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DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Qatar, the world’s largest exporter of liquified natural gas, will run its first budget surplus in three years in 2019 due to higher energy prices, a government statement said Thursday. The surplus will reach 4.3 billion Qatari riyals ($1.2bn, 1 billion euros) because of an expected sustained rise in prices. The statement also said Qatar would delay plans to introduce a value-added tax (VAT), initially anticipated for this year. But it […]
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Confidence among Japan’s biggest manufacturers was unchanged this quarter after slipping for three consecutive surveys, central bank data showed on Friday. The Bank of Japan’s Tankan report — a quarterly survey of about 10,000 companies — showed a reading of 19 among major manufacturers in its December survey. The reading was unchanged from the previous quarter when corporate confidence was down for the third time in a row. Economists say the […]
by Heather SCOTT Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — American farmers have been forced to warehouse a bumper crop of soybeans, or sell at a loss, while a Midwest medical supply company is considering shipping production overseas amid growing uncertainty. Surveys of US business and consumer sentiment continued to show economic optimism going into next year but cracks are beginning to form — in the United States and around the world — with […]
by Joseph SOTINEL / Jastinder KHERA Agence France Presse VIENNA, Austria (AFP) — OPEC members and 10 other oil producing nations, including Russia, agreed Friday to cut output by 1.2 million barrels a day in a bid to reverse falls in prices in recent months. Energy ministers reached the deal — which takes effect from January 1 but has already sent prices surging on oil markets — after two days of talks at OPEC […]
Saudi oil minister said he is “not confident” about chances of a deal on oil production cuts after a long day of negotiations at OPEC headquarters in Vienna. OPEC ministers resumed talks Friday before further discussions with 10 key partner countries, including Russia, later in the day to thrash out an agreement on production cuts. Amid sharp differences over which way to go, the oil market continued under pressure. In early trade Friday, the […]
by Joseph Sotinel and Simon Morgan Agence France Presse VIENNA, Austria (AFP) — OPEC members and other oil-producing countries mulled cuts in output Thursday to prop up plunging prices, defying repeated calls by US President Donald Trump that they keep the taps open. “We’re looking for a sufficient cut to balance the market, equally distributed between countries,” Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih told reporters ahead of an OPEC meeting in the Austrian capital. Oil […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged OPEC members not to slash production at their upcoming meeting, saying global oil prices should remain low. Trump’s comment came as members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil-producing nations prepared to meet Thursday and Friday in Vienna to discuss lowering their output. “Hopefully OPEC will be keeping oil flows as is, not restricted. The World does not want […]
ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP) — Switzerland’s economy abruptly went into reverse in the third quarter, contracting by 0.2 percent, with exports tumbling and even the country’s vaunted financial sector seeing growth halt. “The strong, continuous growth phase enjoyed by the Swiss economy for one and a half years was suddenly interrupted,” said the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). “Switzerland is thus following the significant economic downturn seen at the same time in other European countries, […]
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo stocks rose for the third straight session on Tuesday, as investor sentiment improved following rallies on Wall Street with expectations growing for a year-end shopping spree. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 0.64 percent or 140.40 points to close at 21,952.40, while the broader Topix index was up 0.73 percent or 11.96 points at 1,644.16. “The Tokyo market took a positive lead from New York, where stocks rallied with a […]
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian markets swung throughout Friday as investors weighed China-US trade speculation, while the pound struggled to stage a strong recovery from the previous day’s Brexit-fueled bruising. As a volatile week drew to a close, some stability emerged in the oil sector with earlier sharp losses tailing off, providing relief to regional energy firms. Hopes that the world’s top two economies are making efforts to resolve their painful tariffs standoff provided […]
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo stocks opened higher on Wednesday, rebounding from the previous day’s sharp drops on news of US-China trade talks and Britain’s announcement of a draft exit deal with the European Union. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index, which ended down more than 2.0 percent on Tuesday, rose 0.51 percent or 111.27 points, to 21,921.79 in early trade while the broader Topix index was up 0.56 percent or 9.19 points at 1,647.64. Overnight […]
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian markets turned lower Friday as investors took their foot off the pedal at the end of a broadly positive week, while the dollar strengthened after the Federal Reserve flagged more interest rate hikes down the line. Energy firms were among the biggest losers as oil prices fell into a bear market after dropping 20 percent from their recent highs. The US midterms provided a much-needed fillip to equities as […]
