Saturday, December 31, 2016

Nigeria's Buhari says will pursue peace in restive Niger Delta in 2017

ABUJA, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Nigeria's government will seek a

lasting peace settlement with militants in the oil-producing

southern Niger Delta region in 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari

said in a New Year's message on Saturday.

Read more

Top China coal province vows 20 pct cut in pollution 20 pct by 2020 - Xinhua

SHANGHAI, Dec 31 (Reuters) - One of China's top

coal-producing provinces has vowed to slash its level of fine

particle pollution by one-fifth by 2020, the official Xinhua

news agency reported on Saturday, citing the provincial

government.

Read more

Friday, December 30, 2016

U.S. gasoline demand falls in October for first time in nearly a year -EIA

NEW YORK, Dec 30 (Reuters) - U.S. gasoline demand fell

year-over-year for the first time in 11 months in October,

according to data released on Friday by the U.S. Energy

Information Administration.

Read more

Libya's U.N.-backed government, central bank to cooperate in 2017

TRIPOLI/TUNIS Dec 30 (Reuters) - Libya's Government of

National Accord (GNA) and central bank in Tripoli say they have

agreed to work together to tackle urgent economic problems in

2017, creating a potential lifeline for the U.N.-backed GNA.

Read more

U.S. oil rig count recovers to end 2016 near year-ago levels -Baker Hughes

Dec 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. oil rig count ended 2016 just

below year-ago levels as drillers added rigs this week as part

of the biggest recovery since a global oil glut crushed the

market over two years.

Drillers added two oil rigs in the week to Dec. 30, bringing

the total count up to 525, the most since December 2015 and 11

shy of the 536 rigs seen at the end of 2015, energy services

firm Baker Hughes Inc said on Friday.

Since crude prices recovered from 13-year

Read more

COMMODITIES-Oil, metals post stellar 2016 gains on output cuts, demand hopes

* Gold up 9 percent, snaps three years of decline

(Updates TOCOM rubber)

Read more

Britain's FTSE finishes 2016 in style, sets record high

LONDON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Britain's blue-chip FTSE 100

index closed 2016 at a record high level on Friday, with

a blistering rally in mining stocks and a sharp fall in sterling

after June's shock Brexit vote boosting the market.

Read more

Syrian forces and allies clash with rebels near Damascus - monitors, rebel official

BEIRUT, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Syrian government forces and

their allies clashed with rebels near Damascus on Friday, and

used helicopter gunships in raids in the area in the latest

violence to disrupt a nationwide ceasefire that otherwise

appeared to hold, monitors said.

Read more

Vestas' strong 2016 finish offsets worry over Trump energy policy

COPENHAGEN, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A spate of last-minute orders

from the United States has put Danish wind turbine maker Vestas

on track for its highest contract intake in six years and eased

some investors' concerns over U.S. energy policy under the

incoming Trump administration.

Read more

Britain's FTSE set to finish 2016 on strong note, Europe lags

LONDON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Britain's blue-chip FTSE 100

index looked set for a strong finish to 2016 on Friday

after climbing to a record closing high in the previous session,

although the pan-European STOXX 600 index was set for a

slightly weaker ending.

Read more

Thursday, December 29, 2016

COMMODITIES-Oil, metals post stellar 2016 gains on output cuts, demand hopes

SINGAPORE, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Crude oil, rubber and metals

were set to end 2016 on Friday with strong gains, bouncing back

from several years of losses on the back of output cuts and

expectations of firmer demand.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Five killed, many trapped in Indian coal mine collapse - police

BHUBANESWAR, India, Dec 30 (Reuters) - At least five Indian

miners were killed and nearly two dozen trapped when mine waste

collapsed at a mine run by state-owned Coal India Limited

, police said on Friday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-China to relax curbs on foreign investment in banking, securities - state planner

* Banking, insurance, securities, futures sectors due to be

relaxed

Read more

China extends overcapacity fight to more sectors in 2017 -paper

SHANGHAI, Dec 30 (Reuters) - China will increase its targets

for capacity cuts in steel and coal in 2017, while extending its

campaign against overcapacity to industries such as cement,

glass, electrolytic aluminum and shipping, a state-run newspaper

said on Friday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Oil prices edge up despite unexpected U.S. crude inventory build

* Crude inventories up 614,000 barrels in week to Dec. 23 -

EIA

Read more

Oil prices edge up despite unexpected U.S. crude inventory build

* Crude inventories up 614,000 barrel in week to Dec. 23 -

EIA

Read more

Serba Dinamik to list in Feb in biggest Malaysian IPO in 19 months

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Malaysian engineering group

Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd is looking to raise 584 million

ringgit ($130.29 million) in an IPO on the domestic stock

exchange in February, its CEO said, in what would be the

country's biggest listing in 19 months.

Read more

Mexico fuel price increase seen boosting sales of more efficient cars

MEXICO CITY, Dec 29 (Reuters) - An imminent jump in Mexican

gasoline prices should not reduce auto sales in the near term

but will ultimately boost the market for more fuel-efficient

cars, a leading Mexican auto industry group said on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Ecuador economy to grow 1.42 pct in 2017 -central bank

QUITO, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Ecuador's central bank expects the

Andean nation's economy to grow by 1.42 percent in 2017 with

respect to 2016, central bank manager Madeleine Abarca said in a

press conference on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Peabody extends debt deadline amid creditor support

WILMINGTON, Del., Dec 29 (Reuters) - Peabody Energy Corp

said on Thursday it extended a deadline for creditors to join

financing deals aimed at bringing the largest U.S. coal miner

out of bankruptcy amid growing creditor support for its plan of

reorganization.

Read more

California taps climate change attorney to be acting legal chief

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 29 (Reuters) - A lawyer with deep

experience fighting climate change will lead California's

Department of Justice until the next attorney general takes

office, as the state and several others vow to combat global

warming despite skepticism from President-elect Donald Trump.

Read more

Peabody extends financing deadlines after creditor lawsuit

WILMINGTON, Del., Dec 29 (Reuters) - Peabody Energy Corp

said on Thursday the deadline for creditors to join financing

deals aimed at bringing the largest U.S. coal miner out of

bankruptcy had been extended after large investors sued to slow

the process.

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.S. crude oil stocks rise, while products draw down - EIA

Dec 29 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil stocks unexpectedly rose

last week, while gasoline and distillate product inventories

dropped, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on

Thursday.

Read more

GRAPHIC-Markets in 2016 - the winners and losers

LONDON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Oil's plunge to its lowest in

over a decade and fears over China's economy hammered global

commodity markets and share prices earlier this year, but

investors who held their nerve will be partying the hardest this

holiday season.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Chairman of Russia's Ust-Luga port remanded in custody on suspected fraud

MOSCOW, Dec 29 (Reuters) - A St Petersburg court has ordered

the chairman of Russia's Baltic sea port of Ust-Luga to be held

in custody until Jan. 21 after his arrest on suspicion of fraud,

a court official said on Thursday.

Read more

China's diesel demand likely to rise ahead of Lunar New Year

SINGAPORE, Dec 29 (Reuters) - China's diesel demand is

likely to pick up pace ahead of the Lunar New Year as traders

stock up barrels ahead of the festivities and as construction

activity picks up in some areas, four trade sources said on

Thursday.

Read more

China slashes first round of oil products export quotas - sources

* Sinopec gets about half of first batch total

* 'Teapot' refiners absent from quota list

* Traders still see 2017 quotas matching or above 2016

By Chen Aizhu and Meng Meng

BEIJING, Dec 29 (Reuters) - China has cut oil product export quotas to the

nation's four oil majors by 40 percent in the first round of licences for 2017,

according to two sources who have seen the documents, even as traders expect

allowances for overseas sales to meet or exceed this year's record levels.

Read more

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

UPDATE 2-WTI prices fall on surprise build in U.S. crude stocks

* U.S. crude stocks rise 4.2 mln barrels in week to Dec 23 -

API

Read more

UPDATE 2-Obama designates monuments, protects federal land in Utah, Nevada

WASHINGTON, Dec 28 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on

Wednesday designated over 1.6 million acres of land in Utah and

Nevada as national monuments, protecting two areas rich in

Native American artifacts from mining, oil and gas drilling in

one of his final moves to protect the environment.

Read more

Oil prices fall on surprise build in U.S. crude stocks

Singapore, Dec 29 (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices fell on

Thursday following a surprise build in the country's crude

stocks shown in data published by the American Petroleum

Institute (API) late on Wednesday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Brazil's Petrobras sells $587 mln in assets, misses two-year target

SAO PAULO, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Brazil's state-run oil

company, Petroleo Brasileiro SA, on Wednesday

announced the sale of ethanol and petrochemicals assets for $587

million, but said it would still fall $1.5 billion short of its

divestment target for the 2015-2016 period.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Senators ask Trump EPA chief pick to disclose energy industry ties

WASHINGTON, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Democrats on the U.S.

Senate's environment panel on Wednesday asked President-elect

Donald Trump's choice to head the Environmental Protection

Agency to disclose his ties to the energy industry ahead of his

confirmation hearing early next year.

Read more

Minnesota refinery facing possible strike -union statement

Dec 28 (Reuters) - Western Refining's plant in St. Paul

Park, Minnesota could be headed for a strike at the beginning of

the year, according to a union statement on Wednesday.

Read more

Peru natgas union calls off strike after deal with Pluspetrol

LIMA, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Workers at Peru's Camisea natural

gas fields have called off a strike scheduled for Thursday after

reaching a deal on labor benefits with Argentina energy company

Pluspetrol, the union SUTRAPPEC said Wednesday.

Read more

Senators ask Trump EPA chief pick to disclose energy industry ties

WASHINGTON, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Democrats on the U.S.

Senate's environment panel on Wednesday asked President-elect

Donald Trump's choice to head the Environmental Protection

Agency to disclose his ties to the energy industry ahead of his

confirmation hearing early next year.

