mexico, United States, Joe Biden's U.S, Texas, Louisiana

☆ Sinopec sets up new entity to expand refinery investment abroad
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Chen Aizhu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The company logo of China’s Sinopec Corp is displayed at a news conference in Hong Kong, China March 26, 2018. After a quiet launch in late June of Sinopec Overseas Investment Holding as its sole platform for investing, building and operating refineries abroad, Sinopec is building up the team and setting the budget for the new entity, two company officials told Reuters. One such investment could be in Sri Lanka, where Sinopec was shortlisted to bid for an export-oriented refinery in Hambantota potentially worth billions of dollars. Sinopec is also among companies reviewing Shell's Singapore refinery and petrochemical assets, Reuters reported recently, although its president this week denied such interest. Sinopec declined to comment on that matter.

Persons: Bobby Yip, Zhao Dong, Sinopec, Sushant Gupta, Wood Mackenzie, Gupta, Russia's, PetroChina, Exxon Mobil's, Glencore, CNPC, Chen Aizhu, Tony Munroe, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Sinopec Overseas Investment Holding, Reuters, China Petrochemical Corp, Saudi Aramco, Wood, Gas Chemical, Russia's Sibur, Exxon, Sinopec, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, Sri Lanka, Hambantota, Singapore, Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, East Siberia, France, Scotland, Japan, XOM.N, Altona, Australia, Brazil, Beijing, South Africa

☆ Oil rises as China moves to support economy, tropical storm in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Alex Lawler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)'s Dalian Petrochemical Corp refinery is seen near the downtown of Dalian in Liaoning province, China July 17, 2018. The market is also keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Idalia and any risk it poses to oil and gas output in the U.S. Gulf. The focus today is on "China actions to support its economy, Tropical Storm Idalia heading for Florida and whether Brent can regain momentum on a break above $85," said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. That "should see some short-term support for the oil price", he said. Oil prices have remained above $80 a barrel with support from falling oil inventories and supply cuts from the OPEC+ group of oil producers.

Persons: Chen Aizhu, Idalia, Fed's Powell, Brent, Ole Hansen, Tony Sycamore, Jerome Powell, Tina Teng, Florence Tan, Sudarshan, Jason Neely, Kirsten Donovan, Louise Heavens, Sharon Singleton Organizations: China National Petroleum Corporation, Dalian Petrochemical Corp, REUTERS, . West Texas Intermediate, Saxo Bank, CMC, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, Dalian, Liaoning province, Florida, U.S . Gulf, Brent, Cuba, U.S, OPEC, Saudi Arabia

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)'s Dalian Petrochemical Corp refinery is seen near the downtown of Dalian in Liaoning province, China July 17, 2018. CMC markets analyst Tina Teng said a soft-landing scenario for the U.S. economy buoyed energy markets on Monday, despite the Federal Reserve's hawkish stance on rate hikes. That "should see some short term support for the oil price", he said. Oil prices have remained above $80 a barrel on support from falling oil inventories and supply cuts from the OPEC+ collective of oil producers. Reporting by Florence Tan and Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Chen Aizhu, Baker Hughes, Brent, WTI, Jerome Powell, Tony Sycamore, Sycamore, Tina Teng, Idalia, Florence Tan, Sudarshan, Christopher Cushing, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: China National Petroleum Corporation, Dalian Petrochemical Corp, REUTERS, U.S, West Texas, IG, PMI, CMC, Federal, ANZ Research, Thomson Locations: China, Dalian, Liaoning province, SINGAPORE, U.S, United States, Caribbean, Florida, Gulf, OPEC, Iran, Venezuela

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)'s Dalian Petrochemical Corp refinery is seen near the downtown of Dalian in Liaoning province, China July 17, 2018. Brent crude settled 6 cents lower at $84.42 a barrel, after touching a session high of over $85 earlier in the day. Tropical Storm Idalia was expected to intensify into a major hurricane on Monday as it barrelled toward Florida's Gulf Coast. Some worried it could hit the eastern side of U.S. Gulf Coast crude production. Oil prices have remained above $80 a barrel with support from falling oil inventories and supply cuts from the OPEC+ group of oil producers.

