Tuesday , 16 December 2025

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US refiners at full throttle as margins under threat

Bloomberg US refiners have returned from maintenance with a vengeance, processing more than 18 million barrels a day of crude and other oils for the first time in the week ended June 22. What does that mean for the markets? Gasoline stockpiles have increased 2.9 percent in June, the biggest gain for the month since 2009. There’s enough supply to …

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Free oil market to reign in Argentina, says minister

Bloomberg Argentina’s move to a free market for energy prices remains on track. A recent decision to cap crude oil prices and limit fuel price gains in order to stem inflation was an outlier, according to Javier Iguacel, the nation’s new energy minister. Restricting crude price increases only extinguishes competition and, in turn, the possibility of cutting costs, he said. …

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Oil surges above $75 as supply outages outpace OPEC

Bloomberg Crude soared above $75 a barrel in New York for the first time since 2014 on signs global supply outages outweigh OPEC’s pledged production rise. Futures in New York jumped as much as 1.7 percent. Even as US President Donald Trump — facing sky-high retail gasoline prices ahead of midterm elections — urges to boost output more than it …

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China verbally props up yuan as trade, growth fears spike

Bloomberg Two top Chinese central bank officials vowed to keep the yuan stable on Tuesday, stoking speculation that policy makers are prepared to take tougher actions to arrest the plunge in the currency. Using standard language to describe the stance on the currency, People’s Bank of China Governor Yi Gang said China will “keep the yuan exchange rate basically stable …

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S African central bank seeks Capitec fee probe

Bloomberg The South African Reserve Bank has written to the National Credit Regulator requesting a probe into loan- origination fees charged by Capitec Bank Holdings Ltd., according to a person familiar with the matter. The referral came after the issue was raised in a report by short-seller Viceroy Research in January, said the person, asking not to be identified because …

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SocGen buys Commerzbank markets unit

Bloomberg Societe Generale SA is acquiring the Commerzbank AG business that includes the German lender’s exchange-traded products and market-making operations as it seeks expansion in Europe’s largest economy. The French bank will take over investments products, flow products and asset management businesses based in Frankfurt, London, Paris, Hong Kong and Zurich, according to an e-mailed statement on Tuesday. While it …

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US banks weak after worst reversal in 3 years

Bloomberg US financials are still nursing their June hangover. The Financial Select Sector SPDR exchange-traded fund is trading to the downside yet again in early trading, weighed down by Citigroup and Bank of America. The drop follows the KBW Bank Index’s dramatic day that delivered the biggest intraday reversal — from up as much as 2.1 percent to ending in …

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Australia holds rate as currency drop offers export support

Bloomberg Australia left its key interest rate unchanged at a record low on Tuesday as the currency’s recent decline aids the economy by offering exporters some insulation against global trade ructions. Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe kept the cash rate at 1.5 percent, as expected by all economists and where it’s stood since August 2016. The Australian dollar this week …

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