Read more

Court-appointed manager gets $3 bln offer for Moroccan refiner Samir

RABAT, Dec 28 (Reuters) - The court-appointed manager of

Morocco's only oil refiner, Samir, has received a $3

billion offer for the business from a foreign conglomerate, he

said on Wednesday, without naming the bidder.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Egypt signs $220 mln of oil and gas deals

CAIRO, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Egyptian Oil Minister Tarek El

Molla has signed three offshore oil and gas exploration and

production deals worth a total of at least $220 million with

France's Total, Britain's BP, and Italian oil

major ENI's Egyptian subsidiary IEOC, the ministry said

on Wednesday.

Read more

UPDATE 3-Oil prices hold near annual peaks, awaiting OPEC cuts

* OPEC, non-OPEC supply cut deal to kick in from Jan.1

(Updates prices, adds Iran)

Read more

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Oil prices edge down ahead of OPEC, non-OPEC production cuts

Seoul, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Oil prices edged down on Wednesday

in quiet early Asian trading as the market waits to see how OPEC

and non-OPEC members carry through on planned supply cuts in the

new year.

Read more

RPT-UPDATE 1-Tata Sons accuses ex-chairman Mistry of confidentiality breach

MUMBAI, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Tata Sons on Tuesday accused its

former chairman Cyrus Mistry of breaching confidentiality rules

and said it would take legal action against him, intensifying a

battle between the conglomerate and the top executive it sacked

in October.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Syrian opposition urges rebels to cooperate in ceasefire efforts

BEIRUT, Dec 27 (Reuters) - The Syrian opposition's main

political body on Tuesday urged rebel groups to cooperate with

"sincere regional efforts" to reach a ceasefire but said it had

not been invited to any conference, referring to a meeting in

Kazakhstan proposed by Russia.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Australia's Woolworths sells petrol chain to BP for $1.3 bln

SYDNEY, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Australian supermarket giant

Woolworths Ltd is selling its chain of petrol stations

to BP plc for A$1.8 billion ($1.29 billion) in cash,

Woolworths said in a statement on Wednesday.

Read more

Syrian opposition urges rebels to cooperate in ceasefire efforts

BEIRUT, Dec 27 (Reuters) - The Syrian opposition's main

political body on Tuesday urged rebel groups to cooperate with

"sincere regional efforts" to reach a ceasefire deal but that it

had not been invited to any conference, referring to a meeting

in Kazakhstan proposed by Russia.

Read more

Australia's Woolworths sells petrol chain to BP for $1.3 bln-media

SYDNEY, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Australian supermarket giant

Woolworths Ltd has sold its chain of petrol stations to

BP plc for A$1.8 billion ($1.29 billion) in cash, media

reported on Wednesday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Cuba says economy shrank this year in tandem with Venezuela crisis

HAVANA, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Cuba's economy shrank 0.9 percent

this year in tandem with the crisis in its key trading partner

Venezuela, President Raul Castro told the National Assembly on

Tuesday in a closed-door speech, predicting a slightly brighter

outlook for 2017.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Venezuela says to cut 95,000 bpd crude output in OPEC deal

CARACAS, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Venezuela said on Tuesday it

will cut 95,000 barrels per day of oil production in the New

Year in fulfillment of a producers' deal to reduce global output

and strengthen prices.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Mexico gasoline prices to rise up to 20.1 pct in Jan

MEXICO CITY, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Mexican gasoline prices will

rise by as much as 20.1 percent next month compared to the

highest recorded prices in December, the government said on

Tuesday, as part of a program to end years of government-set

prices at the pump.

Read more

Nigeria's army says 3,000 people who fled Boko Haram return to hometown

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Dec 27 (Reuters) - More than 3,000

people in northeast Nigeria who were forced to flee the

seven-year insurgency waged by Islamist militants have returned

to their hometown following the reopening of major roads in the

area, the army said on Tuesday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Iraqi PM says three months needed to rout Islamic State

BAGHDAD, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Haider

al-Abadi said on Tuesday it would take three months to rout

Islamic State, as U.S.-backed forces battle to dislodge the

militants from their city stronghold of Mosul.

Read more

Venezuela says to cut 95,000 bpd crude output in OPEC deal

CARACAS, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Venezuela said on Tuesday it

will cut 95,000 barrels-per-day of oil production in the New

Year in fulfilment of a producers' deal to reduce global output

and strengthen prices.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Tata Sons accuses ex-chairman Mistry of confidentiality breach

MUMBAI, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Tata Sons on Tuesday accused its

former chairman Cyrus Mistry of breaching confidentiality rules

and said it would take legal action against him, intensifying a

battle between the conglomerate and the top executive it sacked

in October.

Read more

Russia's Gazprom Neft trims planned 2017 oil output to 4.5-5 pct

MOSCOW, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Russian oil producer Gazprom Neft

said on Tuesday it planned to increase oil production

by 4.5-5 percent next year, less than it had intended before

Russia joined a deal to cut global production with OPEC.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Panasonic to invest over $256 mln in Tesla's U.S. plant for solar cells

* To start production of PV cells, modules at Buffalo

factory

Read more

Toshiba flags big impairment loss on U.S. nuclear business acquisition

TOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp said on

Tuesday that it expects to book an impairment loss on the

acquisition of a U.S. nuclear power business by its Westinghouse

unit, a figure that could reach several billions of dollars.

Read more

Monday, December 26, 2016

Russia's Lukoil appoints new VP for sales and supplies - sources

MOSCOW, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Russia's second biggest oil

producer Lukoil has appointed a new vice-president for

sales and supplies after state-owned rival Rosneft

clinched several major deals at its expense, three sources told

Reuters.

Read more

Panasonic to hold briefing at 0830 GMT on solar cell business

TOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Panasonic Corp said on

Tuesday that it will hold a news briefing at 5:30 p.m. in Japan

(0830 GMT) on its solar cell business.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Oil steady in quiet holiday season trade; supply cut deal to kick in Jan 1

* As Libya, Nigeria raise supply, questions on tighter

market

(Adds details, updates prices)

Read more

UPDATE 1-China industry profits grow faster in Nov as oil, steel prices rebound

BEIJING, Dec 27 (Reuters) - China's industrial sector showed

stronger profit growth in November, suggesting the world's

second-largest economy was improving, though policymakers noted

growth was too dependent on a rebound in prices for oil products

and iron and steel.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Toshiba considers booking big loss on US nuclear power acquisition

* Follows $1.3 bln accounting scandal last year

(Recasts with updated figure of several hundreds of billion

yen)

Read more

Oil gains post-Christmas ahead of OPEC, non-OPEC cuts

TOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices extended gains on

Tuesday in post-Christmas trading, as OPEC and non-OPEC members

are set to start curbing output in less than a week to support

oil prices.

Read more

Toshiba sees loss of about 100 bln yen on U.S. nuclear power acquisition - Nikkei

Dec 27 (Reuters) - Electronics giant Toshiba Corp

expects to report a one-off loss of about 100 billion yen ($850

million) on a U.S. nuclear power acquisition made by its

Westinghouse operation last year, the Nikkei business daily

reported.

Read more

MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi post-budget rally stalls, UAE bourses firm

DUBAI, Dec 26 (Reuters) - The Saudi Arabian stock market's

post-budget rally ran out of steam on Monday as the index neared

technical resistance, while United Arab Emirates bourses

outperformed the region.

Read more

China's ICBC signs debt-for-equity swaps with state coal, steel firms

BEIJING, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Industrial and Commercial Bank

of China (ICBC) has signed three

debt-for-equity swaps with Shanxi province's highly indebted

state-owned coal and steel firms, the bank said late on Monday.

Read more

East Libyan forces launch air strike against rivals in central desert

BENGHAZI, Libya, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Forces loyal to Libya's

eastern government said they had carried out an air strike

against opponents in the central Jufra region on Monday.

Read more

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Argentine province to auction six Vaca Muerta oil, gas blocks -media

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Gas y Petroleo del Neuquen

SA (GyP), the oil and gas company owned by Argentina's Neuquen

province, plans to auction exploration rights to six blocks in

the Vaca Muerta shale play, local media reported on Saturday.

Read more

Saturday, December 24, 2016

RPT-Russia's Rosneft says has flexibility on oil output levels

MOSCOW, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Rosneft's plans for

next year allow it to be flexible with production volumes,

Russia's top oil producer said on Saturday, after Moscow

clinched a deal with OPEC to cut production to bolster weak oil

prices.

Read more

Chinese firms face competition to maintain role in developing Iranian oilfields

DUBAI, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Iran plans to ask international

oil companies to bid for the second phase of development of its

Yadavaran and North Azadegan oilfields, a senior official said

on Saturday.

Read more

Russia's Rosneft says has flexibility on oil output levels

MOSCOW, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Rosneft's plans for

next year allow it to be flexible with production volumes,

Russia's top oil producer said on Saturday, after Moscow

clinched a deal with OPEC to cut production to bolster weak oil

prices.

Read more

Friday, December 23, 2016

Halliburton shareholder class action to settle for $100 million

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Halliburton Co on Friday said it

had reached a $100 million settlement to resolve a long-running

shareholder class action lawsuit against the oilfield services

provider that twice reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Halliburton shareholder class action to settle for $100 million

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Halliburton Co on Friday said it

had reached a $100 million settlement to resolve a long-running

securities fraud class action lawsuit against the oilfield

services provider that twice reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

Read more

CANADA STOCKS-TSX slips as energy, financial losses offset miner gains

TORONTO, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index

slipped on Friday, ending a six-day rising streak as losses

among energy and financial stocks outweighed gains for gold

miners.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Peabody Energy reorganization plan lacks mine cleanup coverage details

CHICAGO, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Peabody Energy Corp

failed to explain how it will cover future mine cleanup costs in

a reorganization plan filed late Thursday, triggering concerns

over the company's use of "self-bonds."

Read more

WRAPUP 1-Trump's nuclear remarks test bid to improve Russia ties

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla./MOSCOW, Dec 23 (Reuters) - U.S.

President-elect Donald Trump upped the stakes on Friday in a

back-and-forth exchange with President Vladimir Putin over

nuclear weapons that tested the Republican's promises to improve

relations with Russia.

Read more

New Mexico nuclear waste site could restart operations in January

Dec 23 (Reuters) - The United States' only permanent nuclear

waste disposal site got the go-ahead on Friday to resume

operations nearly three years after a radiation leak shut down

the New Mexico facility.

