The French far-right has filed a motion of no confidence against the PM regarding the new energy law
The National Rally party of France, which is far right, submitted a motion of no confidence against the government on Monday following the 'adoption' of a new 'energy law. The motion will likely fail, as the Socialist Party, a pivotal swing vote in a fragmented assembly, has indicated that it won't support the effort. France announced a long-delayed strategy for energy this month, which scaled back renewable energy goals. It also eased the pressure on state-run utility EDF by reversing an order to shut down '14 nuclear reactors.
Sweden and other countries oppose the calls to delay the new EU carbon market
A joint?paper of the countries revealed that Sweden, Denmark and Finland have resisted calls from other European governments to postpone the EU's forthcoming?carbon markets, as political pressure increases for the bloc reduce?energy prices. The paper focuses on the second carbon market in the European Union, also known as ETS2, which will be implemented from 2028 and impose a CO2 price for fuels used to heat homes and transport vehicles. The EU has already delayed by one year the launch of the market and has accelerated the distribution of the revenues from the scheme to the governments.
Chevron and a consortium of companies sign contracts for gas exploration offshore Greece
The United States has expanded its presence in the Eastern Mediterranean with the signing of exclusive lease agreements by a?consortium headed by U.S. major oil company?Chevron? to search for natural gas offshore southern Greece. This deal, the second to be signed in recent months by a 'U.S. company, doubles the amount available of Greek marine acreage for exploration. The European Union is phasing out Russian supplies and the United States is looking to replace them. The European Union is looking to replace them. Exxon Mobil joined Energean, Helleniq and others in November to search for natural gas in another offshore block off Western Greece.
Take Five GRAPHIC: Giddy up
As the year of fire horse dawns, much of Asia will celebrate the Lunar New Year. This rare combination is said to combine elements of energy and volatility. The markets will be looking for the first from the consumer leader Walmart, and the second from the earnings of European miners. The week will be filled with UK data and leading economic indicators. Indonesia is also facing a crucial central bank decision. Here is everything you need to 'know' about the upcoming week in financial markets from Gregor Stuart Hunter, based in Singapore, Lewis Krauskopf, based in New York and Amanda Cooper and Samuel Indyk, residing in London. Welcome to the Club!
Take Five: Giddy up
As the year of fire horse dawns, much of Asia will celebrate the Lunar New Year. This rare combination is said to combine elements of energy and volatility. The markets will be looking for the first from the consumer bellwether Walmart, while the commodity markets are likely to see the latter. The UK's data and leading economic indicators are coming in this week, and Indonesia is facing a crucial central bank decision. Here is all the information you need to know for the upcoming week of financial?markets from Gregor Stuart Hunter, Lewis Krauskopf, in New York and?Amanda Cooper in London, Samuel Indyk, and Karin Strohecker.
Executives warn that Europe could lose its nascent green hydrogen industry to China
The fledgling green hydrogen industry in Europe is calling on the EU to introduce "made-in-Europe" requirements for spending public money on the sector. They warn that without the support needed to scale up quickly, the domestic producers will be overtaken by their Chinese competitors. In 2025, the industry suffered a severe blow as many projects were cancelled or postponed due to high energy prices in Europe and the cheaper hydrogen derived from fossil fuels. Brussels hopes that green hydrogen will help chemical, steel and fertiliser manufacturers reduce emissions. More than 90% of hydrogen used by European industry today comes from fossil fuels.
What is the purpose of Europe? It must act fast: Stephen Jen
We all know someone who seems to be cursed with bad luck. Europe is beginning to resemble that unfortunate person, as it faces both internal and external problems. The region now needs a clear purpose and an ambitious plan to reach it. The challenges that Europe faces are external, like the fraying Transatlantic relations with the U.S. or the competitive pressures coming from China. Some of the challenges Europe faces stem from its past policies, such as over-regulation or an ill thought out energy strategy. These are in conflict with the goal to maximise economic growth and prosperity. The economic impact is clear in both cases.
Oil Prices Surge 3% on Worries of US Action Against Iran
Oil prices climbed about 3% to a five-month high on Thursday on rising concerns that global supplies could be disrupted if the U.S. decides to attack Iran, one of the biggest crude producers in OPEC.Brent futures rose $2.10, or 3.1%, to $70.50 a barrel by 11:07 a.m. EST (1607 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained $2.09, or 3.3%, to $65.30.That pushed both crude benchmarks into technically overbought territory and put Brent on track for its highest close since July 31 and WTI on track for its highest close since September 26.U.S.
Palm gains from stronger palm olein and soyoil
The price of Malaysian palm oil futures rose on Wednesday. This was due to the firmness of?Chicago palm olein, Dalian palmolein, and soyoil. However, a stronger ringgit limited further gains. After two consecutive sessions of gains, the benchmark palm oil contract for?April delivery at the Bursa Derivatives exchange gained 5 ringgit or 0.12% to 4,265 Ringgit ($1,089.68). The futures continue to show a broader upward trend, riding the bullish 'waves' of Chicago's Soyoil and Dalian's Palm olein. They also ride the upward momentum in energy prices, said Anilkumar bagani, head of commodity research at Mumbai-based brokerage Sunvin Group.
EDP CEO Warns EU on Lost Urgency for Energy Security
Four years after the start of the Ukraine war, the European Union has lost the sense of urgency needed to strengthen its energy security, with bureaucracy still slowing renewable projects and preventing the bloc from cutting costly energy imports, the head of Portuguese energy group EDP said.Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade, CEO of one of Europe’s largest renewable power producers, told Reuters companies were struggling to build wind and solar assets fast enough to replace imported fossil fuels.“We need to invest more in networks…
Sources say that Chevron Vitol Trafigura are all competing to control Venezuelan oil imports.
