Europe Gasoline/Naphtha-Gasoline refining margins fall

LONDON, April 2 (Reuters) - Northwest European gasoline refinery profit margins dropped about $2.50 on Thursday to $15.69 a barrel.

• A total of 32,000 metric tons of E5 gasoline barges traded in the Argus window, with BP, ExxonMobil, Sahara and Equinor selling to TOTSA, Glencore, MB Energy and Gunvor.

• An additional 3,000 tons of E10 gasoline barges traded in the session, with ExxonMobil selling to Varo.

• Russia has imposed a ban on gasoline exports for producers of the fuel until the end of July, the government said on Thursday.

• The Czech government agreed to cap fuel retailers' margins and lower the excise tax to limit fuel price rises, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Thursday.

• Global commodity trading firm Trafigura's [RIC:RIC:TRAFGF.UL] contracts with Bolivia's state-owned oil and gas company YPFB have not been halted, a company spokesperson said on Thursday, rejecting a statement by Bolivia's Energy Minister Mauricio Medinaceli.

• Hopes for a swift end to the Middle East war faded on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed more aggressive strikes on Iran, in an eagerly anticipated address that disappointed investors hoping for clearer signals of a way out.