Bloomberg Italy’s government is readying as much as 4 billion euros ($4.5 billion) to offer immediate help to consumers hit by energy prices, while it works on a wide range of longer term measures, people familiar with the matter said. The aid won’t require parliament to authorize fresh debt, and can rely instead on other revenue streams such as …

  Bloomberg Japan’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) inventories slumped to a seven-month low as colder weather increased demand and Europe hoarded shipments of the super-chilled fuel. LNG shipments — particularly those exported from US projects — are rerouting from Asia to Europe to take advantage of more attractive prices. That’s leaving less supply for Asian importers, and the cargoes that are …

  Bloomberg The UK government will probably wait until March to announce measures to help consumers facing record bills amid the nation’s worst energy crisis in decades. Chancellor Rishi Sunak is due to give an outlook for the economy and public finances in his Spring Statement on March 23. It would be “unusual” for any aid to be announced by …