Download App

09:56:28

【US Crude Oil Short-Term Trading Recommendation: Oscillating Downward, Sell on Rallies】 (1) Reasons for Analysis: Although changes in the geopolitical situation and the US's tough measures in the energy sector have provided some psychological support for oil prices, the market's expectation of potential supply repatriation has significantly limited the rebound space. At the same time, during the period of declining global demand, oil prices are under downward pressure. After a technical rebound, prices have fallen back to near the previous low. If they break down again, the downside space will be opened. Waiting for support confirmation is the main strategy. (2) Key Focus: Geopolitical situation, trade sentiment, inventory data (3) Resistance: 56.00, 56.30, 56.80 (4) Support: 55.60, 55.20, 55.00

08:57:04

[Trump: US to Deploy Nuclear Reactors on the Moon] US President Donald Trump signed an executive order outlining an ambitious vision for an "America First" space policy, calling for an accelerated return to the moon, the deployment of space-based nuclear energy systems, and ensuring US global leadership in space exploration, security, and commerce. The White House statement indicated that the order requires the US to return to the moon by 2028 and establish initial facilities for a permanent lunar outpost by 2030. The order directs: "Deploy nuclear reactors on and in orbit of the moon, including lunar surface reactors ready for launch by 2030."

08:24:17

[Azerbaijan Exports Petroleum Products to Armenia for the First Time in Decades] A freight train carrying 22 tanker cars of gasoline departed Azerbaijan on the 18th, bound for Armenia via Georgia. This marks the first time Azerbaijan has exported petroleum products to Armenia since the outbreak of war between the two countries over the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. According to Azerbaijani media reports, the gasoline destined for Armenia was produced by the Azerbaijan National Oil Company and will be exported at international market prices. This gasoline trade is based on an agreement reached between the two governments in November of this year. (CCTV)

04:51:42

International oil prices rose slightly on the 18th. By the close of trading that day, the price of light sweet crude oil futures for January 2026 delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 21 cents to settle at $56.15 per barrel, an increase of 0.38%; the price of Brent crude oil futures for February delivery on the London ICE Futures Exchange rose 14 cents to settle at $59.82 per barrel, an increase of 0.23%.

03:31:50

U.S. crude oil futures settled at $56.15 a barrel, up 21 cents, or 0.38%, from the previous day.

03:28:34

U.S. natural gas futures fell more than 4.00%, currently quoted at $3.199 per million British thermal units (MMBtu).

02:01:51

Goldman Sachs predicts that Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate crude prices will fall further, with average prices dropping to $56 and $52 per barrel, respectively, by 2026.

02:01:45

Goldman Sachs stated that given the market's expectation of a return to supply shortages in the crude oil market in the second half of 2027, and the shift in focus to incentivizing long-term crude oil production capacity construction, international oil prices will rebound in the fourth quarter of 2026. It predicts that by the end of 2028, Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate crude prices will gradually recover to $80/$76 per barrel.

02:01:42

Goldman Sachs predicts that if U.S. natural gas prices remain at $4.60/$3.80 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), it will be sufficient to stimulate U.S. natural gas production growth in 2026 and 2027.

02:01:31

Goldman Sachs stated that due to rapid growth in electricity demand and the fact that the scale of coal-fired power capacity elimination exceeds the scale of renewable energy and natural gas power capacity construction, the United States' power reserve capacity will further decline.

01:15:59

Goldman Sachs expects Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate crude prices to continue to decline, with average prices falling to $56 and $52 per barrel respectively by 2026.

00:35:35

China's INE crude oil futures main contract has just broken through the 430.0 yuan/barrel mark, and is currently trading at 430.1 yuan/barrel, up 0.42% on the day.

23:52:39

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a natural gas inventory report showing a decline in line with expectations, after which U.S. natural gas futures continued to rise, gaining 2.6%.

