Netanyahu on Groundbreaking Oman Visit for Peace Process Talks - Bloomberg:
Benjamin Netanyahu visited Oman Friday, the first official trip by an Israeli leader to the Gulf nation since 1996, for surprise talks with its reclusive leader on the stalled peace process with the Palestinians.
Sultan Qaboos, the 77-year-old Omani ruler, and Netanyahu “discussed ways to push forward the peace process in the Middle East as well as some issues of mutual interest that would serve peace and stability in the region,” according to identical statements sent by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and the state-run Oman news agency. The visit wasn’t made public until Netanyahu was back in Israel around 4 p.m. local time.
The trip comes as the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has triggered turmoil in the Middle East as it casts a shadow over the leadership of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Trump administration made the 33-year-old de facto ruler of the kingdom a cornerstone of its entire Mideast policy, including a yet-to-be released plan to revive Israeli-Palestinian talks.
Friday 26 October 2018
Total will be disappointed if it misses out on Qatar LNG expansion -CFO | Reuters
Total will be disappointed if it misses out on Qatar LNG expansion -CFO | Reuters:
French oil and gas major Total will be disappointed if it misses out on Qatar’s planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) expansion, the company’s Chief Financial Officer said on Friday.
“We are very interested in Qatar LNG with the decision made by the Qataris to increase their capacity with four trains of roughly 30 million tonnes,” Patrick de La Chevardiere told analysts during a call.
“We’ll be disappointed if we are not part of Qatar’s LNG expansion,” he said.
French oil and gas major Total will be disappointed if it misses out on Qatar’s planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) expansion, the company’s Chief Financial Officer said on Friday.
“We are very interested in Qatar LNG with the decision made by the Qataris to increase their capacity with four trains of roughly 30 million tonnes,” Patrick de La Chevardiere told analysts during a call.
“We’ll be disappointed if we are not part of Qatar’s LNG expansion,” he said.
Britain's SFO denied permission to charge Barclays over 2008 fundraising | Reuters
Britain's SFO denied permission to charge Barclays over 2008 fundraising | Reuters:
A High Court judge has denied a Serious Fraud Office application to charge Barclays (BARC.L) over its 2008 capital raising, potentially ending the biggest remaining legal headache facing the British bank over its conduct during the financial crisis.
A British court dismissed the charges against the bank last May in a decision that the SFO, which prosecutes financial crimes, said it would seek to reverse by applying to the High Court to reinstate them.
“The High Court has today denied the SFO’s application to reinstate in respect of all of the charges. As a result, all of the charges remain dismissed,” Barclays said in a statement.
A High Court judge has denied a Serious Fraud Office application to charge Barclays (BARC.L) over its 2008 capital raising, potentially ending the biggest remaining legal headache facing the British bank over its conduct during the financial crisis.
A British court dismissed the charges against the bank last May in a decision that the SFO, which prosecutes financial crimes, said it would seek to reverse by applying to the High Court to reinstate them.
“The High Court has today denied the SFO’s application to reinstate in respect of all of the charges. As a result, all of the charges remain dismissed,” Barclays said in a statement.
U.S. drillers add oil rigs for third week in a row: Baker Hughes | Reuters
U.S. drillers add oil rigs for third week in a row: Baker Hughes | Reuters:
U.S. energy firms added oil rigs for a third week in a row for the first time since June, keeping the rig count at its highest in over three years, as declining productivity in some shale fields force companies to drill more to keep output growing.
Drillers added two oil rigs in the week to Oct. 26, bringing the total count to 875, the highest level since March 2015, General Electric Co’s Baker Hughes energy services firm said in its closely followed report on Friday.
For the month, the rig count rose 12 in October, the biggest monthly increase since drillers added 34 rigs in May. That was also the first time the count increased for four months in a row since July 2017, but the increases from July through to September where marginal as new drilling largely stalled due to pipeline constraints in the Permian Basin.
U.S. energy firms added oil rigs for a third week in a row for the first time since June, keeping the rig count at its highest in over three years, as declining productivity in some shale fields force companies to drill more to keep output growing.
Drillers added two oil rigs in the week to Oct. 26, bringing the total count to 875, the highest level since March 2015, General Electric Co’s Baker Hughes energy services firm said in its closely followed report on Friday.
For the month, the rig count rose 12 in October, the biggest monthly increase since drillers added 34 rigs in May. That was also the first time the count increased for four months in a row since July 2017, but the increases from July through to September where marginal as new drilling largely stalled due to pipeline constraints in the Permian Basin.
Oil rises ahead of Iran sanctions but falls for a third week | Reuters
Oil rises ahead of Iran sanctions but falls for a third week | Reuters:
Oil prices rose on Friday, supported by expectations that sanctions on Iran would tighten global supplies, but futures posted a weekly drop as a slump in stock markets and concerns about trade wars clouded the fuel demand outlook.
