World shares headed toward a second consecutive weekly loss on Friday as U.S. government fiscal problems and weak global economic growth weighed on sentiment, while violence in the Middle East pushed up oil prices despite ample stockpiles and a weak outlook for demand.
U.S. stocks briefly rebounded after the open on a report that White House officials were in advanced talks to replace sweeping spending cuts with targeted cuts and tax increases in a move to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff" in early 2013.
"This is the first time we've had one iota of anything constructive being done," said Todd Schoenberger, managing principal at the BlackBay Group in New York.
Friday, 16 November 2012
Prompt Dubai backwardation surges to highest level since end June - Oil | Platts News Article & Story
Prompt backwardation between first and second month cash Dubai surged to $1.75/barrel Friday, a rise of 47 cents/b day-on-day, as refiners looked to cover requirements for January loading Middle Eastern sour crudes, trading sources said.
The intermonth backwardation was the strongest since June 29 when it was assessed at the same level.
"Refiners are scrambling about, the market is snowballing," a trader at a trading house said.
The intermonth backwardation was the strongest since June 29 when it was assessed at the same level.
"Refiners are scrambling about, the market is snowballing," a trader at a trading house said.
Ukraine cuts dependence on Gazprom | beyondbrics
Ignoring predictions of waning European gas demand, Russia’s Gazprom is pressing ahead with plans to build costly new pipelines to bypass Ukraine. Moscow wants to squeeze Kiev by funnelling EU-bound gas exports around what it sees as a troublesome neighbour.
But the policy is inadvertently driving Ukraine to do what it should have done long ago – reduce dependence on Russian-supplied gas by diversification and energy efficiency. Annual gas imports from Russia have already plunged from 70bn cubic metres a decade ago to under 30bn bcm this year – and are set to fall further.
In sealing approval this week from holdout Bulgaria, the stage is now set for Russia and its European partners to build the $19bn South Stream pipeline across the Black Sea to south east Europe – a twin for the Nord Stream route, that pumps gas under the Baltic Sea to Germany.
But the policy is inadvertently driving Ukraine to do what it should have done long ago – reduce dependence on Russian-supplied gas by diversification and energy efficiency. Annual gas imports from Russia have already plunged from 70bn cubic metres a decade ago to under 30bn bcm this year – and are set to fall further.
In sealing approval this week from holdout Bulgaria, the stage is now set for Russia and its European partners to build the $19bn South Stream pipeline across the Black Sea to south east Europe – a twin for the Nord Stream route, that pumps gas under the Baltic Sea to Germany.
Abu Dhabi's Aabar writes down Glencore stake | Reuters
A top shareholder in Glencore (GLEN.L), Abu Dhabi's Aabar Investments, has written off more $392 million of its $1 billion investment in the commodities trader, less than two years after taking part in its record listing.
Aabar, a unit of Abu Dhabi's state-owned International Petroleum Investment Co INPTV.UL, became the largest new shareholder in Glencore when the mining-to-trading giant went public in May 2011, investing $1 billion.
According to financial statements filed by IPIC on Thursday, Aabar, which owns 1.4 percent of Glencore, has recognized an impairment loss of $392 million. It gave no further details.
Aabar, a unit of Abu Dhabi's state-owned International Petroleum Investment Co INPTV.UL, became the largest new shareholder in Glencore when the mining-to-trading giant went public in May 2011, investing $1 billion.
According to financial statements filed by IPIC on Thursday, Aabar, which owns 1.4 percent of Glencore, has recognized an impairment loss of $392 million. It gave no further details.
Dubai predicts stronger growth - FT.com
Dubai has revived its growth forecasts in a sign of the indebted emirate’s growing confidence in its nascent economic recovery.
Officials used a high-profile World Economic Forum meeting in Dubai, which closed on Wednesday, to reaffirm growth targets that had been quietly shelved since the real estate crisis of 2008, when property values fell by up to two-thirds.
The government says nominal gross domestic product will reach Dh490bn ($133bn) by 2015, up from Dh367bn in 2011, with the emirate averaging real growth of 4.5 to 5 per cent a year through 2015.
Officials used a high-profile World Economic Forum meeting in Dubai, which closed on Wednesday, to reaffirm growth targets that had been quietly shelved since the real estate crisis of 2008, when property values fell by up to two-thirds.
The government says nominal gross domestic product will reach Dh490bn ($133bn) by 2015, up from Dh367bn in 2011, with the emirate averaging real growth of 4.5 to 5 per cent a year through 2015.
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