The world economy is at a major turning point, which is why we should brace for rapid changes in the economy. The world is moving from having enough goods and services to go around, to not having enough to go around. The dynamics of the economy are very different with not enough to go around. The hoped-for solution of higher prices doesn’t fix the situation; after a point, adding more buying-power mostly produces inflation. Other solutions are needed. The world economy is reaching what has been called “Limits to Growth.”…

Since U.S. President Donald Trump came into office in January, funding has become more uncertain across several sectors, including energy and research. Following recent Department of Energy (DoE) funding cuts, several universities and research institutions are now fighting back.  In April, the DoE announced a new policy action aimed at stopping inefficient spending by colleges and universities across the United States. The agency said it would continue to expand American innovation and scientific research. A new policy memorandum stated that…

Via Metal Miner   The “Trump Tariffs” continue to shock global markets, affecting multiple major sectors. Recently, European auto manufacturing ombudsmen reacted with alarm to President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 25% import tariff on auto imports into the United States. EU Auto Leaders React to Trump Tariffs Hildegard Müller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, said in an April 3 statement, “This protectionism will only produce losers. Consumers in the US will be particularly affected,…

Germany's RWE just pulled the plug on its U.S. offshore wind business. Quietly. No fireworks, no headlines about thousands of turbines scrapped—just a dry admission that it's "halting activities" in American waters. For one of Europe’s biggest green energy giants to walk away from a market as large as the U.S., in the middle of an energy transition no less, is not just a business decision. It’s a red flag. The exit—confirmed by a speech manuscript published ahead of a yet-to-be-delivered speech by the company’s CEO—comes…

The total number of active drilling rigs for oil and gas in the United States rose again this week, according to new data that Baker Hughes published on Thursday, following a 2-rig increase in the prior week. The total rig count in the US rose by 2 to 587 rigs, according to Baker Hughes, down 26 from this same time last year. The number of oil rigs rose by 2 to 483—down by 23 compared to this time last year. The number of gas rigs rose by 1 this week, to 99 for a loss of 6 active gas rigs from this time last year. Miscellaneous rigs lost…

The world’s biggest oilfield services provider, SLB (NYSE: SLB), flagged heightened uncertainties about upstream oil and gas investment amid fears of economic slowdown, fluctuating oil prices, and unknown tariff talks outcomes and impacts.   SLB reported on Friday earnings per share (EPS) of 0.72 for the first quarter, which it described as “subdued”, and flagged potential changes in the industry’s appetite for upstream investment going forward. SLB’s first-quarter earnings fell by 4% from the same period last…

Oil prices slipped on Friday, heading for a weekly loss of more than 2%, weighed down by oversupply concerns and ongoing uncertainty surrounding U.S.-China tariff negotiations. The oil markets have seemingly tired of trying to anticipate the next move of US President Donald Trump, with ICE Brent settling within a relatively narrow bandwidth of $66.0-67.5 per barrel this week. Such rangebound trading still represents a fall from a week ago, with hopes of potential US-China trade talks quashed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry denying that any bilateral…

The Trump Administration is pushing the International Energy Agency (IEA) to ditch its focus on the energy transition and promotion of renewable energy sources, two sources briefed on recent IEA meetings have told POLITICO. Reports emerged as early as last summer during President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign that if elected, Trump would push the IEA, for which the United States provides about a quarter of the funding, to focus back on energy security and fossil fuel supply.   The Paris-based IEA was created to ensure the…

For the first time in its history, China has more wind and solar power capacity than fossil fuel-based thermal power, the country’s energy regulatory said on Friday. The country’s renewable fleet hit 1,482 gigawatts at the end of March, crossing a symbolic threshold that makes for great headlines—but less great power reliability. Because here’s the catch: while renewables now account for more than half of China’s installed electricity capacity, they still delivered just 22.5% of actual power consumption in Q1. Grid…

Numbers Report – April 25, 2025 In the latest edition of the Numbers Report, we will take a look at some of the most interesting figures put out this week in the energy and metals sectors. Each week we’ll dig into some data and provide a bit of explanation on what drives the numbers. Let’s take a look. Trump Brought Market Volatility to a New Level - The unpredictability of Donald Trump’s policy measures has resulted in S&P 500 volatility shooting through the roof, despite gaining 5% since the Easter holidays restored…

Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict - The recent terrorist attack in Kashmir, in which at least 26 civilians were killed, has reignited Indo-Pakistani tensions. As of late Thursday, the situation was dangerously and rapidly escalating, with back-and-forth retaliatory measures threatening a major disruption of regional stability. India attributes the attack to Pakistan-backed militant proxies (The Resistance Front), and has retaliated by stopping the Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Wagah border crossing and revoking Pakistani visas. Pakistan’s…

Over the past three weeks, as markets of every stripe have been in turmoil, everyone is looking for an indicator. What can data points or other markets tell us about stocks? Is the worst of the drop over, or are the up days just an exaggerated dead cat bounce (a market term for a retracement of a down move that means nothing on the basis that even a dead cat will bounce if you throw it to the floor hard enough), and will we be seeing new lows before too long?  Everybody has their own favorite indicator that they believe will give them some…

Why are oil operators even entertaining Libya? The key risk assessment here seems to be the overly simplified notion that it’s been 5 years since Libya’s civil war ended, and the dust has settled. Nothing could be further from the truth, even as Libya’s NOC gets all pomp and circumstance with its new exploration contracts for the first time in two decades. The European interest is largely about replacing Russian oil, even as Russia works to expand its own footprint in Libya. So for the first time in 17 years, Libya, this week,…

As of Thursday’s close, crude oil futures were down $1.16 or 1.81% on the week, with prices struggling to hold any meaningful rebound in the face of renewed geopolitical tension, potential supply growth, and macroeconomic headwinds. Though the market attempted to stabilize after early-week losses, sentiment remained fragile as traders weighed risks tied to Iran, OPEC+ output decisions, and the global trade environment. Iran Supply Fears Stir Market Volatility Oil began the week under pressure as optimism grew around U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations.…

As India looks to boost its nuclear power generation, the government is considering allowing foreign companies to own up to a 49% stake in Indian nuclear power plants, government sources told Reuters on Friday.  Even if India passes amendments in its nuclear foreign investment laws to allow up to 49% foreign stakes, any foreign investment will likely still need prior government approval, according to Reuters’ sources.  Currently, India has 8 gigawatts (GW) of operating nuclear capacity, operated by the state-owned Nuclear Power…

China and the European Parliament are in the "final stages" of discussions about removing sanctions on its lawmakers as part of a move to open the door for mended relations between Beijing and the bloc. "Discussions with the Chinese authorities are continuing and in their final stages," a spokesperson for the European parliament told RFE/RL. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola "will first inform group leaders once the Chinese authorities officially confirm that sanctions have been lifted," the spokesperson added. "It has always been the…

Iraq has sent a delegation to Syria to study if it could restore an oil pipeline that carried crude from Iraq via Syria to ports on the Mediterranean, the media office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said on Friday.  The Iraqi delegation is headed by the President of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, Hamid Al-Shatri. The delegation arrived in Damascus on Friday and is scheduled to meet with the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmed al-Sharaa’, along with several senior Syrian government officials. “The…

Iraq has sent a delegation to Syria to study if it could restore an oil pipeline that carried crude from Iraq via Syria to ports on the Mediterranean, the media office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said on Friday.  The Iraqi delegation is headed by the President of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, Hamid Al-Shatri. The delegation arrived in Damascus on Friday and is scheduled to meet with the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmed al-Sharaa’, along with several senior Syrian government officials. “The…

Fewer and fewer Canadian consumers are considering buying an electric vehicle as their next car, an AutoTrader survey has shown.  For the third consecutive year, the share of Canadians who would buy an EV has dropped. This year’s survey found that 42% of respondents say they would be considering an EV as their next vehicle, down from 46% in 2024, and down from a massive 68% considering buying an EV in 2022.   Only 29% of respondents in the 2025 survey said they would exclusively consider buying an EV. This is a quite a decline…

Iran and Russia are enhancing further their energy cooperation as Russian companies signed a deal to develop oilfields in Iran and the countries discuss the creation of a natural gas hub in the Islamic Republic.  Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad is currently on a visit to Moscow, where the two countries that are under U.S. sanctions committed to increase their cooperation.     Early this year, Iran and Russia signed a so-called Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, which included – among various other…