23:52:22

EIA Natural Gas Report: For the week ending December 12, total U.S. natural gas inventories were 3,579 billion cubic feet, down 167 billion cubic feet from the previous week and down 61 billion cubic feet from the same period last year, a year-on-year decrease of 1.7%, while 32 billion cubic feet higher than the 5-year average, an increase of 0.9%.

22:50:45

Analysts say that European natural gas prices will remain low in 2026 thanks to ample liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply.

22:50:38

Deli's benchmark Dutch TTF natural gas futures are expected to fall by nearly 45% this year.

22:03:53

Joint Oil Data Institute (JODI): Saudi Arabia's crude oil production rose by 36,000 barrels per day in October, reaching 10.002 million barrels per day.

22:03:11

Joint Oil Data Database (JODI): Saudi Arabia's domestic refinery crude oil processing volume fell by 228,000 barrels per day in October to 2.712 million barrels per day.

22:02:07

Joint Oil Data Database (JODI): Saudi Arabia's crude oil inventories fell by 1.743 million barrels in October to 148.785 million barrels.

22:01:41

Joint Oil Data Database (JODI): Saudi Arabia's direct crude oil burning fell by 92,000 barrels per day in October to 393,000 barrels per day.

20:47:19

[First Batch of Zero-Tariff Petrochemical Raw Materials Arrive at Yangpu Port] Hainan Free Trade Port officially launched its island-wide customs closure today, with multiple batches of zero-tariff goods entering Hainan Island through ports and airports. These goods include crude oil, medical equipment, aviation materials, and food ingredients. This morning, the first batch of zero-tariff petrochemical raw materials arrived at Yangpu Port, totaling 179,000 tons and valued at nearly 400 million yuan, saving companies approximately 10 million yuan. After the Hainan Free Trade Port's customs closure, the zero-tariff policy will be further expanded, increasing the number of relevant commodity tariff lines from 1,900 to approximately 6,600, accounting for about 74% of all commodity tariff lines. (CCTV Finance)

19:30:11

[WTI Crude Oil (CONC) 4-Hour Price Analysis] Currently, WTI crude oil prices are trending downwards, falling from 59.51 to 55.93, fluctuating between 55.81 and 56.85 intraday. Resistance is around 56.80 (based on the intraday high), and support is around 55.80 (based on the intraday low). Using time series trend analysis, the price is in a descending channel, with higher highs gradually moving lower. It may continue its downward trend, testing the 55.80 support level; a break below this level would target 55.00.

19:08:21

The British government has imposed sanctions on Russian oil companies and Tatarstan oil company.

18:40:41

[Middle East Oil Prices Remain Stable with Slight Declines; Qatar Lowers Official Price; Spot Trading Undercurrents] ⑴ On Thursday, the benchmark spot premium for Middle Eastern crude oil stabilized after rising in the previous trading day, as traders assessed the impact of potential further US sanctions against Russia and the blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers on the supply outlook. ⑵ Trade sources said that Qatar Energy has set its official selling price for February crude oil at a premium of 53 cents per barrel over Dubai quotes, down from the 84 cents premium for January shipments. ⑶ Sources indicated that Qatar Energy sold five shipments of crude oil to refiners such as Glencore and Reliance Industries at an average premium of approximately 42 cents per barrel.

18:06:21

[Oil Price Winter Warning: Institutions Predict a Drop to $60, US Shale Oil Production Faces Shrinkage] ⑴ An institutional analysis indicates that if the average WTI crude oil price in 2026 reaches its predicted $57 per barrel, US shale oil production may decline by 70,000 barrels per day year-on-year, a decrease of approximately 1%. ⑵ The institution maintains a bearish view on oil prices in 2026, predicting that Brent crude oil will trade below $60 per barrel in the first quarter of 2026, with an annual average price of approximately $60 per barrel, significantly lower than this year's average of nearly $69. ⑶ The report further warns that multiple downside risks may work together to push crude oil prices and US shale oil production to even lower levels. ⑷ This forecast implies that in a relatively depressed oil price environment, capital expenditure and the willingness of US shale oil producers to increase production will be significantly suppressed, potentially altering the marginal trajectory of the global crude oil supply pattern.