Persons: Chen Aizhu, Idalia, Brent, Jerome Powell, Dennis Kissler, Ole Hansen, Tony Sycamore, Alex Lawler, Florence Tan, Sudarshan, Jason Neely, Kirsten Donovan, Louise Heavens, Sharon Singleton, David Gregorio, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: China National Petroleum Corporation, Dalian Petrochemical Corp, REUTERS, HOUSTON, . West Texas, Federal, BOK, Saxo Bank, Gulf, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, Dalian, Liaoning province, Florida, U.S, Gulf Coast, Gulf, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, London

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)'s Dalian Petrochemical Corp refinery is seen near the downtown of Dalian in Liaoning province, China July 17, 2018. REUTERS/Chen Aizhu/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Baker Hughes Co FollowSINGAPORE, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Oil prices were marginally lower on Monday as investors stayed fretful over the pace of economic growth in China, and the prospect of further U.S. interest rate hikes that could dampen fuel demand. Oil rose in early Asian trade before paring gains, as China's move to halve stamp duty on stock trading to boost struggling markets temporarily pushed up prices. In the United States, energy firms cut the number of active oil rigs for a ninth month in August, Baker Hughes said in a report. Reporting by Florence Tan and Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

REUTERS/Chen Aizhu/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Oil futures climbed about 1% to a one-week high on Friday as U.S. diesel prices soared, the number of oil rigs dropped and a fire broke out at a refinery in Louisiana. Brent futures rose $1.12, or 1.3%, to settle at $84.48 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 78 cents, or 1.0%, to settle at $79.83. Diesel futures soared about 5% to a near seven-month high, boosting the diesel crack spread , a measure of refining profit margins, to its highest since January 2023. "The main thing was concern about diesel prices, the diesel crack spread and worries about diesel shortages when refineries go into maintenance," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group. He added prices also drew support from a fire at a Louisiana refinery and a drop in U.S. oil rigs.

Persons: Chen Aizhu, Phil Flynn, Brent, WTI, Baker Hughes, Jerome Powell, Morgan Stanley, John Evans, Natalie Grover, Laura Sanicola, Muyu Xu, David Goodman, Jason Neely, David Gregorio, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: China National Petroleum Corporation, Dalian Petrochemical Corp, REUTERS, U.S, West Texas, Diesel, Price Futures Group, U.S ., Federal, Thomson Locations: China, Dalian, Liaoning province, Louisiana, Brent, , Louisiana, U.S, Germany, Europe's, Norwegian, London, Washington, Singapore

☆ Oil set for 2nd weekly fall on firm dollar as supply worries ebb
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Muyu Xu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Brent crude rose 30 cents, or 0.4%, to $83.66 a barrel by 0434 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 31 cents, also 0.4%, at $79.36 a barrel. Crude prices are set to fall between 1.5%-2.5% for the week, a second consecutive week of decline. A strong dollar makes oil more expensive for holders of other currencies, denting demand. Further weighing on market sentiment, U.S. officials are drafting a proposal that would ease sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector, allowing more companies and countries to import its crude oil. Analysts estimated that the top oil exporter will likely roll over a voluntary oil cut of 1 million barrels per day for a third consecutive month into October, amid uncertainty about supplies and as the kingdom targets drawing down global inventories further.

Persons: Chen Aizhu, Jerome Powell, Brent, Jun Rong, Powell's, Laura Sanicola, Muyu Xu, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: China National Petroleum Corporation, Dalian Petrochemical Corp, REUTERS, Companies United, Federal, U.S, West Texas, IG, Haitong Futures, Analysts, Thomson Locations: China, Dalian, Liaoning province, Companies United States, America, Turkey, Kurdistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia

REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Shell is considering a sale of its Singapore refining and petrochemical plants as part of a broader strategic review and has hired investment bank Goldman Sachs to explore a potential deal, said several sources close to the matter. "Our strategic review is ongoing and we are exploring several options including divestment," a Shell spokesperson told Reuters on Wednesday. Companies that are reviewing Shell's Singapore assets include Asia's largest refiner, China's Sinopec (600028.SS), as well as global trading companies Vitol and Trafigura, the sources said. For trading companies, the site is seen as a potential oil storage and distribution hub, some of the sources said. In March, Shell decided not to proceed with two projects it was studying to produce biofuels and base oils in Singapore.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Goldman Sachs, Wael Sawan, China's Sinopec, Shell, Trixie Yap, Chen Aizhu, Florence Tan, Tony Munroe, David Goodman Organizations: Shell, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, Singapore, Jurong, Asia

☆ Asia's refiners face profit crunch as Kuwait cuts crude exports
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Muyu Xu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Lower Kuwaiti exports follow cuts from OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia that have pushed Brent prices close to $90 a barrel and left little wriggle room for Asia's refiners, reliant on the Middle East for more than two-thirds of crude imports. Chinese refiners, which have invested heavily in new plants designed to process sour oil, are especially exposed. Discounted oil from Russia has eased some of the pain, replacing some Kuwaiti supply, largely to China and India. Additionally, Kuwait's joint venture 230,000 bpd Duqm refinery in Oman is scheduled to start operation by end-2023, which could reduce Kuwaiti crude exports by a further 100,000 bpd to 200,000 bpd in 2024, the consultancies said. Formosa could replace Kuwaiti supply with grades such as Iraq's Basra Medium, Qatar's al-Shaheen and Oman crude, Lin said, adding it can also process U.S. light sweet crude.

