News
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Iran seizes foreign tanker carrying 6 million liters of 'smuggled diesel' in Gulf of Oman, state media says
Dec 12 (Reuters) - Iran has seized a foreign tanker allegedly carrying 6 million liters of "smuggled diesel" in the Gulf of Oman, Iranian state media said on Friday. Iran, which has some of the world's lowest fuel prices due to heavy subsidies and the plunge in the value of its national ...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
US natural gas futures slip; set for weekly loss on milder weather, lower demand
US natural gas futures set for first weekly decline in eight weeksMilder weather forecasts reduce natural gas demandEnergy firms pulled more gas than expected during cold snap last weekBy Noel John Dec 12 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures fell to more than a one-month low on Friday, on track f...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
SOFTS-Raw sugar closes up 1.7% on bullish technical signals; robusta coffee finishes at close to four-month low
SAO PAULO, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Raw sugar futures on the ICE exchange hit two-week highs on Friday on bullish technical trade signals, while robusta coffee touched its lowest level in nearly four months.SUGARRaw sugar SBc1 closed 1.7%, or 0.25 cents, higher at 15.10 cents per lb, having hit a two-week...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
Gold remains bid as lack of Fed clarity and geopolitical frictions persist
Gold (XAU/USD) advances modestly on Friday as traders seem to book profits ahead of the weekend, yet clings to gains of over 0.51% after reaching a seven-week high of $4,353. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades at $4,302 as traders digest comments from Federal Reserve (Fed) officials.
Fxstreet
Fri, Dec 12
Trump administration unlikely to finalize 2026 biofuel quotas this year, sources say
EPA still reviewing comments; no end-of-year decision expectedDelay folds quotas into broader oil-agriculture policy talksUncertainty complicates contracts, hedging, and investment decisionsBy Jarrett Renshaw Dec 12 (Reuters) - The Trump administration is not expected to finalize 2026 biofuel-ble...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
GRAINS-Soybeans hit 6-week low as Brazilian harvest looms; corn, wheat sag
Soybean export demand may decline as South American supplies increaseManaged funds hold large net long positions in soybean futuresCorn futures fall due to technical selling and global supplyBy Julie Ingwersen CHICAGO, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Chicago soybean futures fell to six-week lows on Friday...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
Colombia to launch copper production and exploration round with eight qualified firms
By Nelson BocanegraBOGOTA, Dec 12 (Reuters) - At least eight companies have qualified for Colombia's copper, gold and polymetallic exploration round launching next week, Carlos Ortega, vice president of promotion and development at the National Mining Agency (ANM), told Reuters on Friday.Colombi...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
US House passes bill to fast-track natural gas pipeline permitting
WASHINGTON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday voted 213-184 to pass a bill that aims to speed up federal permitting of interstate natural gas pipelines by designating the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the lead agency in the process.The Improving Interagency Coo...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
US drillers cut oil and gas rigs for second time in three weeks, says Baker Hughes
By Scott DiSavino and Anjana Anil NEW YORK, Dec 12 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for a second time in three weeks, energy services firm Baker Hughes BKR.O said in its closely followed report on Friday.The oil and gas rig count, an ear...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
Brazil to auction massive Santos container terminal in early March, minister says
By Rodrigo Viga Gaier RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Brazil's federal government plans to hold the auction of the Santos port's massive Tecon 10 container terminal in the first half of March, Ports and Airports Minister Silvio Costa Filho said on Friday.The auction has drawn interest ...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
Small rise in EU wheat prices capped by hefty competition
PARIS, Dec 12 (Reuters) - European wheat prices edged higher on Friday but remained lower on the week as ample global supplies and steep competition continued to weigh.Benchmark March milling wheat BL2H6 on Paris-based Euronext closed 0.3% higher at 189.00 euros ($221.79) a metric ton. On the Chicag...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
Cuba on edge as US seizure of oil tanker puts supply at risk
Seizure threatens Cuba's oil supply from Venezuela, may worsen economic crisisVenezuela's oil covers about 50% of Cuba's deficit, loss may strain energy infrastructureDiaz-Canel calls US tanker seizure 'piracy'Cuba to fast-track the building of solar parksBy Dave Sherwood and Mar...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
Turkey warns of Black Sea escalation, seeks halt to attacks after ship damaged in Ukraine
ANKARA, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Turkey on Friday called for an urgent end to the Russia-Ukraine war after a Turkish-owned cargo vessel was damaged in an attack on Ukraine’s Chornomorsk port, saying the incident underscored risks to Black Sea maritime security.In a foreign ministry statement, Ankara also ...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
US admiral leading US troops in Latin America steps down
US has carried out strikes on suspected drug vessels in the CaribbeanDeparture follows other senior military exits under US Defense Secretary HegsethTrump administration has signaled foreign policy shift toward Western HemisphereBy Phil Stewart MIAMI, Dec 12 (Reuters) - The admiral in charge of U...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
JBS to close California beef plant
By Tom Polansek CHICAGO, Dec 12 (Reuters) - JBS will permanently close a facility outside Los Angeles that prepares beef for sale at U.S. grocery stores, the world's largest meat company said on Friday, as tight cattle supplies have raised costs for meatpackers.JBS will shut its Swift Beef Co...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
How tight supply, AI demand propelled copper towards $12,000
Investors looking for exposure to AI buy copperSprott's copper ETF prices up 46% so far this yearUS copper prices attract shipmentsBy Polina Devitt and Pratima Desai LONDON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Copper is closing in on the $12,000 a metric ton mark as expectations of soaring demand from data ce...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
METALS-Copper slumps after hitting record as tech bubble fears resurface
Dec 12 (Reuters) - Copper plunged more than 3% on Friday, after hitting a record high earlier in the session, as renewed fears of the AI bubble bursting sparked a broad sell-off of riskier assets.Benchmark three-month copper CMCU3 on the London Metal Exchange fell as much as 3.5% to $11,451.50 and w...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
Europe Gasoline/Naphtha-Gasoline refining profit margins fall
LONDON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Northwest European gasoline refinery profit margins fell by about $1.26 to $13.27 a barrel on Friday.About 14,000 metric tons of Eurobob E5 gasoline traded on barges as Exxon Mobil and Trafigura sold to Gunvor, TotalEnergies, Varo and BP. Exxon sold an E10 gasoline barge t...Reuters
Fri, Dec 12
