China orders SOEs to hire former soldiers
China’s government is promising “jobs for the boys” after ordering state-owned enterprises to employ some of the 300,000 soldiers who are being laid off as part of an ambitious modernisation Continue Reading
Large China smelters to cut 200,000 T spot copper sales in 2016: source
Nine large copper smelters in China have agreed to cut sales of spot metal by as much as 200,000 tonnes in the first quarter of 2016 to counter low prices, Continue Reading
10 Big Stories News Media Ignored in 2015
When Sonoma State University professor Carl Jensen started looking into the new media’s practice of self-censorship in 1976, the Internet was only a dream and most computers were still big Continue Reading
Iraqi army needs Kurds’ help to retake Mosul
Volunteers to fight the Islamic State, from different Iraqi factions including Kurdish and Yazidis, train at a camping area near Kurdish security points on Bashiqa mountain, around 15km Northeast of Continue Reading
Oil Halts Gains Near 3-Week High as Iran Says Exports `Priority’
Oil in New York halted gains near a three-week high as Iran repeated its goal of boosting exports after sanctions on the country are lifted. Futures were little changed after Continue Reading
Survival of fittest for commodities shipping firms in 2016
Shipping companies that transport commodities such as coal, iron ore and grain face a painful year ahead, with only the strongest expected to weather a deepening crisis caused by tepid Continue Reading
All about China and oil again as shares slip
Shares in Europe and Asia fell on Monday in trade thinned by holidays in a number of financial centres, hit by slumping oil prices and concerns over Chinese growth and Continue Reading
Iraqi Forces Recapture Islamic State-Held Compound in Ramadi
Iraqi forces have recaptured the main government complex in Ramadi held by Islamic State since May, a day after the extremist group’s leader said in a rare audio address that Continue Reading
Mutual fund investors burnt by energy in 2015
One of the hottest categories of mutual funds in recent years inflicted the harshest losses on investors in 2015, the result of a toxic combination of sliding oil prices and Continue Reading
In Canada’s far north, warm weather threatens vital ice road
Wild blueberries and lichen grow on the tundra at the Kennady Diamonds exploration camp in the Northwest Territories in this picture taken September 25, 2015. Each winter, in the far Continue Reading
Ruble Drops to 2015 Low on Year-End Budget Flows as Oil Tumbles
The ruble fell to its weakest level this year as oil resumed declines and investors speculated a traditional pick-up in end-of-year budget spending will hurt the Russian currency by pumping Continue Reading
The Top 10 Energy Stories Of 2015
Introduction As I have done for several years now, I like to close out the year by highlighting the top stories in the energy sector. The 2015 list was challenging, Continue Reading
Powerful Storm System Across South and Midwest Kills at Least 14
A powerful storm system that tore across parts of the South and Midwest claimed lives and destroyed homes and businesses just as final preparations for Christmas celebrations were under way. Continue Reading
California Faces Lost Decades in Solving Drought
One of the seemingly easiest ways to expand California’s water supply would be to raise the height of the 602-foot Shasta Dam by 18.5 feet, adding the equivalent of another Continue Reading
Oil Crash Is a Party Pooper as Holiday Affairs Lose Their Luster
Crude Oil Shows Signs of Recovery The Grinch nearly stole Christmas in the oil patch this year. Thanks to the lowest crude and natural gas prices in more than a Continue Reading
Oil traders recall 2008 holiday bounce, but see no gift for bulls
At the tail end of 2008, the last time oil prices traded at $35 a barrel, some vacationing oil traders missed out on an abrupt $16 surge that helped define Continue Reading
Forget El Niño: La Niña Poised to Storm the Markets
HONG KONG—As El Niño reaches its peak this winter, investors are already bracing for its sister climate phenomenon, La Niña, to be next to upend weather patterns and potentially wreak Continue Reading
Russia oil output forecast to rise next year despite low prices: Reuters poll
Oil output in Russia is expected to rise to a new post-Soviet high in 2016 despite a steep decline in prices as new fields come online and producers enjoy lower Continue Reading
End to US oil export ban should not affect market- Russian minister
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said the United States’ decision to lift a ban on oil exports should not affect the global oil market. “This should not affect the market, Continue Reading
Oil up after U.S. crude stocks drop, still close to 11-year lows
Oil prices edged up on Wednesday after an unexpected fall in U.S. crude inventories but remained not far above 11-year lows as supplies remain abundant and as OPEC lowered the Continue Reading
Oil edges higher away from 11-year lows
Prices of the world’s two main oil benchmarks became equal on Tuesday, reflecting different paths for crude supplied from the US and elsewhere. At midday in New York, Nymex February Continue Reading
Oil Prices Recover Slightly From Record Low
The oil market recovered slightly on Tuesday after a volatile start to the week when global benchmark Brent touched lows not seen since 2004 and West Texas Intermediate sank below Continue Reading
Extreme Oil Bears Bet on $25, $20 and Even $15 a Barrel in 2016
Crude Oil Heads for a Second Annual Loss Oil speculators are buying options contracts that will only pay out if crude drops to as low as $15 a barrel next Continue Reading
Oil Bettors Seek Safety in Proxies
Some traders anticipating a rebound in oil are making an indirect bet: wagering on energy companies and the currencies of oil-producing nations instead of the commodity itself. Their approach is Continue Reading
Oil Slump to 11-Year Low Just a Taste of Pain Felt by Producers
Crude Outlook: What’s in Store for Oil in 2016? If oil’s slump to an 11-year low stung traders, it’s just a taste of the hardship felt by the industry. Brent’s Continue Reading
Nigeria’s Buhari Gives First Hint He’ll Accept Naira Devaluation
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari hinted for the first time that he would accept a devaluation of the naira, spurring speculation it may take place early next year when the local Continue Reading
Tumbling oil erases decade of China-fuelled super cycle
Oil has shed two-thirds of its value since mid-2014 in a rout that essentially means gains from a decade-long commodity super-cycle have been wiped out — as if China’s unprecedented Continue Reading
U.S. Crude-Oil Stockpiles Expected to Increase
U.S. crude-oil stocks are expected to increase in data due Wednesday from the Department of Energy, according to a survey of analysts by The Wall Street Journal. Estimates from 10 Continue Reading