Read more

Industry confidence low in Canada's oil sands as Statoil, Koch exit

CALGARY, Alberta, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Canada's oil sands

prospects were buoyed by recent pipeline approvals, but news of

two companies ditching local projects on the same day served as

a reminder that industry confidence is still weak.

Read more

UPDATE 3-Weaker Canadian economy in Oct sets stage for slowdown

OTTAWA, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The Canadian economy contracted

in October as the manufacturing sector saw its biggest decline

in nearly three years, raising the risk fourth-quarter growth

could slow more than the Bank of Canada anticipates.

Read more

U.S. drillers add oil rigs for 8th week in a row -Baker Hughes

Dec 23 (Reuters) - U.S. energy companies added oil rigs for

an eighth week in a row, extending a seven-month drilling

recovery as crude prices remained near a 17-month high.

Drillers added 13 oil rigs in the week to Dec. 23, bringing

the total count up to 523, the most since December 2015, but

still below the 538 rigs seen a year ago, energy services firm

Baker Hughes Inc said on Friday.

Since crude prices recovered from 13-year lows in February

to around $50 a bar

Read more

Putin says Russian government has control of Rosneftegaz's money

MOSCOW, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The Russian government is in

control of cash on the books of state holding company

Rosneftegaz and spending from those reserves is "absolutely

transparent", President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Bonanza Creek, other U.S. energy firms announce Chapter 11 plans

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Bonanza Creek Energy Inc and two

other energy firms announced on Friday plans to file for

bankruptcy in coming weeks, joining a long list of U.S. energy

companies that have succumbed to a drop in oil prices.

Read more

Russian Finance Minister says Rosneft deal had no impact on rouble

MOSCOW, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Russia's finance ministry and the

central bank managed to minimise the market impact from the

privatisation of oil giant Rosneft, which required

conversion of foreign currencies into roubles, Finance Minister

Anton Siluanov said on Friday.

Read more

Congo opposition insists Kabila step down for polls by November 2017

KINSHASA, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Congo's main opposition bloc

insisted on Friday that President Joseph Kabila step aside in

time for elections no later than November 2017, as a condition

in an agreement being negotiated.

Read more

Savanna Energy rejects Total Energy Services' buyout offer

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Savanna Energy Services Corp

said on Friday its board unanimously rejected an unsolicited

buyout offer from fellow oilfield services provider Total Energy

Services Inc as it "significantly" undervalued the

shares of the company.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Azerbaijan extends BP's deal for giant oilfields until 2050

* BP splashes out on deals in recent weeks

(Updates with details, context)

Read more

China tells companies to abide by U.N. North Korea sanctions

BEIJING, Dec 23 (Reuters) - China told its companies on

Friday they need to pay attention to the latest U.N. sanctions

on North Korea, especially those related to coal, to avoid any

unnecessary economic losses.

Read more

HIGHLIGHTS-Russian President Putin's end-of-year news conference

MOSCOW, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The following are highlights from

Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual end-of-year news

conference.

Read more

Putin says Russia received Glencore, Qatar payment for Rosneft

MOSCOW, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The Russian state budget has

received a payment from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and

commodities trader Glencore to pay for a stake in oil

giant Rosneft, President Vladimir Putin said on

Friday.

Read more

China stocks fall on concerns over stiffer regulations, down for 3rd week

SHANGHAI, Dec 23 (Reuters) - China stocks ended the week on

a bearish note, with the key CSI300 Index hitting a two-month

closing low to cap its third straight week of declines, as

concerns of tighter regulatory supervision weighed on brokerages

and insurers.

Read more

Thursday, December 22, 2016

China stocks slip on expected regulatory tightening; US data shakes Hong Kong

* Mainland brokerages and insurers likely face stricter

supervision

Read more

REFILE-Aussie shares soften ahead of Christmas; NZ hits 2-wk closing high

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended softer on Friday

ahead of the Christmas long weekend as lower commodity prices

hurt miners, while financial stocks lost traction - pruning some

of their earlier gains.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Oil prices fall on profit taking, strong dollar

* Strong dollar, commodity prices shows demand pick-up or

more supply needed -investment chief

Read more

UPDATE 1-Odebrecht settlement spurs bribery inquiries across Latin America

LIMA/QUITO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Politicians and investigators

across Latin America demanded more information from Brazil-based

construction company Odebrecht on Thursday after it admitted to

a decade of immense bribe payments in the region.

Read more

Australia shares falter on slips in commodity prices; NZ strong

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell on Friday, with

gains in financials and energy offset by basic material stocks

that lost traction in the wake of weak copper and Chinese iron

futures prices.

Read more

Peabody creditors back plan to cut over $5 billion of debt

CHICAGO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Leading global coal producer

Peabody Energy said on Thursday its main creditors

support a plan to wipe more than $5 billion of debt from its

balance sheet and exit the largest energy-related U.S.

bankruptcy this year.

Read more

Oil prices fall on profit taking, strong dollar

SINGAPORE, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Oil prices slipped on Friday

in thin Asian trade ahead of the Christmas and New Year

holidays, wiping out some of the gains in the previous session

as traders took profits. A strong dollar also weighed on

sentiment.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Icahn says EPA, bank regulations hamper U.S. economy -CNBC

WASHINGTON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Carl

Icahn targeted environmental and banking regulations on Thursday

as big drags on U.S. corporate investment and said revamping

them would be a top priority in his role as adviser to

President-elect Donald Trump.

Read more

Odebrecht settlement spurs bribery inquiries across Latin America

LIMA/QUITO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Politicians and investigators

across Latin America demanded more information from Brazil-based

construction giant Odebrecht on Thursday after it admitted to a

decade of immense bribe payments in the region.

Read more

Brazil's Petrobras employees in Campos Basin approve strike

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Employees at Brazilian

state-controlled oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA working at

Campos Basin, the largest oil-producing area in the country,

approved a strike to begin Friday, an oil workers union said.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Blackstone in talks to buy stake in Energy Transfer assets

Dec 22 (Reuters) - Private-equity firm Blackstone Group LP

is in talks to buy a stake in assets owned by Energy

Transfer Partners LP, the company building the

controversial Dakota Access pipeline, a source familiar with the

situation said on Thursday.

Read more

WRAPUP 1-Saudis cut huge budget deficit, to loosen purse strings in 2017

* Riyadh acts to protect poorer citizens, petrochemical

sector

Read more

Britain's FTSE ends at 2-month high helped by oil stocks

LONDON/MILAN, Dec 22 (Reuters) - British shares edged up to

two-month highs on Thursday, led by gains in the energy sector

and among precious metals miners.

Read more

ICAHN SAYS HAS BECOME MORE HEDGED AS MARKET HAS RUN UP

ICAHN SAYS HAS BECOME MORE HEDGED AS MARKET HAS RUN UP



Read more

UPDATE 1-Engie CEO complains to French regulator about attempts to undermine company

* Media reports about tensions in Engie boardroom

(Adds AMF comment in third paragraph)

Read more

UPDATE 1-Saudi Arabia to boost 2017 spending as it cuts into huge state deficit

RIYADH, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it

had successfully cut into its huge state budget deficit this

year and will increase government spending in 2017 to boost

flagging economic growth.

Read more

MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi edges up before budget, Egypt's rise slows

DUBAI, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's stock market edged

up on Thursday before the release of the kingdom's state budget

for 2017, while Egypt's uptrend slowed. Other Gulf markets were

mixed in modest trading volumes.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Egypt seeks to import crude directly from Iraq

CAIRO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek

El Molla said on Thursday his country was seeking to reach an

agreement with Iraq over importing crude oil directly and that

he hoped to finalise the deal by the first quarter of 2017.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Latvian gas utility to set up new transmission and storage firm

* Latvia government to decide in Jan whether to buy stakes

(Adds officials, detail, background)

Read more

Temperatures around North Pole leap close to melting point

OSLO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Temperatures around the North Pole

surged close to melting point on Thursday as a freak blast of

warm air blanketed an Arctic region usually deep frozen in

mid-winter darkness, scientists said.

Read more

China dismisses Taiwan "dollar diplomacy" claims over Sao Tome

BEIJING, Dec 22 (Reuters) - China on Thursday dismissed

accusations from Taiwan that it engaged in "dollar diplomacy" to

get Sao Tome and Principe to ditch ties with the self-ruled

island, saying a petty Taiwan was besmirching China's good name.

Read more

Chinese court jails former coal group chiefs for bribery

BEIJING, Dec 22 (Reuters) - A Chinese court has jailed two

former chiefs of state-owned Shanxi Coking Coal Group

for bribery, the court said on Thursday, the latest

in a series of company chiefs brought down by China's crackdown

on corruption.

Read more

China stocks drift as tight liquidity offsets gains for state firms

SHANGHAI, Dec 22 (Reuters) - China's main stock indexes

barely moved on Thursday, as strength in shares of state-owned

enterprises (SOE) was offset by persisting tight liquidity in

the wake of a bond scandal.

Read more

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

INSIGHT-U.S. refiners cash in on Mexico's record fuel imports

NEW YORK/HOUSTON, Dec 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Gulf Coast

refiners are cashing in on rising fuel demand from Mexico,

shipping record volumes to a southern neighbor that has failed

to expand its refining network to supply a fast-growing economy.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Oil prices fall as U.S. inventories, Libya output weigh

* Oil producers set to abide by pact to cut output -analyst

(Adds detail, updates prices)

Read more

Australia shares climb for a fourth day; NZ up for a fifth

Dec 22 (Reuters) - Australian shares closed higher on

Thursday, powered by financial stocks, as investors kept an eye

out for U.S. economic data expected later in the day for further

cues.

Read more

Hong Kong stocks slip on weaker risk appetite, China pulled lower by banks

* Hong Kong trade thins as Christmas nears, tracks Wall

Street

Read more

Oil prices rise on weaker dollar, optimism on output cuts

SINGAPORE, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Oil prices nudged higher in

tepid Asian trading on Thursday, supported by a weaker dollar

and optimism crude producers would abide by an agreement to curb

output to prop up markets.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Blue skies return to Beijing, but dangerous smog still blankets northern China

* Christmas forecast smoggy

(Updates smog reports from other cities, weather forecast,

president comments)

Read more

China launches carbon-tracking satellite into space - Xinhua

SHANGHAI, Dec 22 (Reuters) - China launched a satellite to

monitor its greenhouse gas emissions early on Thursday, the

latest step in efforts to cut its carbon footprint, the official

Xinhua news agency said.