Persons: Brent, Asia's, Janiv Shah, Sun Jianan, Al Zour, consultancies, KPC, Lin, al, James Forbes, Muyu Xu, Florence Tan, Sonali Paul Organizations: Kuwait Oil Tanker, Oil, Companies, Lower, Saudi, United Arab, Rystad Energy, P, Kuwait Petroleum Corp, Shenghong, Taiwan Formosa Petrochemical Corp, FGE, Dubai, Brent, Thomson Locations: Kuwait, Pier, Companies Kuwait, SINGAPORE, OPEC, Lower Kuwaiti, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, India, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Taiwan, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Oman, PetroChina's, Guangdong, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Formosa, Basra, Shaheen, Brent, Dubai

☆ Oil falls on China worries despite tighter US supply
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Trixie Sher Li Yap | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)'s Dalian Petrochemical Corp refinery is seen near the downtown of Dalian in Liaoning province, China July 17, 2018. "Concerns that China's faltering economy will weigh on demand offset tight supply in the oil market," ANZ analysts said in a client note. "Crude inventories at the Cushing hub are seen to be falling to their lowest level since April. U.S. crude stocks dropped by about 6.2 million barrels last week, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures. Supply cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia, part of the OPEC+ group comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies, have pushed up oil prices over the past seven weeks.

Persons: Chen Aizhu, Cushing, Rystad, Claudio Galimberti, Arathy Somasekhar, Trixie Yap, Sonali Paul Organizations: China National Petroleum Corporation, Dalian Petrochemical Corp, REUTERS, Brent, U.S, West Texas, ANZ, American Petroleum Institute, Reuters, National Australia Bank, of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: China, Dalian, Liaoning province, Beijing, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Russia, OPEC, Houston, Singapore

Total refinery throughput in the world's second-largest oil consumer was 63.13 million metric tons last month, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed. Production was up slightly from the 14.83 million bpd of oil processed in June. Domestic fuel demand has picked up with the arrival of the summer travel season, notably in gasoline and jet fuel. China's crude oil imports in July pared back from close-to-record levels during the previous month, totalling 43.7 million metric tons, or 10.3 million bpd, according to the customs data. The NBS data on Tuesday also showed China's domestic crude oil production in July was 17.31 million metric tons, or 4.1 million bpd, versus 17.13 million metric tons in 2022.

Persons: Dominique Patton, refiners, Production, Andrew Hayley, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Shandong Haiyou Petrochemical Group, REUTERS, National Bureau of Statistics, Reuters, Zhuochuang, Thomson Locations: Shandong, county, Shandong province, China, BEIJING

☆ Most stock markets in Gulf track oil prices higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Ateeq Shariff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An investor monitors a screen displaying stock information at the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange June 25, 2014./File PhotoAug 13 (Reuters) - Most stock markets in the Gulf ended higher on Sunday in the wake of Friday's rise in oil prices, with the Saudi index gaining for a third consecutive session. Oil prices - a key catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - edged higher on Friday after the International Energy Agency forecast record global demand and tightening supplies, propelling prices to their seventh straight week of gains, the longest such streak since 2022. Prospects for the oil market look healthy for the second half of the year, OPEC said. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) advanced 1.1%, rising for a third consecutive session, led by a 1.6% leap in oil giant Saudi Aramco (2222.SE). In Qatar, the index (.QSI) added 0.4%, with petrochemical maker Industries Qatar (IQCD.QA) putting on 0.8%.

Persons: Ateeq, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Abu, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, International Energy Agency, Organization of, Petroleum, Saudi, Saudi Aramco, Aramco, Industries Qatar, Thomson Locations: Abu Dhabi, Saudi, North Asia, Qatar, Egypt, Ateeq Shariff, Bengaluru

"Deepening OPEC+ supply cuts have collided with improved macroeconomic sentiment and all-time high world oil demand," the Paris-based energy watchdog said in its monthly oil market report. The IEA said that in July, global oil supply plunged by 910,000 bpd in part due to a sharp reduction in Saudi output. But Russian oil exports held steady at around 7.3 million bpd in July, the IEA said. Next year, demand growth is forecast to slow sharply to 1 million bpd, the IEA said, citing lacklustre macroeconomic conditions, a post-pandemic recovery running out of steam and the burgeoning use of electric vehicles. The IEA's demand growth forecast is down by 150,000 bpd from last month and contrasts with that of OPEC, which on Thursday maintained its forecast that oil demand will rise by a much stronger 2.25 million bpd in 2024.

