New surge in Russia-Ukraine tensions as both countries block transit February 15, 2016 Ukrainian trucks have been banned from Russia, in retaliation to the blocking of Russian vehicles in Ukraine, said Russia's transport ministry. “The measures will be in place until a settlement of issues of illegal blocking of Russian auto vehicles on the Ukrainian territory by the Ukrainian side,” the ministry said in a prepared statement cited by [...]
Shell share price rises as it completes takeover of BG: Are energy companies’ forecasts in line with reality? February 15, 2016 As Royal Dutch Shell's takeover of BG completes today, it's time to take stock and question the aptness of energy company's forecasts. Shell has said that the deal with BG will work with oil prices in the low $60s, however a number of analysts have since cut their forecasts for Brent crude. At the beginning [...]
Eurozone exports climb five per cent in 2015 as sales to the US soar February 15, 2016 The value of goods and services exported by the Eurozone climbed by five per cent last year compared with 2014. The currency-bloc sold €167.5bn (£129.6bn) of goods to the rest of the world in December, taking the 2015 total to €2.04 trillion, according to data released this morning by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. [...]
Russia: Better Iran-Saudi Arabia ties will help oil prices February 15, 2016 Russia has indicated it would like to see better relations between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, at a time when oil markets are awash with speculation of a production cut deal. A senior official at Russia's foreign ministry, Zamir Kabulov, reportedly said that this would help oil prices, which have fallen to around $33 per [...]
Billions wiped from the value of the oil and gas industry February 15, 2016 The oil and gas industry has splurged £10bn over the past 12 months in an attempt to protect dividends, according to new research from trading house Banc De Binary. The value of cash and assets held by oil and gas companies listed on the London Stock Exchange has plummeted from £151.8bn this time last year [...]
Russian prime minister Dmirtry Medvedev warns of “new cold war” after airstrikes on Syria February 13, 2016 The prime minister of Russia has warned that the world is edging closer to a "new cold war" after European leaders accused his nation's airstrikes on Syria of attacking the civilian population. Dmirtry Medvedev told the 52nd annual Munich Security Conference that a lack of cooperation in Syria was pushing Europe to where it was "40 [...]
A response to George Soros: Putin might be a threat to the West – but that doesn’t mean Islamic State is any less so February 12, 2016 George Soros, world renowned billionaire and philanthropist, has claimed that Russian President Putin is a greater threat to Europe than Islamic State (Isis). Putin certainly is a threat to Western interests, and potentially to Europe on account of its close proximity to the territories Putin may look to encroach upon. So it is certainly important that [...]
Will the gold rally last? Market turmoil, dropping mining production and geopolitical worries will keep the price of gold up February 12, 2016 It’s been a tough start to the year. Equity markets are down between 10 and 20 per cent, yields have shrunk and the US dollar has tumbled. Worries of a global recession, its impact on the banking sector and the implications for monetary policy stalk the market. But gold has performed well, up over 15 [...]
As the world descends into global chaos, the United States is on the border of disorder February 12, 2016 As the world’s foreign and defence policy elite descend on the Bavarian capital for this weekend’s 52nd annual Munich Security Conference participants and observers are likely to ask: Where are the Americans? True, the congressional delegation is strong, with a dozen or so senators and representatives making the trip. But apart from secretary of state [...]
UK steel crisis: Steel industry attacks business secretary Sajid Javid, saying it was “galling” to rule out higher tariffs for Chinese steel February 10, 2016 Business secretary Sajid Javid rejected calls for higher tariffs on Chinese steel today, less than one week after signing a letter with his counterparts from France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Belgium and Luxembourg demanding that the European Commission "use every means available and take strong action" in response to "unfair trade practices". Javid told MPs on the Business, Innovation [...]