Read more

2016: A year of transition from talk to action on climate change

BARCELONA, Dec 22 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - When it

comes to climate change and the battle to keep it in check, 2016

was a year of extremes.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Icahn tapped as Trump's special adviser on regulatory issues

Dec 21 (Reuters) - Billionaire Carl Icahn will advise Donald

Trump on rescinding what the activist investor called "excessive

regulation" on U.S. businesses, the president-elect's transition

team announced on Wednesday.

Read more

Cyprus picks Eni, Total and Exxon for offshore exploration blocks

LONDON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Cyprus said on Wednesday it had

picked Eni, Total and ExxonMobil for

three oil and gas exploration licences in the Mediterranean

close to where Eni made the biggest gas find in the past decade.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Canada's Trudeau says Trump 'very supportive' of Keystone XL pipeline



Read more

COLUMN-Brent curve signals oil tanks will start emptying in second half of 2017: Kemp

LONDON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers

have agreed to reduce their combined output by more than 1.7

million barrels per day for six months from January 2017.

Read more

EU Commission favours keeping limits on Chinese solar panels

BRUSSELS, Dec 21 (Reuters) - The European Commission has

recommended keeping import duties and a minimum price for solar

panels and cells from China for two more years, according to

documents seen by Reuters.

Read more

DONG Energy raises earnings forecast after wind farm stake sale

COPENHAGEN, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Danish utility and wind farm

developer DONG Energy raised its full-year earnings

forecast on Wednesday and announced the sale of a stake in its

UK offshore wind farm.

Read more

UPDATE 1-EU's top court upholds carbon tax on Swiss flights

LUXEMBOURG, Dec 21 (Reuters) - The European Union is within

its rights to apply carbon taxes to flights between Switzerland

and member states although flights to and from other countries

outside the bloc are exempt, the EU's top court said on

Wednesday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Libya's Sharara oilfield resuming operations after pipelines reopen- field official

TRIPOLI, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Operations at Libya's

southwestern Sharara oilfield were gradually resuming on

Wednesday after the lifting of a two-year blockade on a pipeline

leading from the field, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Read more

Japan pulls plug on Monju, ending $8.5 bln nuclear self-sufficiency push

* Monju beset with accidents, missteps since construction

began

Read more

RPT-Japan pulls plug on Monju, ending $8.5 bln nuclear self-sufficiency push

* Monju beset with accidents, missteps since construction

began

Read more

CORRECTED-China's LNG buying spree to set import record in December

BEIJING/SINGAPORE, Dec 21 (Reuters) - China's state oil and

gas majors are set to import record levels of liquified natural

gas (LNG) this month, betting on robust demand during the cold

winter months and helping lift Asian prices to their highest in

nearly two years.

Read more

UPDATE 1-China's LNG buying spree to set import record in December

* Could bolster Asia LNG prices

(Adds CNPC forecast in paragraph 13)

Read more

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

UPDATE 1-Oil prices edge up on expected U.S. crude inventory draw

* SocGen expects 2017 oil prices in range of $50-60 per

barrel

Read more

Malaysia's 1MDB paid interest due in Q4 on IPIC-guaranteed bonds- minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Malaysian state fund

1Malaysia Development Bhd has made interest payments on one of

its bond issues this quarter, after failing to pay earlier this

year because of a dispute with a guarantor, Malaysia's second

finance minister said on Wednesday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Cold snap drives China LNG imports to record in November

* Chinese gasoline, diesel exports surge

(Adds export data, detail)

Read more

China stocks rebound as liquidity concerns ease; HK firms

* Sealand Sec takes responsibility for forged bond

agreements

Read more

China imports 2.66 mln tonnes of LNG in Nov, highest on record

BEIJING, Dec 21 (Reuters) - China's November LNG imports

jumped 46.6 percent from a year earlier to 2.66 million tonnes,

the highest level on record, customs data showed on Wednesday.

Read more

Oil prices edge up on expected U.S. crude inventory draw

SINGAPORE, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Oil prices nudged higher on

Wednesday on expectations of a U.S. crude inventory draw,

although trading activity was muted as markets start to wind

down ahead of the Christmas weekend.

Read more

RPT-COLUMN-La Nina has probably peaked and will fade in early 2017: Kemp

LONDON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Weak La Nina conditions have

persisted over the Pacific Ocean in the final quarter of 2016

but are likely to fade during the first three months of 2017.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Oklahoma's new fracking guidelines aim to reduce quake risk

HOUSTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Oklahoma is imposing guidelines

to reduce the risk of earthquakes caused by hydraulic fracturing

in its oil-rich shale formations, the first rules in the state

to target the controversial production technique.

Read more

Oklahoma's new fracking rules aim to reduce earthquake risk

HOUSTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Oklahoma is imposing guidelines

to reduce the risk of earthquakes caused by hydraulic fracturing

in its oil-rich shale formations, the first rules in the state

to target the controversial production technique.

Read more

Argentina, Britain agree to identify bodies of soldiers on Falklands

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Argentina and Britain

agreed on a framework to identify the bodies of dozens of

unknown Argentine soldiers buried on the disputed Falkland

Islands, Argentina's Foreign Ministry said in on Tuesday.

Read more

Obama bans new oil, gas drilling off Alaska, part of Atlantic shore

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama

on Tuesday permanently banned new oil and gas drilling in

federal waters in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, in one of his

last environmental pushes before he leaves office next month.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Obama bans new oil, gas drilling off Alaska, part of Atlantic shore

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama

on Tuesday permanently banned new oil and gas drilling in

federal waters in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, in one of his

last environmental pushes before he leaves office next month.

Read more

Odebrecht, Braskem to pay 1.4 bln reais in fines to US, Swiss govt -report

SAO PAULO, Dec 20 (Reuters) - The Brazilian construction

firm Odebrecht and petrochemical company Braskem have agreed to

pay the U.S. and Swiss governments 700 million reais ($209

million) each to settle their roles in a sweeping corruption

case, the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.S. sanctions companies, people over Russia actions in Ukraine

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday

blacklisted seven Russian businessmen and eight companies and

government enterprises over Russia's annexation of Crimea and

the conflict in Ukraine, the U.S. Treasury said in a statement.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Libya's NOC says oil pipelines reopened, expects 270,000 bpd boost in 3 months

TRIPOLI/TUNIS, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Libya's National Oil

Corporation said on Tuesday that pipelines leading from the

western fields of Sharara and El Feel had been reopened after a

two-year blockade, paving the way for a major boost to

production.

Read more

Libya's NOC says western pipelines reopened, expects 270,000 bpd boost in 3 months

TRIPOLI, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Libya's National Oil Corporation

said on Tuesday that pipelines leading from the western fields

of Sharara and El Feel had been reopened after a two-year

blockade, paving the way for a major boost to production.

Read more

COLUMN-La Nina has probably peaked and will fade in early 2017: Kemp

LONDON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Weak La Nina conditions have

persisted over the Pacific Ocean in the final quarter of 2016

but are likely to fade during the first three months of 2017.

Read more

Guinea soldier wanted for stadium massacre arrested in Senegal

CONAKRY, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Senegal authorities have

arrested a Guinean soldier linked to a 2009 massacre in Conakry

where at least 150 people were killed and dozens of women raped,

a Senegalese security source said on Tuesday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Russia to cut oil exports outside ex-Soviet nations by 0.7 pct in Q1

MOSCOW, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Russia will cut oil exports to

markets outside the former Soviet Union (FSU) by 0.7 percent in

January-March from the fourth quarter of 2016, pipeline company

Transneft said on Tuesday, as Moscow prepares to reduce output

as part of a global pact.

Read more

EU nations back stricter emissions rules for new gasoline engines

BRUSSELS, Dec 20 (Reuters) - EU nations backed measures to

strengthen new on-road emissions tests on Tuesday to supplement

laboratory-based ones, whose flaws were laid bare by the

Volkswagen scandal.

Read more

Oil tanker firm Frontline sees strong start to 2017

OSLO, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Crude tanker operator Frontline

expects strong demand for its vessels at the start of

2017 and could benefit from oil producers' pact to cut output if

it forces Asian buyers to go further afield for supplies, its

chief executive said.

Read more

Norway's PM to reshuffle cabinet ahead of election year-report

OSLO, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Norway's Conservative Prime

Minister Erna Solberg will reshuffle her cabinet on Tuesday,

replacing at least three ministers nine months before the next

general election, public broadcaster NRK reported, quoting

unnamed sources.

Read more

RPT-UPDATE 1-British shale gas gets boost from court ruling on permit

LONDON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Britain's High Court ruled on

Tuesday that a fracking permit awarded by a local council to

developer Third Energy was legal, after it was challenged by

environmental campaigners, opening the way to shale gas

extraction in the UK.

Read more

Portugal's biggest shipper ETE seeks potential investors, possible IPO

LISBON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Portugal's largest shipping

company, Grupo ETE, is preparing to open up its capital to

outside investors and is studying the possibility of an initial

public offering as it seeks to speed up expansion in Latin

America, CEO Luis Nagy told Reuters.

Read more

Miners sharpen marketing strategies in hunt for marginal gains

LONDON/SINGAPORE, Dec 20 (Reuters) - The world's big mining

groups are sharpening their marketing strategies in a

post-crisis scramble for even tiny increases in profit, seeking

marginal gains much like cycling teams in the Tour de France or

Olympic velodrome.

Read more

UPDATE 1-British shale gas gets boost from court ruling on permit

* Third Energy says welcomes verdict

(Adds details, background)

Read more

City in China's Shandong province orders coal power plants to cut output due to smog -notice

BEIJING, Dec 20 (Reuters) - A major city in China's Shandong

province has ordered seven big coal-fired power plants to cut

output by nearly two-thirds as part of a clampdown on pollution

as smog blanketed northern parts of the country.

