June, 2020

• 8 June

  Indonesia cuts cost assumption for biodiesel production

  Bloomberg Indonesia, the world’s largest palm-oil producer, has cut the cost assumption of converting crude palm oil into biodiesel by 20% to $80 per metric ton, according to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. The revision, effective this month, is needed to ensure the mandatory program to blend 30% of palm-biofuel with 70% gasoil, known as B30, continues even as …

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• 8 June

  Record oil imports lead China energy recovery

  Bloomberg Crude oil led a recovery in China’s energy imports, rising to a record and feeding a rebound in industrial and consumer activity as restrictions to stop coronavirus infections ease. Imports rose to 47.97 million tons in May, or 11.3 million barrels a day, according to customs data. Ship-tracking data show tanker arrivals last month rose to pre-virus levels, as …

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• 7 June

  Emerging currencies enjoy best week in 4 years as dollar drops

  

  Bloomberg The US dollar’s bearish turn has opened the floodgates into emerging markets, helping currencies to get on board a rally so far driven by equities and bonds. The MSCI gauge for emerging-market exchange rates had the best weekly advance in more than four years and is flashing indicators of further gains. That’s helped to add at least $1 trillion …

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• 7 June

  Dubai shares climb the most after Opec extends output cuts

  

  Bloomberg Dubai shares climbed the most in the Gulf on after Opec+ agreed to a one-month extension of its record output cuts, underpinning recovery in oil prices. The DFM General Index rose as much as 3.0%, trimming losses this year to 24%. Gauges in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Oman gained between 0.2% and 1.6%. Major oil producers decided …

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• 7 June

  Canadian stocks post their best week in two months

  Bloomberg Canadian stocks posted their best week in about two months, turbocharged by an unexpected rebound in the US and domestic labour market from the depths of the coronavirus shutdowns. The S&P/TSX Composite Index jumped 2.1% to close out the week 4.4% higher, its biggest gain since the week of April 10 as Canada added jobs 290,000 jobs in May, …

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• 7 June

  Egypt, IMF agree on $5.2b stand-by arrangement

  

  CAIRO / WAM In response to a request from the Egyptian authorities, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Uma Ramakrishnan held virtual meetings with the Egyptian authorities to discuss IMF financial support for the authorities’ policy plans to ensure macroeconomic stability and a strong economic recovery. At the end of the virtual discussions, Ramakrishnan issued the following statement. …

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• 7 June

  Yemen calls on World Bank to intensify support

  RIYADH / WAM The Yemeni government has called on the World Bank to increase its support to the country amid the “huge challenges” its facing as a result of the war fueled by Iranian-backed Houthis, the Covid-19 pandemic, and climate change, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Yemeni PM Maeen Abdulmalik urged the World Bank to reconsider restructuring the support being …

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• 7 June

  Oil price collapse deals heavy blow to Nigeria’s economy

  

  Bloomberg The collapse in international oil prices, having dealt a devastating blow to Nigeria’s finances, now threatens the West African nation’s shaky federal political system. Earnings from crude sales will plunge 80% to $2.84 billion this year, the nation’s budget office said last month. A protracted loss of income could leave most of Nigeria’s 36 states unable to function. It …

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• 6 June

  Mozambique LNG project raises $15b of debt

  

  Bloomberg Total SA’s liquefied natural gas project in Mozambique raised $15 billion of debt — about the same size as the African country’s economy — exceeding a funding target even as the virus pandemic threatens the global financial system. Energy companies have struggled over the past few months as prices of everything from oil to natural gas slumped with the …

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• 6 June

  Massachusetts to review ‘gas utilities’

  

  Bloomberg Massachusetts’s top law-enforcement officer is asking regulators to investigate the future of natural-gas utilities in the state as it fights climate change. Attorney General Maura Healey called on the Department of Public Utilities to examine what steps need to be taken as the state weans itself off fossil fuels to help meet its goal to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions …

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