18:03:23

Bank of America: If WTI crude oil reaches an average of $57 per barrel in 2026, US shale oil production could decrease by 70,000 barrels per day, or 1% annually.

17:18:56

[Gulf Stock Markets Mixed Amid Oil Prices and Interest Rates, Awaiting US Inflation Storm] ⑴ Gulf stock markets diverged in early trading on Thursday. Oil prices rose slightly on news of potential new US sanctions on Russian oil, but market attention was focused on upcoming key US inflation data. ⑵ The Abu Dhabi benchmark index rose 0.3%, primarily driven by a 0.9% increase in ADNOC Gas shares and a 3.3% surge in ESG Emirates Stallions Group shares after announcing the launch of a 1.2 billion dirham waterfront residential project. ⑶ The Qatar benchmark index fell 0.2%, with Industries Qatar shares dropping 2% and Qatar National Bank, the region's largest bank, declining 1.3%, amid reports that Qatar Energy had lowered its crude oil premium. ⑷ The Dubai benchmark index dipped slightly by 0.1%, dragged down by a 9.6% plunge in Gulf Shipping Holdings shares, but Tecom Group shares rose 1.5% after announcing the launch of a 615 million dirham innovation center. (5) Saudi Arabia's benchmark stock index was largely unchanged, with ACWA Power shares down 1%, while Saudi Arabia's mining company shares rose 0.9% after receiving approval from the Ministry of Energy for feed allocation to its phosphate project. (6) Federal Reserve Governor Waller stated that the central bank may still cut interest rates as the labor market cools, and vowed to defend the Fed's independence. Meanwhile, investors awaited the US November CPI report later Thursday and the PCE price index on Friday. (7) Because most currencies in the region are pegged to the US dollar, Gulf markets are extremely sensitive to changes in expectations regarding US monetary policy; therefore, upcoming inflation data will be a key catalyst determining short-term capital flows.

17:06:34

[WTI Crude Oil (CONC) 1-Hour Price Analysis] The current WTI crude oil price is 56.1600, exhibiting a fluctuating trend, having rebounded slightly from the intraday low of 55.9100. Resistance is around 56.3000 (recent high), and support is around 56.0000 (a psychological level and near the intraday low). Based on time series trend analysis, recent price fluctuations suggest a possible continuation of the sideways movement or a slight upward trend, testing the resistance area.

13:53:23

The U.S. Treasury Department announced on the 17th that the transaction permits for the Sakhalin-2 oil and gas development project in Russia's Far East, involving Japan's Mitsui & Co. and Mitsubishi Corporation, will be extended until the early morning of June 18th next year. Japan will be able to continue receiving liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies from Sakhalin-2.

13:25:01

[Israel Approves Gas Export Agreement to Egypt] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on the 17th that he had approved a cooperation agreement to export natural gas to Egypt. Energy Minister Eli Cohen said this is the largest natural gas export agreement in Israeli history. The agreement is worth a total of 112 billion shekels (approximately 3.23 shekels to 1 US dollar), of which 58 billion shekels will go directly into the Israeli national treasury. According to reports, under the agreement, US energy giant Chevron and Israel's New Mediterranean Energy Company, as major operators of the Leviathan gas field, will export natural gas to Egypt. (Xinhua)

13:00:19

Dubai set its official crude oil price for March at a discount of $0.10 per barrel to the average price in Oman.

10:47:22

Sources revealed that Qatar lowered its February delivery price for Saheen crude oil to 53 cents per barrel above Dubai's offer.

10:43:50

Sources say Qatar has lowered its February Al-Shaheen crude oil price to a premium of 53 cents per barrel over Dubai quotes.

10:20:13

Brent crude oil futures fell 1.02% to $59.97 a barrel on the day.