Persons: Alexander Manzyuk, Brent, Natalie Grover, Alex Lawler, Jason Neely, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, International Energy Agency, IEA, of, Petroleum, for Economic Co, Development, OPEC, Thomson Locations: Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, OPEC, Paris, China, London

LONDON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Friday said demand growth for oil next year will be slower than previously forecast, citing lacklustre macroeconomic conditions, a post-pandemic recovery running out of steam and the burgeoning use of electric vehicles. Growth is forecast to slow to 1 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2024, the Paris-based energy watchdog said in its August monthly oil market report, down by 150,000 bpd from its previous forecast. In 2023, global oil demand is set to expand by 2.2 million bpd, buoyed by summer air travel, increased oil use in power generation and surging Chinese petrochemical activity. Demand is forecast to average 102.2 million bpd this year, with China accounting for more than 70% of growth, despite concerns about the economic health of the world's top oil importer. Demand hit a record 103 million bpd in June.

Persons: Natalie Grover, Alex Lawler, Jason Neely Organizations: International Energy Agency, IEA, Thomson Locations: Paris, China, London

Recovering profit margins may prompt complex refiners to maximise yields of transport fuels, causing excess naphtha output as a byproduct in a tepid petrochemical market and further depressing feedstock margins. Mandell expects margins to continue to perform well throughout the year heading into higher-demand crop planting season and into winter in the United States. "The healthy margins reflect the bull market for diesel combined with still strong gasoline cracks even if gasoline did weaken sharply on week. U.S. oil companies said during recent second quarter earnings presentations that strong global demand for fuels and low product inventories are driving robust profits. "Global capacity additions continue to progress slower than anticipated, and we believe that global demand growth will remain strong," Hennigan added.

Persons: Brian M, Mandell, Eugene Lindell, bullish HSFO, FGE's Lindell, Lindell, ENEOS, Phillips, Michael J, Hennigan, Mohi Narayan, Laura Sanicola, Ahmad Ghaddar, Jeslyn Lerh, Tony Munroe, Muralikumar Organizations: NEW, Phillips, Saudi, Reuters, Petronas, Hyundai, India's Reliance Industries, Oil, Marathon Petroleum, Marathon, Thomson Locations: NEW DELHI, WASHINGTON, Latin America, Asia, United States, Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, U.S, New Delhi, Washington, London

A panel displaying share prices is seen inside the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen October 23, 2009. The Shenzhen Stock Exchange, one of the two major bourses in the Chinese mainland, is in negotiations with the Saudi Tadawul Group (1111.SE), operator of the Saudi Stock Exchange, for ETF Connect, as the programme is called, two of the sources said. The China Securities Regulatory Commission, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Tadawul Group did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. China has launched 'ETF Connect' projects in recent years with offshore stock exchanges in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Reporting by Xie Yu and Selena Li in Hong Kong; Additional reporting by Hadeel Al Sayegh in Dubai; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bobby Yip, HONG KONG, HKEX, Jackie Choy, Xie Yu, Selena Li, Hadeel Al, Sumeet Chatterjee, Muralikumar Organizations: Shenzhen Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Saudi Tadawul Group, Saudi Stock Exchange, Connect, China's, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Tadawul, Singapore . Industry, Government Bond Index, Management, Saudi, Hong Kong Exchanges, Clearing, Tadawul Group, Hong Kong bourse, Morningstar Asia, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment, Saudi Aramco, Thomson Locations: Shenzhen, HONG, China, Saudi, Beijing, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, East Asia, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, HK, Hong, Europe, East, Africa, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Dubai

☆ 'We are being poisoned': Black residents living in Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley' say the state is guilty of 'genocide' and environmental racism
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Trisha Gopal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Black residents living in the area have a disproportionate lifetime cancer risk. The complaint alleged that the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality discriminated against Black residents by issuing permits that authorized new industrial facilities. Last year, the EPA announced a critical civil-rights investigation into Louisiana, looking into whether the state had violated the rights of Black residents in Cancer Alley. Smoke billows from a chemical plant in the area along 'Cancer Alley', October 12, 2013. "Once we came up with Cancer Alley, industry hated it, and they've been trying to prove that it's not a reality," he said.

Persons: Sharon Lavigne, James, Lavigne, " Lavigne, Andrew Lichtenstein, Michael Regan, Regan, Matthew, Giles Clarke, Deena Tumeh, Earthjustice, Darryl Malek, Wiley, they've, Kimberly Terrell, Terrell, I'm, James Parish, Pamela Spees, Spees, Malek, " Malek, I've Organizations: EPA, Service, Cancer, Getty, Civil, Inclusive, Brigade, Louisiana Department of Environmental, Center for Public Integrity, Environmental, Sierra Club, Atomic Workers Union, Tulane Environmental Law Clinic, Louisiana Tumor, Shell Oil Co, Cancer Alley, Formosa Plastics, Center for Constitutional Rights, Mount Triumph Baptist Church, Local Locations: Louisiana, St, James Parish, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Inclusive Louisiana, Black, Cancer Alley, Baton Rouge, Cancer, Formosa

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