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Bessent: Fed lost trust of American people over inflation, threatening independence
WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday said that the independence of the Federal Reserve was based on Americans' trust of the central bank, which it lost because it allowed inflation to get out of control and "ravage" their incomes.Bessent, asked...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
UK asks Air India to explain Boeing Dreamliner fuel-switch incident
Air India facing intense scrutiny since crash last year UK seeking details after Sunday incident involving one planePossible fuel switch defect flagged by pilot on landing from UKAir India says will respond to UK regulatorBy Aditya Kalra and Abhijith Ganapavaram NEW DELHI, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Brita...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
GRAINS-Chicago soybeans jump to two-month high on Trump comments
By Heather Schlitz CHICAGO, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures hit a two-month high on Wednesday following comments by U.S. President Donald Trump about China buying more U.S. soybeans, traders said.In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said China is "lifting the...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
FACTBOX-Trump administration pivots to buying stakes in critical sectors
Feb 4 (Reuters) - The Trump administration is ramping up efforts to secure U.S. supply chains for critical minerals and semiconductors by converting federal grants for companies into equity stakes, aimed at reducing reliance on China. U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday unveiled plans ...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
FACTBOX-Who is the Baloch Liberation Army behind Pakistan's Balochistan attacks?
KARACHI, FEB 4 (Reuters) - Pakistan's banned separatist group the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for coordinated gun and bomb attacks that killed dozens of civilians and security personnel and triggered one of the deadliest security operations in Balochistan in years.The BLA...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
REFILE-ANALYSIS-Oil majors snap up West African blocks in hunt for next Brazil
Restocking majors looking beyond US shaleWest Africa a 'super prolific area', Chevron exec says New exploration such as Angola key to sustaining output into 2030s, Shell says Offshore discoveries mirror Brazil, ECO Atlantic CEO saysNamibia showing most promise, including Orange BasinBy Wende...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
Norway's Socialist Party backs down from threat to LNG electricity project
Parliament to vote on LNG plant's power connection on ThursdayOpposition sought to deny the electrification planSocialist Party reverses its position, allowing plan to proceedCritics argue grid connection could drive up power pricesBy Nora BuliOSLO, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Norway's Socialist Party...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
PRECIOUS-Gold holds steady with focus on geopolitics and US jobs data
Gold up about 16% so far in 2026Silver up over 28% this yearADP national employment report misses expectations By Anmol Choubey Feb 4 (Reuters) - Gold prices held steady after paring earlier gains on Wednesday, as attention remained on geopolitical developments and upcoming U.S. jobs data that co...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
FACTBOX-Morgan Stanley raises near-term Brent forecasts, WFII lowers prediction
Feb 4 (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley has raised its near-term Brent forecasts, saying a geopolitical risk premium is likely to persist, but still expects prices below $60 per barrel later this year, it said in a note dated Tuesday.The bank raised its Brent forecast for the first quarter of 2026 to $62.5...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
US gasoline stocks rose in latest week to highest since June 2020, EIA says
NEW YORK, Feb 4 (Reuters) - U.S. gasoline stockpiles rose by 685,000 barrels to 257.9 million barrels in the week ended January 30, their highest since June 2020, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its Petroleum Status Report on Wednesday.Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
Olympics-Ice hockey-France's unlikely NHL veteran Bellemare makes dream Games debut at 40
MILAN, Feb 4 (Reuters) - France forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare describes his Olympic debut at the age of 40 as a dream come true after playing 10 years in the NHL, describing his career as a "very cool story"."It's tough to wash off my smile right now," Bellemare said on Wednes...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery to begin full‑capacity tests in February
Africa's largest refinery began operations in 2024Has been running at 450,000 to 485,000 bpd Full capacity could help cut Nigeria's fuel import billBy Isaac AnyaoguLAGOS, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Nigeria's Dangote Refinery will begin performance test runs at its full nameplate capacity of 650,0...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
Norway's Socialist Party backs down from threat to LNG electricity project
OSLO, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Norway's Socialist Party on Wednesday said it has withdrawn its support for proposal that would have deprived Equinor's EQNR.OL Hammerfest liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant of a planned onshore electricity connection.Parliament is due on Thursday to vote on the opposi...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
Deals of the day-Mergers and acquisitions
Feb 4 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1430 GMT on Wednesday: Biotech firm PrimeGen US will go public in the United States through a $1.5 billion deal with blank-check company DT Cloud Star Acquisition DTSQ.O, the companies said. nL4N3Z01EU ...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
SOFTS-Arabica coffee hits 5-1/2 month low while cocoa also falls
LONDON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Arabica coffee prices slumped to a 5-1/2 month low on Wednesday weighed by the prospect of a larger crop in top producer Brazil this year while cocoa prices also fell. COFFEEArabica coffee KCc1 was down 0.6% at $3.1515 per lb by 1426 GMT after hitting a 5-1/2 month lo...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
US natural gas futures rise 2% on LNG export boost
Gas futures rise despite warmer weather forecastsVolatility in gas futures hits record high, boosting trading volumeU.S. LNG exports increase after Arctic freeze in JanuaryBy Scott DiSavinoNEW YORK, Feb 4 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures climbed about 2% on Wednesday on increases in gas flows to...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
Vance says US will establish price floor system for critical minerals
WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President JD Vance told a meeting of than 50 countries on Wednesday aimed at boosting access to critical minerals that the U.S. will establish a system creating price floors for the commodities.Vance said the United States was proposing a trading bloc for crit...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
CBOT Trends-Wheat down 3-4 cents, corn down 1-2, soy down 1 to 3
CHICAGO, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The following are U.S. expectations for the resumption of grain and soy complex trading at the Chicago Board of Trade at 8:30 a.m. CST (1430 GMT) on Wednesday: WHEAT - Down 3 to 4 cents per bushelCBOT wheat Wv1 fell, curbed by a firm dollar as traders assessed weather ...Reuters
Wed, Feb 4