10:13:03

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary: (When asked about the delay in the sale of Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas) The government will continue to ensure the stability of liquefied natural gas procurement.

09:49:05

【US Crude Oil Short-Term Trading Recommendation: Oscillating Downward, Sell on Rallies】 (1) Reasons for Analysis: Geopolitical tensions have escalated again, and the United States has released a tougher policy signal towards Russia and Venezuela, supporting the rebound of oil prices after a sharp drop. However, given the continued loose global crude oil supply and limited demand growth, the probability of a price reversal is not high. Technically, the probability of a correction after a sharp drop is higher. In the short term, we should mainly wait for the stress test and continue to pay attention to whether changes in the geopolitical situation will increase the short-term volatility of oil prices. (2) Key Focus: Geopolitical situation, trade sentiment, inventory data (3) Resistance: 56.80, 57.20, 57.50 (4) Support: 56.20, 56.00, 55.50

09:03:19

Apple is opening up iPhone sales to other app stores in Japan. Apple says it will charge a commission on digital goods sales in Japan. iOS apps will pay a reduced commission of 10% or 21%. A new application programming interface (API) is also being provided for parents to monitor purchasing behavior.

09:00:13

China's INE crude oil futures main contract has just broken through the 430.0 yuan/barrel mark, and is currently trading at 431.3 yuan/barrel, up 1.65% on the day.

08:32:27

According to data updated by TankerTrackers on Wednesday, of the 75 oil tankers currently in Venezuela, approximately 38 are under U.S. Treasury sanctions, 15 of which are carrying crude oil and fuel.

07:00:09

Nymex crude oil futures for the most active contract rose 1.67% to $56.74 per barrel on the day.

06:36:56

[Venezuela's Oil Storage Space to Reach Limits, Potentially Facing Production Cuts] 1. According to sources, the loading capacity of oil tankers waiting at Venezuela's main crude oil storage facilities and terminals is rapidly increasing, and is expected to reach its maximum storage capacity limit in about 10 days. Industry insiders point out that the country's increasingly strained oil storage capacity is directly related to the recent seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker and the US plan to further blockade other sanctioned vessels. 2. Local sources indicate that if storage space is exhausted, Venezuela's state-owned oil company, PDVSA, with a daily production of nearly 1 million barrels, may have to shut down some oil wells to cope with the pressure of unsold inventory.

06:09:36

BP announced that Meg O'Neill will become the company's next Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2026. Carole Hall will serve as the company's interim Chief Executive Officer.

05:39:23

International oil prices rose on the 17th. By the close of trading that day, the price of light sweet crude oil futures for January 2026 delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 67 cents to settle at $55.94 per barrel, an increase of 1.21%; the price of Brent crude oil futures for February delivery on the London ICE Futures Exchange rose 76 cents to settle at $59.68 per barrel, an increase of 1.29%.

05:27:39

Venezuela's crude oil storage capacity is running out due to restrictions on tanker transportation.

05:21:15

U.S. natural gas futures rose more than 4.00%, currently quoted at $3.387 per million British thermal units (MMBtu).

05:10:30

WTI crude oil rose 3% on the day, currently priced at $56.79 per barrel.

04:37:10

On December 17, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a general license allowing transactions involving civilian nuclear energy with a number of Russian banks, the Central Bank of Russia, and the National Clearing House. The license states that “this general license authorizes all transactions involving one or more of the following civilian nuclear energy-related entities that are prohibited by the Presidential Executive Order before 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on June 18, 2026.”

03:54:36

Brent crude futures settled at $59.68 a barrel, up 76 cents, or 1.29%, from the previous day.

03:53:32

U.S. natural gas futures extended gains, rising 5% in after-sale trading, as natural gas flows to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants approached record highs and demand is expected to increase further next week.

03:32:22

U.S. crude oil futures rose 1.21%, or 67 cents, to settle at $55.94 a barrel.