Read more

UPDATE 1-City in China's Shandong limits coal-fired power to cut smog - notice

* Order cuts output at one of China's biggest coal power

plants

Read more

Japan's base metal firms tap materials market for growth

* Firms beef up higher margin materials to stabilise

earnings

Read more

Monday, December 19, 2016

UPDATE 1-Oil eases as traders start winding down positions in run-up to holiday season

SINGAPORE, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Oil prices eased on Tuesday as

traders began to unwind positions in the run-up to the year-end

holiday season.

Read more

Honda begins deliveries of fuel-cell cars in Southern California

Dec 19 (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co Ltd said customer

deliveries of its hydrogen fuel-cell car, dubbed Clarity Fuel

Cell, began on Monday at select Honda dealerships across

Southern California.

Read more

Obama prepares to block drilling in Arctic, Atlantic -Bloomberg

Dec 19 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama is preparing

to block the sale of new offshore drilling rights in much of the

U.S. Arctic and parts of the Atlantic, Bloomberg reported,

citing two people familiar with the decision.

Read more

Oil prices steady in run-up to Christmas

SINGAPORE, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Oil prices moved very little

on Tuesday, with liquidity fading in the run-up to the Christmas

weekend.

Read more

Oil industry networking site creator pleads guilty in U.S. hacking case

NEW YORK, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The founder of an oil and gas

networking website accused of hacking into a rival site he had

created and sold to DHI Group Inc pleaded guilty to a

computer fraud charge on Monday, prosecutors said.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Cyrus Mistry quits Tata group company boards, but vows to fight on

* Mistry announces decision to quit in letter to

shareholders

Read more

UPDATE 1-Earthquake along Ecuador's coast kills 2, halts refinery

QUITO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - A 5.8-magnitude earthquake shook

Ecuador's Pacific coast early on Monday, killing at least two

people, injuring 15 others and halting production at the

Esmeraldas oil refinery, officials said.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Intesa Sanpaolo not aware of any probe over Rosneft deal

MILAN, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Intesa Sanpaolo is still

deciding whether to help fund the acquisition of a 19.5 percent

stake in Rosneft from the Russian state and said it

was not aware of any investigation by the Italian or other

European authorities into the transaction.

Read more

Earthquake along Ecuador's coast kills 1, destroys hotels

QUITO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - A 5.8 magnitude earthquake shook

Ecuador's Pacific coast early on Monday, killing one person,

injuring a dozen others and damaging hotels in the area,

authorities said.

Read more

UPDATE 3-U.S. charges Platinum Partners execs with $1 billion fraud

NEW YORK, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Top executives of New

York-based hedge fund manager Platinum Partners were arrested on

Monday and charged with running an approximately $1 billion

fraud that federal prosecutors said became "like a Ponzi scheme"

as its largest investments lost much of their value.

Read more

WPP receives U.S. DoJ subpoenas over video production practices

LONDON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - WPP, the world's largest

advertising agency, said on Monday that three of its

subsidiaries had received subpoenas from the U.S. Department of

Justice as part of an investigation into video production

practices in the industry.

Read more

Former Brazilian leader Lula to face fifth corruption trial

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Former Brazilian leader

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will face a fifth corruption trial, a

judge ruled on Monday, as charges pile up against the man seen

as a front-runner to win the 2018 presidential election.

Read more

EU parliament critical of delays to new car emissions rules

BRUSSELS, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Several EU countries, including

Italy, France and Spain, have delayed the adoption of stricter

car emissions' tests, despite evidence that this has allowed

pollution to go above legal limits, a draft report by European

Parliament said on Monday.

Read more

Angola could hold tenders for all fuel imports next year - FT

Dec 19 (Reuters) - Sonangol, Angola's state-controlled oil

company, said on Monday it could hold tenders for all fuel

imports next year to cut costs, the Financial Times reported.

Read more

Azerbaijan's foreign direct investment fall 5.3 pct in Jan-Sept yr/yr

BAKU, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan saw a 5.3 percent drop

year-on-year in foreign direct investment to $5.4 billion in the

first three quarters of this year, the central bank said on

Monday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-EU approves Drax's coal power plant switch to biomass

* Contract is 50 mln pounds/yr earnings boost for Drax

-Jefferies

(Adds details, background, comments from Drax and analysts)

Read more

BP splashes out on deals to beef up oil, gas reserves

* Kosmos deal includes stake in giant gas find offshore

Mauritania

Read more

UPDATE 1-Nordic power firms set to apply for Norway-UK subsea link

OSLO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - NorthConnect, owned by three

Norwegian power firms and Sweden's Vattenfall, will

seek permission to build a power link from Norway to Britain

costing up to 2 billion euros ($2.09 billion), its chairman Odd

Oeygarden told Reuters.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Idemitsu plan to take stake in Showa Shell gets regulatory nod

TOKYO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Japan anti-monopoly regulator said

on Monday it had approved plans by Idemitsu Kosan Co to

take a stake of just under a third in rival refiner Showa Shell

Sekiyu KK for about 170 billion yen ($1.5 billion).

Read more

By shielding biggest buyer Asia from supply cuts, OPEC risks prolonging fuel glut

SINGAPORE, Dec 19 (Reuters) - OPEC's efforts to hold market

share in Asia by keeping its customers, which take about

two-thirds of its exports, supplied amid wider output cuts could

prolong the global fuel glut and frustrate its attempt to

bolster prices.

Read more

Idemitsu plan to take stake in Showa Shell gets regulatory nod

TOKYO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Japan's Fair Trade Commission said

on Monday it had approved plans by Idemitsu Kosan Co to

take a stake of just under a third in rival refiner Showa Shell

Sekiyu KK.

Read more

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Indonesia draft rule could ease export ban on nickel, bauxite -paper

JAKARTA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Indonesia's government is

drafting a regulation that could ease a looming export ban for

not only copper concentrates, but also partly processed or raw

nickel and bauxite, the Jakarta Post reported, citing a draft

regulation.

Read more

UPDATE 3-Oil prices rise in anticipation of tighter 2017 market

* OPEC, other producers have announced cuts of almost 1.8

mln bpd

Read more

Japan FTC to brief on Idemitsu's planned takeover of Showa Shell

TOKYO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Japan's Fair Trade Commission said

it would hold a news conference at 4 p.m. (0700 GMT) on Monday

regarding its decision on whether to approve Idemitsu Kosan Co's

planned takeover of rival refiner Showa Shell.

Read more

RPT-COLUMN-U.S. distillate demand set to rise in 2017: Kemp

LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - U.S. refiners are likely to see

stronger demand for middle distillates such as heating oil and

diesel in 2017 after two years of declining domestic

consumption.

Read more

Oil prices edge up in anticipation of tighter 2017 market

SINGAPORE, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Oil prices inched up on Monday

in anticipation of tighter crude supply going into 2017

following the decision by OPEC and other producers to cut output

to prop up prices.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Hundreds arrested in Venezuela cash chaos, vigilantes protect shops

CARACAS, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Security forces have arrested

more than 300 people during protests and lootings over the

elimination of Venezuela's largest currency bill, President

Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday.

Read more

Bolivia's Morales says he may run for fourth term despite referendum loss

LA PAZ, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Bolivian President Evo Morales

said on Sunday he may run for a fourth consecutive term in

elections in 2019 despite losing a referendum in February that

would have reformed the country's constitution to allow him to

run again.

Read more

Hundreds arrested in Venezuela cash chaos, vigilantes protect shops

CARACAS, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Security forces have arrested

more than 300 people during protests and lootings over the

elimination of Venezuela's largest currency bill, President

Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday.

Read more

RPT-High-flying Freeport CEO steers towards new Indonesia mining deal

JAKARTA, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Chappy Hakim, a retired air

force chief who says he knows next to nothing about mining, now

heads Indonesia's biggest copper producer, entrusted to use his

connections to guide it through regulatory uncertainty to a

renewed contract for its mine.

Read more

Saudi Aramco, GE to launch Saudi Arabia's first wind turbine next month

KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Saudi Aramco plans

to commission its wind turbine pilot project, the first in the

kingdom, next month, the state oil company said on Sunday, part

of nationwide plans to diversify energy supplies and to meet an

increase in demand.

Read more

Only the hardiest remain at Dakota protest camp

CANNON BALL, N.D., Dec 18 (Reuters) - Two weeks after a

victory in their fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline, most

protesters have cleared out of the main protest camp in North

Dakota - but about 1,000 are still there, and plan to remain

through the winter.

Read more

INSIGHT-Heralding social, financial change, China aims blow at iron rice bowl

* China orders state firms to break from providing social

welfare

Read more

Saturday, December 17, 2016

UPDATE 1-Venezuela postpones currency move after chaos, protests

CARACAS, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas

Maduro suspended on Saturday the elimination of the country's

largest denomination bill, which had sparked cash shortages and

nationwide unrest, saying the measure would be postponed until

early January.

Read more

RPT-Actor DiCaprio says climate action is U.S.'s 'biggest economic opportunity'

NEW YORK, Dec 17 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Tackling

climate change is the "biggest economic opportunity" in the

history of the United States, no matter who holds political

office, said Hollywood star and environmental activist Leonardo

DiCaprio.

Read more

Actor DiCaprio says climate action is U.S.'s 'biggest economic opportunity'

NEW YORK, Dec 17 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Tackling

climate change is the "biggest economic opportunity" in the

history of the United States, no matter who holds political

office, said Hollywood star and environmental activist Leonardo

DiCaprio.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Japan's Idemitsu to buy 33 pct of Showa Shell by year-end -Nikkei

* Deal for one-third of Showa Shell worth around $1.4 bln -

Nikkei

Read more

Friday, December 16, 2016

Japan's Idemitsu to acquire stakes in Showa Shell by year-end -Nikkei

TOKYO, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Japanese refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co

will acquire 33.24 percent of Showa Shell by

the end of the year, with the anti-monopoly watchdog expected

to approve their merger proposal next week, the Nikkei business

daily said on Saturday.