Brent crude LCOc1 futures rose 73 cents, or 1 percent, to settle at $77.62 a barrel. The global benchmark marked a weekly loss of about 2.7 percent and is down about $10 in three weeks.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 futures rose 26 cents, or 0.4 percent, to end at $67.59 a barrel. It posted a weekly loss of about 2.3 percent.
Oil prices rose on Friday, supported by expectations that sanctions on Iran would tighten global supplies, but futures posted a weekly drop as a slump in stock markets and concerns about trade wars clouded the fuel demand outlook.
Brent crude LCOc1 futures rose 73 cents, or 1 percent, to settle at $77.62 a barrel. The global benchmark marked a weekly loss of about 2.7 percent and is down about $10 in three weeks.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 futures rose 26 cents, or 0.4 percent, to end at $67.59 a barrel. It posted a weekly loss of about 2.3 percent.
Norway wealth fund plans to double Saudi investments -CEO | Reuters
Norway wealth fund plans to double Saudi investments -CEO | Reuters:
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund expects to double its investments in Saudi Arabia when the country is included in the fund’s reference index a few months from now, Chief Executive Yngve Slyngstad said on Friday.
The fund currently has Saudi assets worth 6.9 billion Norwegian crowns ($824.82 million).
The recent turmoil surrounding the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi did not influence the investments.
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund expects to double its investments in Saudi Arabia when the country is included in the fund’s reference index a few months from now, Chief Executive Yngve Slyngstad said on Friday.
The fund currently has Saudi assets worth 6.9 billion Norwegian crowns ($824.82 million).
The recent turmoil surrounding the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi did not influence the investments.
Turkey’s Erdogan turns Khashoggi case to his advantage | Financial Times
Turkey’s Erdogan turns Khashoggi case to his advantage | Financial Times:
Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week lamented the killing of Jamal Khashoggi on Turkish soil as a “savage” crime against a man he called a friend. But the alleged murder of the Saudi journalist has also presented the Turkish president with an opportunity to gain an unexpected advantage in a regional power struggle.
On one side are Mr Erdogan, whose roots are in Islamist politics, and Qatar, a country that has joined him in supporting like-minded actors across the region. On the other are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, countries staunchly opposed to Islamist political groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood, which they view as a threat to stability.
“Erdogan has grasped an opportunity to go after this tripartite alliance,” said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkey programme at the Washington Institute, a think-tank. “And he’s now going after its weakest link.”
Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week lamented the killing of Jamal Khashoggi on Turkish soil as a “savage” crime against a man he called a friend. But the alleged murder of the Saudi journalist has also presented the Turkish president with an opportunity to gain an unexpected advantage in a regional power struggle.
On one side are Mr Erdogan, whose roots are in Islamist politics, and Qatar, a country that has joined him in supporting like-minded actors across the region. On the other are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, countries staunchly opposed to Islamist political groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood, which they view as a threat to stability.
“Erdogan has grasped an opportunity to go after this tripartite alliance,” said Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkey programme at the Washington Institute, a think-tank. “And he’s now going after its weakest link.”
Oil market’s calm masks signs of stormy trading ahead | Financial Times
Oil market’s calm masks signs of stormy trading ahead | Financial Times:
Just three weeks ago oil traders were worrying about a severe supply shortage materialising by the end of the fourth quarter, with the market abuzz with talk about $100-a-barrel crude and the return of US sanctions against Iran.
But as October draws to a close, oil’s four-year high of $86 a barrel, hit on the third day of the month, suddenly appears a long way in the rear view mirror.
Prices have dropped 12 per cent to near $76 a barrel, bringing with it the first early mutterings from Opec members about the dangers of a glut of supplies swamping the market.
Just three weeks ago oil traders were worrying about a severe supply shortage materialising by the end of the fourth quarter, with the market abuzz with talk about $100-a-barrel crude and the return of US sanctions against Iran.
But as October draws to a close, oil’s four-year high of $86 a barrel, hit on the third day of the month, suddenly appears a long way in the rear view mirror.
Prices have dropped 12 per cent to near $76 a barrel, bringing with it the first early mutterings from Opec members about the dangers of a glut of supplies swamping the market.
Erdogan lambasts ‘childish’ Saudi claims over Khashoggi death | Financial Times
Erdogan lambasts ‘childish’ Saudi claims over Khashoggi death | Financial Times:
Recep Tayyip Erdogan attacked Saudi Arabia’s “childish” claims about the death of Jamal Khashoggi on Friday as he piled fresh pressure on the Gulf kingdom.
In a speech to ruling party officials in Ankara, the Turkish president angrily demanded answers from Riyadh over the killing of the Saudi journalist and lambasted its “comic” explanations for his death.
“These childish statements are not incompatible with the seriousness of a [nation] state,” he said.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan attacked Saudi Arabia’s “childish” claims about the death of Jamal Khashoggi on Friday as he piled fresh pressure on the Gulf kingdom.
In a speech to ruling party officials in Ankara, the Turkish president angrily demanded answers from Riyadh over the killing of the Saudi journalist and lambasted its “comic” explanations for his death.
“These childish statements are not incompatible with the seriousness of a [nation] state,” he said.
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