03:22:46

The Amuay Refinery, a key component of the Paraguana Refinery of Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA, with a daily capacity of 645,000 barrels and whose operational stability has a critical impact on Venezuela's domestic fuel supply and oil exports, has restarted production after a power outage.

03:02:22

On the evening of the 17th local time, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a video statement approving a gas deal worth 112 billion shekels between Israel and Egypt, which is the largest gas transaction in Israeli history.

02:52:50

According to the Dallas Fed Energy Survey, oil and gas production remained largely unchanged in the fourth quarter.

02:33:55

Netanyahu said he has approved Israel’s “largest ever” gas deal.

01:52:55

[Trump Orders Blockade of Venezuelan Tankers, Adding Uncertainty to Oil Price Rise] (1) Affected by former US President Trump's order to completely block all sanctioned Venezuelan tankers from entering and leaving the country, global geopolitical tensions escalated, coupled with easing market concerns about crude oil oversupply, leading to a rise in international oil prices by more than 1% on Wednesday. Brent crude futures rose 1.68% to $59.91 per barrel during the session, while West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 1.68% to $56.20 per barrel. (2) Oil prices had previously fallen to a near five-year low due to progress in the Russia-Ukraine peace talks, but Trump's blockade order has brought new variables. Analysts pointed out that although Venezuela's crude oil production accounts for only 1% of the global total, its supply is concentrated in a few buyers, and its export uncertainty will disrupt the market. However, the unexpected increase in US gasoline and distillate inventories has to some extent suppressed the rise in oil prices. (3) Data from the US Energy Information Administration showed that US crude oil inventories decreased by 1.3 million barrels last week, but gasoline inventories increased by 4.8 million barrels, far exceeding expectations. The details of the blockade implementation are still unclear, and subsequent developments will continue to affect oil price trends.

01:42:03

[Canadian Oil Sands Giants Expand Against the Trend, Plan to Increase Production in 2026] Despite widespread market expectations of an impending crude oil oversupply, which could further exacerbate the downward trend in crude oil prices, Canadian oil sands producers, led by Cenovus Energy, still plan to expand production capacity next year. Looking at the median production guidance released by major companies, all four of Canada's largest oil companies expect production to increase in 2026, with Cenovus Energy predicting an increase of approximately 18%. This expansion of Canadian crude oil production could exacerbate the global crude oil oversupply situation predicted by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Previously, this oversupply expectation had already led to a 22% drop in the price of US benchmark crude oil this year.

00:48:51

[Dallas Fed Survey: Businesses Expect WTI Crude Oil Prices to Reach $62/Barrel by End of 2026] A survey released by the Dallas Federal Reserve shows that businesses expect West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices to reach $62 per barrel by the end of 2026.

00:47:12

[Data Centers Drive Up Energy Costs for US Residents] American households are facing higher utility bills due to surging electricity demand from data centers and rising natural gas prices. The report estimates the increase to be between 9.6% and 13%, exacerbating concerns about affordability.

23:46:44

[PDVSA: Crude Oil and Petroleum Product Exports Proceeding Normally] On the 17th local time, PDVSA issued a statement saying that Venezuela's crude oil and petroleum product exports are proceeding normally. The statement indicated that oil tankers associated with PDVSA are still sailing normally with sufficient technical support and operational safeguards, exercising their freedom of navigation rights in accordance with the law. The rights to freedom of navigation and free trade are widely recognized and protected under international law. PDVSA reiterated its firm commitment to defending the energy sovereignty of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, fulfilling its legitimate commercial commitments, ensuring maritime operational safety, and always conducting its activities in accordance with the principles of the Constitution, international maritime law, and the UN Charter.

23:35:07

[US Blockade of Venezuelan Oil Tankers Causes Nearly 2% Rise in International Oil Prices] On December 17th local time, US President Trump ordered a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, triggering escalating geopolitical concerns and pushing international crude oil prices up by nearly 2%. As of 13:02 London time, Brent crude futures rose 99 cents, or about 1.7%, to $59.91 per barrel; West Texas Intermediate crude rose 97 cents, or about 1.8%, to $56.24 per barrel.