Read more

Koch escalates tax reform battle with report on gasoline prices

WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - A Koch Industries-funded

report warned on Friday U.S. gasoline prices would rise if

Congress passed a Republican proposal to adjust U.S. corporate

tax rates to favor exports over imports, escalating a lobbying

battle over the measure.

Read more

Former Rio governor Cabral to stand trial on corruption charges

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 16 (Reuters) - A former governor of Rio

de Janeiro state will face trial on corruption and money

laundering charges, a crusading anti-graft judge ruled on

Friday.

Read more

Engie Energia Chile secures financing for key power project

SANTIAGO, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Engie Energia Chile

said in a note to regulators on Friday that it had secured

financing to build an energy transmission line between the

nation's two power grids, shaking up the way consumers receive

power in the South American nation.

Read more

As bruising year ends, U.S. refiners brace for more costly regulations

NEW YORK, Dec 16 (Reuters) - U.S. refiners such as Valero

Energy Corp and Marathon Petroleum Corp are

bracing for stricter, smog-busting gasoline regulations set to

hit in January, threatening more headwinds for an industry that

has just endured its least profitable year since the shale boom

started five years ago.

Read more

Polish regulator approves PGNiG gas price hike for Q1 2017

WARSAW, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Poland's biggest gas firm PGNiG

will increase the price of high-methane gas it sells by 12.2

percent and the price of nitrogen-rich gas by 13.4 percent from

the start of next year, the company said, citing an approval

from energy regulator URE.

Read more

Britain's FTSE posts 2nd week of gains, oil lends support

* Micro Focus falls after downgrade

(Recasts, adds quote and detail, updates prices at close)

Read more

'Honeymoon ending?' Canada's Trudeau sees first big drop in polls

OTTAWA, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin

Trudeau's approval rating has dropped 10 percentage points in

the last three months amid rising dissatisfaction with the

economy and concern about pipeline approvals, a public opinion

poll released on Friday showed.

Read more

CANADA STOCKS-TSX gains as higher oil, steady gold help resource stocks

TORONTO, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose

on Friday as higher oil prices helped heavyweight energy stocks

lead broad gains and gold miners recovered as the price of the

precious metal steadied.

Read more

Poland may expand consortium bidding for EDF's Polish assets - minister

WARSAW, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Poland could expand a consortium

of Polish companies bidding for French utility EDF's

power assets in the country, Polish Energy Minister Krzysztof

Tchorzewski said on Friday.

Read more

COLUMN-U.S. distillate demand set to rise in 2017: Kemp

LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - U.S. refiners are likely to see

stronger demand for middle distillates such as heating oil and

diesel in 2017 after two years of declining domestic

consumption.

Read more

Russia c.bank head says rate cut more likely in Q2

MOSCOW, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Russia's central bank is more

likely to cut its key rate in the second quarter of next year

than in the first quarter, the bank's governor, Elvira

Nabiullina, told a news conference on Friday.

Read more

Odebrecht ex-exec says Brazil president negotiated donation -report

SAO PAULO, Dec 16 (Reuters) - A former senior executive at

Odebrecht SA testified that Brazilian President

Michel Temer took part in a 2010 meeting regarding donations to

his party in return for deals with state oil company Petroleo

Brasileiro SA, Folha de S.Paulo reported on Friday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-EDF Energy breaks ranks to cut UK winter household gas prices

Dec 16 (Reuters) - EDF Energy on Friday became

Britain's first big energy supplier to announce household winter

gas price cuts, breaking ranks with three rivals who have opted

to freeze prices instead.

Read more

Japan to create baseload power market to promote competition

TOKYO, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Japan's trade ministry panel on

Friday agreed to set up a baseload power market to ensure equal

access to cheap power supplies for new power retail companies as

part of reforms to foster competition in the market.

Read more

Turkey arrests Dogan executive in Gulen-linked probe - state media

ISTANBUL, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Turkey has formally arrested an

executive of Dogan Holding, a conglomerate with major

media interests, in a widening probe into a U.S.-based cleric

Ankara accuses of masterminding July's attempted coup.

Read more

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Iraq boosts oil sales to China, U.S., India before OPEC supply cuts bite - sources

SINGAPORE/BEIJING, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Iraq is selling more

crude oil to its biggest customer, China's Unipec, people

familiar with the matter say, digging a deeper foothold in the

global supply market just before production cuts agreed with

OPEC and other producers are scheduled to kick in.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Oil prices rise as planned oil production cuts start to materialise

* Oil prices have floor in low $50s per barrel - Jefferies

(Adds comment, updates prices)

Read more

High-flying Freeport CEO steers towards new Indonesia mining deal

JAKARTA, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Chappy Hakim, a retired air

force chief who says he knows next to nothing about mining, now

heads Indonesia's biggest copper producer, entrusted to use his

connections to guide it through regulatory uncertainty to a

renewed contract for its mine.

Read more

China bars banks from funding coal, steel "zombie firms"

BEIJING, Dec 16 (Reuters) - China's banking regulator said

on Friday that banks must strictly control credit to coal and

steel firms that are violating capacity cuts, the latest in a

series of regulations aimed at reducing loans to industries

struggling with over-capacity.

Read more

InterOil says raises cap on additional cash payment in Exxon deal

Dec 15 (Reuters) - InterOil Corp said it has

increased the cap on an additional cash payment based on the

output from a natural gas field in Papua New Guinea that was

part of its sale agreement with ExxonMobil Corp.

Read more

Coalition of 24 states urges Trump to kill Obama's carbon emission plan

Dec 15 (Reuters) - Officials in 24 states have urged U.S.

President-elect Donald Trump to kill the centerpiece of

President Barack Obama's strategy to combat climate change and

shut down coal-fired power plants.

Read more

RPT-COLUMN-U.S. Energy Department unfairly criticised over spending, forecasts: Kemp

LONDON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Energy has

become a lightning rod for criticism in parts of the Republican

Party and the fossil fuels industry unhappy about the Obama

administration's energy and climate policies.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Ecuador sends troops to Chinese copper exploration project after protest

QUITO, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Ecuador sent soldiers and police

on Thursday to an isolated jungle area after a policeman was

killed and several security officials injured in a violent

protest against a Chinese copper exploration project amid

conflicts between mining companies and indigenous communities.

Read more

UPDATE 1-World Bank units add $517 mln to Ghana oil, gas project financing

ACCRA, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The World Bank Group said on

Thursday it two of its units would provide another $517 million

to Ghana in debt and guarantees to support the $7.7 billion

Sankofa oil and gas project developed by Italy's ENI SpA

and upstream trader Vitol Ghana.

Read more

World Bank Group to provide $517 mln for Ghana oil and gas project

ACCRA, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The World Bank Group said on

Thursday it would provide $517 million to Ghana in debt and

guarantees to support the $7.7 billion Sankofa oil and gas

project being developed by Italy's ENI and upstream

trader Vitol Ghana.

Read more

UPDATE 3-Brazil prosecutors hit ex-president Lula with more corruption charges

SAO PAULO, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Prosecutors on Thursday

charged former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva,

his wife and a former finance minister with more corruption

charges in the investigation of graft at state-run oil company

Petrobras.

Read more

Brazil's Temer unveils stimulus steps to kickstart stalled economy

BRASILIA, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Michel

Temer on Thursday unveiled measures to reduce bureaucracy and

raise productivity to help pull Brazil from its worst recession

on record amid growing popular discontent.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Corpus Christi halts tap water use due to suspected chemical leak

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The Texas city of Corpus

Christi told its nearly 320,000 residents on Thursday to stop

using tap water due to possible contamination from an industrial

chemical leak, sparking a run on bottled water.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Canadian Natural Resources says 2017 production to rise 6 pct

CALGARY, Alberta, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Canadian Natural

Resources Ltd said on Thursday that it expected

2017 production to rise by 6 percent and set its capital budget

for next year at C$3.89 billion ($2.92 billion), a slight

increase from C$3.84 million in 2016.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Trump names Montana Congressman Zinke to lead Interior Dept

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump

on Thursday named U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke of Montana, a

former Navy SEAL commander and a proponent of coal development

on federal lands, as his choice for secretary of the interior.

Read more

Corpus Christi, Texas tells residents to stop using tap water

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The Texas city of Corpus

Christi has told its nearly 320,000 residents to stop using tap

water due to possible contamination from an industrial chemical

leak, city officials said on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Congo wants social media blocked before expected anti-Kabila demos

KINSHASA, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Authorities in the Democratic

Republic of Congo have asked telecoms companies to block social

media networks from Sunday night, apparently to thwart

anticipated protests against plans by President Joseph Kabila to

stay in power beyond the end of his mandate.

Read more

Drilling firms Rowan, Nabors aim to boost Saudi manufacturing

KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia, Dec 15 (Reuters) - U.S.-listed Rowan

Companies announced plans for its first rig from a new

joint venture in Saudi Arabia and Nabors Industries said

it is seeking to boost its manufacturing in the world's largest

oil exporter.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Pipeline from Libya's Sharara and El Feel oil fields reopens - spokesman

TRIPOLI, Dec 15 (Reuters) - A military faction in Libya has

reopened a pipeline leading from the major oil fields of Sharara

and El Feel in the west after blocking it for two years, a

spokesman for the group said on Thursday.

Read more

COLUMN-U.S. Energy Department unfairly criticised over spending, forecasts: Kemp

LONDON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Energy has

become a lightning rod for criticism in parts of the Republican

Party and the fossil fuels industry unhappy about the Obama

administration's energy and climate policies.

Read more

MIDEAST STOCKS-Most markets fall after Fed rate hike but retail investors boost Saudi

DUBAI, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Most major Middle Eastern stock

markets fell on Thursday after the U.S. central bank raised

interest rates but buying by local retail investors lifted Saudi

Arabia.