Sources familiar with the situation say that Chevron, Vitol, Trafigura and other companies are competing to get deals from the U.S. Government to export crude oil from Venezuela. Venezuelan officials are trying to control oil sales in the United States. This competition is a reflection of the desire for many oil companies to gain access to Venezuela's crude oil stocks and production. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, has demanded Venezuela grant the United States access to the oil sector. This comes just days after the U.S. seized the South American nation's President Nicolas Maduro. U.S.
Vitol, Trafigura and the White House invited to Venezuelan oil discussions on Friday
Four sources familiar with the situation have confirmed that the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump has invited the heads of commodity trading companies Vitol and Trafigura to meet at the White House this Friday to discuss the marketing Venezuelan crude oil. European trading houses dominate global oil trading, and could assist the U.S. in selling oil from Venezuela despite Washington's desire for U.S. oil majors to take the lead. White House announced that it would host U.S. Oil Majors on Friday. However, the invitation for trading houses was not previously reported. Could not obtain an immediate list of all those invited to meetings.
Sources: Vitol, Trafigura and US in talks on Venezuelan oil sales
Vitol, Trafigura and the Trump administration are in "talks" about marketing Venezuelan oil. European trading houses dominate the global oil trade and could assist the U.S. in facilitating oil sales from Venezuela, even though Washington prefers U.S. majors to take the lead. One source said that U.S. officials would meet with trading representatives at White House on Friday, as well as U.S. oil giants. Trafigura declined to comment. The White House didn't immediately respond to an e-mail sent outside of U.S. office hours asking for comment. After the U.S. On January 3, 2019, the U.S. captured Nicolas Maduro.
What just happened? Ten charts that will help you understand the market in 2025
The past year will not be forgotten soon. The conventional wisdom about investor behavior and economics was often challenged in 2025 as technology, energy, and geopolitics influenced markets in unexpected ways. Here are ten charts that explain what happened in the year 2025, and what this might mean for 2019. Donald?Trump’s "America First " agenda was a key driver of market growth in 2025, particularly during the first half. The U.S. President wasted no time in delivering on campaign promises to move?from "free" trade to "fair trade". The Baker-Bloom David model measures the uncertainty of U.S. Trade Policy.
What just happened? Ten charts that will help you understand the market in 2025
The past year will not be forgotten soon. The conventional wisdom about investor behavior and economics was often challenged in 2025 as technology, energy, and geopolitics influenced markets in unexpected ways. Here are 10 charts to help you understand what happened in the year 2025, and what that might mean for 2019. Donald Trump's?America First? agenda was a key market driver for 2025, particularly during the first half of the calendar year. The U.S. President wasted no time in delivering on his promises made in his campaign to switch from "free" trade to "fair" trading. The Baker-Bloom David model measures the uncertainty of U.S. trade policy.
Palm oil prices rise by more than 2% due to stronger export data and bargain buying
Malaysian palm oil futures closed more than 2% higher on Monday. This was supported by stronger export data, bargain-buying and stronger crude oil prices. The benchmark contract for palm oil delivery in March on the Bursa Derivatives Market gained 82 Ringgit or 2.1% to $3,987 ringgit (US$978.16) per metric ton. Anilkumar bagani, the head of commodity research for Sunvin Group in Mumbai, explained that prices rose due to bargain-buying, stable Dalian and Chicago contracts, and a rise in energy prices. Intertek Testing Services…
Palm oil prices rise on stronger export data and bargain buying
Malaysian palm futures rose on Monday as a result of stronger export data, bargain-buying, and higher crude oil prices. By midday, the benchmark palm oil contract on Bursa Derivatives Exchange for March delivery had gained 58 Ringgit (1.49%) to $3,963 Ringgit ($972.04 per metric ton). Intertek Testing Services, a cargo surveyor, estimated that the exports of Malaysian 'palm oil products' for December 1-20 were up 2.4% compared to a month ago. AmSpec 'Agri Malaysia is expected to release its export estimates later today.
UK consumers face higher energy bills after regulator approves $37 billion grid upgrade
The British Energy Regulator has approved an investment of 28 billion pounds ($37.33 billion), over the next five-years, to ensure that the energy system is reliable and safe in the future. This is part of a plan to upgrade the energy system which will increase consumer bills by 108 pounds per year. The investment exceeds the provisional estimate of 24 billion pounds made by regulator Ofgem back in July, despite the British Government's promise to lower energy prices. Jonathan Brearley, Ofgem's CEO, said that the investment would support the transition to alternative energy sources and help support new industrial clients to drive economic growth.
After 0.2% price cap increase, energy bills for most Britons are on the rise
The regulator Ofgem has announced that it will increase its domestic price caps by 0.2% in January, due to increased policy costs. The government will suffer a setback, even though the increase is small. It has promised to lower energy prices, and it faces pressure next week to unveil budget measures to help reduce household bills. The increase is due in part to an addition of nearly one pound per bill to pay for the new Sizewell nuclear plant, which is estimated to cost around 38 billion pounds ($50billion). This is despite wholesale energy prices falling by 4%.
German Lower House passes law allowing underground carbon storage
The lower house of the German Bundestag parliament has cleared the way for underground carbon storage. It passed a law on Thursday that identifies CO2 storage and pipelines to be of "overriding interest" in order to accelerate planning and approval. This measure aims to assist Germany in achieving climate neutrality by the year 2045. It does this by enabling capture and storage for emissions that are difficult to reduce, such as those from cement production, lime production and waste incineration. The law permits the use of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), but prohibits it for coal-fired power stations. Onshore storage is generally prohibited.