22:22:40

Venezuela's state-owned oil company, PDVSA, has stated that its own tanker fleet is currently operating normally.

22:22:23

[International Energy Agency: Global Coal Demand to Decline Slightly by 2030] On the 17th, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report indicating that global coal demand is expected to decline slightly by 2030 due to increasing competition from other energy products such as renewable energy, natural gas, and nuclear power. The report, titled "Coal 2025," shows that global coal demand is projected to grow by 0.5% year-on-year in 2025, reaching a record high of 8.85 billion tons. The report believes that although global coal demand is expected to reach a new high in 2025, it will remain stable in the coming years, and by 2030, global coal demand is projected to decline by 3% compared to 2025, lower than the 2023 level.

20:38:31

Data shows that the liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant in Freeport, Texas, is expected to resume receiving more feedstock gas on Wednesday after its liquefaction production line was shut down on Tuesday. As a crucial global source of LNG supply, the stable operation of Freeport facilities is vital to maintaining global natural gas supply flows, particularly to Europe.

19:47:11

On March 17th local time, the European Parliament voted to approve the EU's plan to gradually phase out imports of Russian natural gas by the end of 2027. It is understood that this plan still needs approval from the EU member states' ministerial meeting before it can officially take effect. (CCTV News)

19:32:56

The European Parliament on Wednesday approved the EU's plan to phase out imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027, clearing the penultimate legal hurdle before the ban takes effect. The ban still requires formal approval from a meeting of EU ministers, expected early next year.

19:08:39

[Geopolitical Risks Drive Brent Crude Oil Rebound Over 2%] ⑴ Brent crude futures rose over 2% on Wednesday, returning above $60 a barrel. Prices rebounded from near five-year lows in the previous session after the US ordered a "complete and thorough" blockade of sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela. ⑵ However, broad downward pressure, including weak demand and progress in peace talks, may limit the upside for oil prices. ⑶ Progress in the peace agreement has increased expectations of a possible easing of restrictions on Russian oil shipments as markets prepare for oversupply. Ample supply has made this year difficult for oil prices due to OPEC+ steadily restoring shut-down production and increased output from non-OPEC producers. Crude oil prices are still on track for their worst annual performance in seven years.

18:06:16

[Escalating Geopolitical Tensions Cause Oil Prices to Rebound; Spot Premiums and Supply Dynamics Underscore] ⑴ Middle Eastern crude oil benchmark prices rose on Wednesday, primarily due to the US announcement of a "comprehensive" blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, exacerbating geopolitical tensions. ⑵ Supply concerns intensified further, with reports that the US was preparing a new round of sanctions against Russia's energy sector in case a peace agreement was rejected, driving global crude oil futures up 2% on Wednesday. ⑶ In the spot market, the premium of Dubai crude oil over swap contracts rose 11 cents to 46 cents per barrel, reflecting tighter spot supply. ⑷ Specific transactions showed that multiple Upper Zakum crude oil spot deals were executed at prices between $59.70 and $59.73 per barrel, with Glencore being the main buyer and major oil companies such as ExxonMobil and BP being sellers. (5) Despite sanctions pressure, India’s crude oil imports from Russia are expected to return to more than 1 million barrels per day in December as refiners turn to unsanctioned entities to buy crude oil at deep discounts, highlighting the reshaping of global supply flows.

18:02:16

[Germany's Energy Structure Observation: Natural Gas Consumption Rebounds, Renewable Electricity Share Remains Flat] ⑴ Preliminary data from the German Energy Industry Association (BDEW) shows that national natural gas consumption reached 875 billion kWh in 2025, a 3.6% increase compared to 2024. ⑵ Net natural gas imports in 2025 were 772 billion kWh, the same as in 2024, indicating that domestic consumption growth mainly relied on inventory or other channels for replenishment. ⑶ Regarding import sources, Norwegian pipeline gas accounted for 39% of supply in November, while 94.7% of liquefied natural gas imported from January to November this year came from the United States, demonstrating significant dependence. ⑷ Total electricity generation in 2025 was 498.9 billion kWh, a slight increase of 0.8% year-on-year, with renewable energy accounting for 58%, consistent with the 2024 level. ⑸ Overall, Germany's energy consumption grew moderately, its energy structure transformation entered a plateau period, the share of renewable electricity did not increase further, while dependence on US LNG continued to deepen.