Read more

UPDATE 2-EDF shares slump after warning of lower earnings in 2017

* Overcapacity, low demand depress power prices

(Adds detail about earnings, stock price, analyst comment)

Read more

Indonesia mining export rule changes needs law revision

JAKARTA, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Indonesia needs to revise its

mining law to ease a ban on mineral ore exports and is unlikely

to meet a deadline of early next year for the change, senior

politicians warned on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Centrica lifts earnings outlook as European power price swings boost trading

* 2016 adjusted operating cashflow upgraded to 2.4-2.6 bln

pounds

Read more

Traders charter long-range vessels to temporarily store gasoil

SINGAPORE, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Traders are temporarily

storing gasoil on vessels in the waters off Singapore as they

anticipate demand for the fuel to go up in the coming months,

industry sources said on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Petrofac says services business sees higher bidding activity

Dec 15 (Reuters) - British oilfield services company

Petrofac Ltd said deferral and cancellation of projects

hurt order intake at its biggest unit this year, but the

recovery in oil prices has helped improve bidding activity for

services contracts in the final quarter.

Read more

U.N.'s Egeland: hopeful about Aleppo deal but UN involved late

GENEVA, Dec 15 (Reuters) - U.N. humanitarian adviser for

Syria Jan Egeland said on Thursday that he was hopeful about the

evacuation of thousands of civilians from eastern Aleppo but

that Russia had only just asked for U.N. involvement, which was

very late.

Read more

Russia will ship 4.5 mln T of crude to Belarus in Jan-March 2017 - traders

MOSCOW, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Russia will increase pipeline

crude oil shipments to Belarus by 1.5 million tonnes in

January-March 2017 compared to October-December 2016, to 4.5

million tonnes, traders told Reuters, citing an export schedule

for the first quarter of 2017.

Read more

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

UPDATE 1-Hezbollah media says deal on track to let rebels leave Aleppo

AMMAN, Dec 15 (Reuters) - A military media unit run by

Damascus's ally Hezbollah said early on Thursday that overnight

contacts succeeded in reviving a ceasefire that would lead to

the evacuation of rebels from Aleppo "within hours".

Read more

UPDATE 2-Oil prices stabilise after Fed hike as tighter market looms

* Tighter fuel market expected in 2017 as producers cut

output

Read more

UPDATE 2-California adopts first U.S. energy-saving rules for computers

LOS ANGELES, Dec 14 (Reuters) - California regulators on

Wednesday adopted the nation's first mandatory energy efficiency

rules for computers and monitors - devices that account for 3

percent of home electric bills and 7 percent of commercial power

costs in the state.

Read more

Idemitsu, Showa Shell give up on stop-gap plan for capital ties -Mainichi

TOKYO, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Japanese oil refiners Idemitsu

Kosan and Showa Shell Sekiyu have effectively

given up on a stop-gap plan to form capital ties that was being

considered as a way to get around opposition from the Idemitsu

family to a full merger, the Mainichi newspaper reported.

Read more

Oil prices fall after U.S. hikes interest rates

SINGAPORE, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Oil prices dropped on Thursday

as a hike in U.S. interest rates prompted a flood of money away

from commodities and into U.S. bonds and the dollar.

Read more

South Korea's powerful business lobby group dealt big blow by Park scandal

SEOUL, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Long the voice of the

conglomerates that form the engine of South Korea's economy, the

Federation of Korean Industries could become another casualty of

the scandal that is poised to cost President Park Geun-hye her

job, as key members flee.

Read more

UPDATE 2-GE sticks to $2 EPS target for 2018, sells more assets

Dec 14 (Reuters) - General Electric Co on Wednesday

renewed its forecast for strong earnings growth over the next

two years despite weak energy markets, and said it expects to

further build its 3-D printing and services businesses while

selling other franchises.

Read more

CANADA STOCKS-TSX falls the most in one month as the Fed hikes rates

* TSX closed down 188.09 points, or 1.22 percent, at

15,197.18

Read more

UPDATE 3-Tillerson to hand over reins to Exxon's president Woods

Dec 14 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp said on

Wednesday its president, Darren Woods, will become chief

executive and chairman in January following the retirement of

Rex Tillerson, who is U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's choice

for secretary of state.

Read more

Brazil's Braskem to pay 3.1 bln reais in leniency deal for corruption case

SAO PAULO, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Brazil's Braskem SA

, the largest petrochemical producer in Latin America,

signed a leniency deal on Wednesday with Brazilian prosecutors

leading a sweeping corruption probe into political kickbacks at

state-run oil company Petrobras, the company said in

a securities filing.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Protesters agree to end blockade of western Libya oil pipelines -officials

TRIPOLI, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Protesters blockading pipelines

to Libya's Sharara and El Feel oil fields have promised to

reopen them and production could restart in the coming days,

security officials and an oil industry source said on Wednesday.

Read more

Exxon says CEO Tillerson to retire at year-end

Dec 14 (Reuters) - Oil major Exxon Mobil Corp said

Chief Executive Rex Tillerson, who is U.S. President-elect

Donald Trump's pick for Secretary Of State, would retire at the

end of the year.

Read more

UPDATE 4-Trump picks climate skeptic Perry for top U.S. energy job

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump

on Wednesday named former Texas Governor Rick Perry to head the

U.S. Department of Energy, handing the job to a climate change

skeptic with close ties to the oil industry who once proposed

abolishing the department.

Read more

Georgia sees 4 percent growth, rise in revenues in 2017 budget

TBILISI, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Georgia expects state revenues

and spending to rise next year amid tax reform and forecasts 4

percent economic growth in the budget passed by the parliament

on Wednesday.

Read more

UK prosecutor drops Somali corruption inquiry into Soma Oil

LONDON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - UK prosecutors have closed a

17-month investigation into alleged bribery and corruption at

Soma Oil & Gas, a private UK exploration company seeking oil in

Somalia, despite finding "reasonable grounds" to suspect

wrongdoing.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Nigerian deficit to rise as Buhari presents record budget

ABUJA, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Nigeria expects its 2017 deficit

to rise to 2.36 trillion naira ($7.75 billion), President

Muhammadu Buhari said on Wednesday, as the government tries to

drag Africa's biggest economy out of recession with a budget

that foresees record spending.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Russian producers agree to cut oil output but details elusive

* Cuts will be voluntary for each company

(Adds detail, quotes)

Read more

UPDATE 1-EDF's board approves partial sale of its grid unit RTE -source

PARIS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - French utility EDF's

board has approved the partial sale of the firm's high-voltage

power grid unit RTE to state bank Caisse des Depots, a source

familiar with the situation said.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Gazprom, OMV reach outline deal on swap of Norway, Siberia assets

* OMV to get 24.98 pct of Achimov IV, V part of Urengoy

field

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.N. rights expert calls for troops, court to stop South Sudan genocide

* Court and protection force agreed but not delivered

(Updates with more quotes, detail)

Read more

Germany risks missing 2020 climate targets, ministry report shows

BERLIN, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Germany is at risk of missing its

2020 target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent

from 1990, an environment ministry report showed on Wednesday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Trump's energy pick Perry likely a boost for oil, worry for environmentalists

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald

Trump on Wednesday formally named former Texas governor Rick

Perry to lead the Department of Energy, adding to the list of

oil-drilling advocates skeptical about climate change filling

out his Cabinet selections.

Read more

RPT-COLUMN-China coal output trend points to lower seaborne prices: Russell

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Dec 14 (Reuters) - When it comes to

China's coal production, is it more important that output in

November recorded yet another decline year-on-year, or that it

rose for a second straight month?

Read more

RPT-U.S. Democrats enlist experts to scour Tillerson's business record

WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats plan to

enlist accountants and legal experts to pore through the

business records of Exxon Mobil Chief Executive Rex

Tillerson, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of

state, Democratic aides said.

Read more

WIDER IMAGE-Reindeer herding in Russia's remote Arctic

KRASNOYE, Russia, Dec 14 (Reuters) - In Russia's remote

Arctic regions, reindeer herding has been a way of life for

centuries.

Read more

Berlin: Need answers to avoid delaying debt measures for Greece

BERLIN, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Germany has asked the

institutions involved in Greece's aid programme to assess

whether Greek reforms are compatible with its bailout

obligations and wants a quick answer to avoid delaying

short-term debt measures, a finance ministry spokesman said.

Read more

UN seeks to stop South Sudan atrocities from sparking wider war

GENEVA, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The international community can

stop a "Rwanda-like" genocide in South Sudan if it immediately

deploys a 4,000-strong protection force and sets up a court to

prosecute atrocities, the head of a U.N. human rights commission

said on Wednesday.

Read more

RPT-After Alaska flop, Shell's search for oil moves closer to home

* GRAPHIC: Oil & gas exploration spending http://tmsnrt.rs/2gw0XBm

Read more

Oilfield services firm Wood Group reaffirms 2016 EBITA forecast

Dec 14 (Reuters) - Oilfield services company John Wood Group

Plc reaffirmed its full-year EBITA forecast and said it

sees indications of modest recovery in selected markets, but

warned that challenging market conditions are likely to persist

in 2017.

Read more

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

COLUMN-China coal output trend points to lower seaborne prices: Russell

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Dec 14 (Reuters) - When it comes to

China's coal production, is it more important that output in

November recorded yet another decline year-on-year, or that it

rose for a second straight month?

Read more

Iran crude oil exports to hit 5-mth low in Dec -source

* Exports to Asia to fall 17 pct to 10-month low of 1.11 mln

bpd

Read more

RPT-U.S. Democrats enlist experts to scour Tillerson's business record

WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats plan to

enlist accountants and legal experts to pore through the

business records of Exxon Mobil Chief Executive Rex

Tillerson, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of

state, Democratic aides said.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Oil prices fall on rising U.S. crude stocks, OPEC output concerns

* IEA thinks OPEC produced even more than it said in

November

Read more

U.S. Democrats enlist experts to scour Tillerson's business record

WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats plan to

enlist accountants and legal experts to pore through the

business records of Exxon Mobil Chief Executive Rex

Tillerson, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of

state, Democratic aides said.

Read more

S.Korea pairs state utility, private tech giants in $37 bln bid to seize global green energy lead

SEOUL, Dec 14 (Reuters) - South Korea aims to vault from

laggard to leader in the renewable energy industry, as Seoul

prepares to hook the country's tech giants up to nearly $40

billion in public funds in a bold plan to become a new global

leader in green power.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Trump chooses congressman Zinke for interior secretary - reports

Dec 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump chose

first-term Republican Representative Ryan Zinke of Montana, a

former Navy SEAL commander, as his interior secretary, according

to media reports.

Read more

West Coast states to fight climate change even if Trump does not

CORONADO, Calif., Dec 13 (Reuters) - The governors of the

three U.S. West Coast states on Tuesday vowed to step up their

efforts to fight climate change in the face of the incoming

administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has

dismissed global warming as a hoax.

Read more

Nigerian parliament opens inquiry into long-disputed Shell, Eni oil field

ABUJA, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Nigeria's lower house opened an

investigation on Tuesday into an offshore oil field owned by

Royal Dutch Shell and Eni, the latest inquiry

into their acquisition of the OPL 245 licence block which could

hold up to 9.23 billion barrels of oil, according to industry

figures.

Read more

North Dakota pipeline spill cleanup ongoing a week after leak

HOUSTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Roughly a third of the more than

3,000 barrels of oil that spilled into a North Dakota creek

following a pipeline leak last week has been recovered, a local

official said on Tuesday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.S. Energy Dept balks at Trump request for names on climate change

WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Energy Department

said on Tuesday it will not comply with a request from

President-elect Donald Trump's Energy Department transition team

for the names of people who have worked on climate change and

the professional society memberships of lab workers.

Read more

Desperate to dump soon-worthless cash, Venezuelans flock to banks

CARACAS, Venezuela, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Lining up from dawn

with backpacks and plastic bags full of cash, Venezuelans

flocked to banks across the nation on Tuesday to ditch

100-bolivar bills after President Nicolas Maduro's surprise move

to pull them from circulation.

Read more

Fracking harms drinking water in 'some circumstances,' EPA concludes

WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Fracking for oil and natural

gas can contaminate drinking water under "some circumstances,"

the Environmental Protection Agency said in a report released

Tuesday, which changes a previous finding that the drilling

process does not cause "widespread, systemic" effects.

Read more

UPDATE 7-Oil prices rise as Middle East producers confirm supply cuts

* Indian fuel demand continues to soar

(New throughout, updates prices and market activity, adds

second byline and NEW YORK dateline)

Read more

Trump to pick former Texas Governor Perry as Energy Secretary

WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump

has chosen former Texas Governor Rick Perry to head the U.S.

Department of Energy, a transition official said, putting him in

charge of the agency he proposed eliminating during his bid for

the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Russia's Gazprom Neft, Iran's NIOC agree Iranian oil field studies

TEHRAN/MOSCOW/BEIRUT, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Russian oil

producer Gazprom Neft and National Iranian Oil Company

(NIOC) agreed on Tuesday to conduct a study into the possible

development of two oil fields in Iran, Russia's energy ministry

Alexander Novak said.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Trump taps Exxon CEO Tillerson as top U.S. diplomat

WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald

Trump announced Exxon Mobil Corp Chief Executive Officer

Rex Tillerson as his choice for secretary of state on Tuesday,

praising him as a successful international dealmaker who leads a

global operation.

Read more

Russia says wants peace deal with Japan but sees no quick fix

MOSCOW, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Russia wants to boost bilateral

ties with Japan on all fronts and hopes to reach a peace treaty

with its eastern neighbour, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on

Tuesday, adding however that agreeing a peace treaty needed

"scrupulous work."

Read more

E.ON invests in UK start up that uses sails to harness wind power

FRANKFURT, Dec 13 (Reuters) - German energy group E.ON

has invested in a British start-up business that uses

sails instead of rotors to harness wind energy.

Read more

China's Sinopec weighs takeover of Gulf Keystone - Bbg

Dec 13 (Reuters) - China's Sinopec Corp

is weighing a takeover of Gulf Keystone Petroleum

, an oil company focused on Iraqi Kurdistan, Bloomberg

reported on Tuesday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-UBM to buy Allworld in Asia push, Middle East foray

Dec 13 (Reuters) - Event organiser UBM Plc said it

would buy Asian exhibitions company Allworld for $485 million in

cash, strengthening its position in Asia and providing an entry

into the Middle East.

Read more

UPDATE 1-De Beers diamond sales tempered by India's cash crackdown

* Sales still higher than a year ago

(Adds detail, background, Gemfields emerald sale delayed)

Read more

UPDATE 1-CEO of Russia's Lukoil says declined offers to buy stake

MOSCOW, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Vagit Alekperov, the

long-standing chief executive and major shareholder of Russia's

No.2 oil producer Lukoil, said he had declined to sell

his stake in the company around three years ago and there were

no more such proposals.

Read more

China suitor tightens grip on Curacao oil project

BEIJING/HOUSTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - China's Guangdong

Zhenrong Energy Co will submit a plan by April to revamp a

century-old oil refinery in Curacao, as it seeks to secure a

$5.5 billion project that will give China a foothold in the

Caribbean's second-largest oil refinery.

Read more

Event organiser UBM to buy Allworld in Middle East foray

Dec 13 (Reuters) - Event organiser UBM Plc said it

would buy Asian exhibitions company Allworld for $485 million in

cash, strengthening its position in Asia and providing an entry

into the Middle East.

Read more

Monday, December 12, 2016

Beijing mulls ban on coal trucks, storage in Tianjin in smog fight

BEIJING, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Beijing's environmental watchdog

is considering a ban on the use of trucks to transport coal and

closing coal storage facilities in Tianjin, one of China's

busiest ports, a researcher with the agency said, in what would

be a drastic move to tackle smog.

Read more

Trump to announce Exxon chief Tillerson as secretary of state

WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump

will announce Exxon-Mobil Corp's Rex Tillerson as his choice for

secretary of state on Tuesday, a senior transition official

said, confident that the oil executive can get past questions

about his ties to Russia.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Patterson-UTI to buy Seventy Seven Energy for $1.76 bln including debt

Dec 12 (Reuters) - U.S. driller Patterson-UTI Energy Inc

said on Monday it would buy its smaller counterpart

Seventy Seven Energy Inc in an all-stock deal worth

$1.76 billion including debt.

Read more

UPDATE 2-China Nov refinery runs hit record high, crude output falls

* Price recovery to lead to slower declines in crude output

(Adds analyst comment, writes through)

Read more

UPDATE 1-After Trump's win, China and Mexico move to deepen ties

MEXICO CITY, Dec 12 (Reuters) - China and Mexico pledged on

Monday to deepen ties at a meeting between their top diplomats

following last month's U.S. presidential election victory of

Donald Trump, who has tested Washington's relationship with both

countries.

Read more

UPDATE 1-UAE's ADNOC to cut January crude supplies to Asia as part of OPEC deal

* Refiners to use Saudi, Iraqi oil to replace Abu Dhabi

supplies

Read more

UPDATE 1-China's Nov steel output grows at fastest in over 2 years -stats bureau

* Production in first 11 months edges up

(Adds comment, detail)

Read more

After Trump's win, China and Mexico move to deepen ties

MEXICO CITY, Dec 12 (Reuters) - China and Mexico pledged on

Monday to deepen ties at a meeting between their top diplomats

following last month's U.S. presidential election victory of

Donald Trump, who has tested Washington's relationship with both

countries.

Read more

RPT-COLUMN-Hedge funds establish record bullish position in oil after OPEC: Kemp

LONDON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Hedge funds were badly caught out

by the production cuts announced by OPEC at the end of last

month, triggering a furious rally as managers raced to buy back

loss-making short positions.

Read more

Bill Gates leads $1 bln fund to invest in clean energy

Dec 12 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp founder Bill

Gates, along with a string of high-profile executives including

Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and Alibaba

Group Holding Ltd Chairman Jack Ma, are investing more

than $1 billion in a clean energy fund.

Read more

Exxon's financial metrics mixed during Tillerson's decade as CEO

HOUSTON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - As the front-runner for U.S.

secretary of state, Exxon Mobil Corp Chief Executive Rex

Tillerson would bring a global business savvy seldom seen in a

Cabinet member, let alone the country's top diplomat.

Read more

CANADA STOCKS-TSX's energy gain loses steam, index ends lower

TORONTO, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index ended

slightly lower on Monday, breaking a six-day rally, as railway

stocks weighed and an early jump in energy stocks lost steam.

Read more

UPDATE 2-U.S. senators struggle with Exxon CEO as Trump sec'y of state

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, Dec 12 (Reuters) - The front-runner for

secretary of state in President-elect Donald Trump's

administration, Exxon Mobil chief executive Rex Tillerson, faces

a struggle getting confirmed by U.S. senators concerned about

his close ties to Russia.

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.S. shale output set to rise in January as OPEC pulls back

NEW YORK, Dec 12 (Reuters) - U.S. shale production is set to

snap a five-month decline in January, the U.S. government said

on Monday, a move that comes just days after OPEC and rival

producers agreed to reduce crude output in an effort to boost

prices.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Canadian Natural Resources sells Cold Lake pipeline stake for C$527.5 mln

CALGARY, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Canadian Natural Resources Ltd

said on Monday it will sell its stake in the Cold Lake

pipeline to Inter Pipeline Ltd for C$527.5 million in

cash and stock, but will maintain access to the route to move

its crude.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Venezuelans scramble to ditch largest bill ahead of surprise removal

CARACAS, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Venezuelans hastily dumped the

country's 100-bolivar bill, the largest denomination, on Monday

after the government said it would be pulled from circulation as

the crisis-wracked nation suffers what is believed to be the

world's highest inflation.

Read more

UPDATE 10-Oil hits highest since mid-2015 as global producers agree to cut

* Price looks set to rally, but compliance remains key

(Updates dateline, byline, prices)

Read more

Brazil's Temer, in battle for survival, plans economic stimulus

BRASILIA, Dec 12 (Reuters) - President Michel Temer,

fighting for survival over corruption allegations against him

and his government, is planning new measures to jump start a

stalled economy, improve his dismal approval ratings and stifle

calls for his resignation.

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Dubai signs up 19 firms in new technology sector drive

DUBAI, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Dubai's government said on Monday

it had agreed to invest $33.5 million in the pilot projects and

prototypes of 19 companies as part of a new drive to develop its

technology sector.

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UPDATE 2-Russia sees Exxon boss, tipped to be Secretary of State, as an old friend

* Sanctions tested Tillerson's relations with Russia

(Recasts, updates throughout)

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