17:00:13

Nymex crude oil futures for the most active contract rose 2.01% to $56.24 per barrel on the day.

17:00:13

Brent crude oil futures, the most active contract, has just broken through the $60.00/barrel mark, and is currently trading at $60.02/barrel, up 2.01% on the day.

17:00:12

Brent crude oil futures for the most active contract rose 2.01% to $60.02 per barrel on the day.

16:43:08

European stocks rose on Wednesday, with financial stocks leading the gains. ⑴ European stocks rose on Wednesday, rebounding from the previous day's losses. The Stoxx 50 index rose 0.4%, and the Stoxx 600 index rose 0.3%. ⑵ Banking and financial stocks led the gains, with HSBC Holdings rising 2.6%, UBS Group rising 1.6%, Intesa Sanpaolo rising 0.8%, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria rising 0.3%, BNP Paribas rising 0.6%, and Deutsche Bank rising 1.4%. ⑶ Defense stocks rebounded after a sharp drop on Tuesday, with Safran Group rising 1.6% and Rheinmetall rising 1.9%. ⑷ Energy stocks also recorded solid gains, with BP rising 1.9%, Shell rising 1.4%, and Eni rising 0.9%. Semiconductor giant ASML Holdings also rose, gaining 1.5%. ⑸ In contrast, luxury goods stocks lagged behind, with LVMH falling 0.9%, Hermès falling 0.8%, and L'Oréal falling 0.5%. ⑹ Investors are preparing for Thursday's series of monetary policy decisions. The market widely expects the European Central Bank to keep interest rates unchanged, while the Bank of England will almost certainly resume its rate-cutting cycle.

16:20:33

The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and other six departments jointly issued the "Benchmark Levels and Baseline Levels for Key Areas of Clean and Efficient Coal Utilization (2025 Edition)," encouraging and guiding industry enterprises to upgrade projects based on their actual conditions and long-term development. For newly built coal development and utilization projects and existing projects with suitable conditions, efforts should be made to improve the clean and efficient utilization level to the fullest extent possible, striving to reach the benchmark level. For existing projects with a clean and efficient utilization level below the current benchmark level, enterprises should be guided to carry out clean and efficient coal utilization transformation in an orderly manner, accelerate pollution reduction and carbon reduction, and resolutely eliminate outdated production capacity and processes in accordance with laws and regulations. For projects requiring clean and efficient coal utilization transformation, local governments should, without affecting electricity and heat supply, specify the transformation, upgrading, and elimination timeframes (generally not exceeding 3 years) and annual plans, upgrading to above the benchmark level within the specified timeframe, striving to reach the benchmark level; projects that cannot be completed on schedule will be eliminated. The research and development and application of clean and efficient coal utilization technology and equipment should be strengthened, evaluation of clean and efficient coal utilization projects should be carried out, and the construction of technological transformation and upgrading projects should be actively promoted.

16:19:32

The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and other departments jointly issued the "Benchmark Levels and Baseline Levels for Key Areas of Clean and Efficient Coal Utilization (2025 Edition)". Based on the current status and potential of the coal industry, and building upon previous benchmark levels for energy efficiency in key areas, this document expands the scope to include coal consumption for power generation and heating, and coal-to-natural gas. It benchmarks against advanced domestic and international levels in clean and efficient coal utilization, as well as advanced energy efficiency indicators and the strictest pollutant emission requirements in current national and local policies and standards, to improve the benchmark levels for clean and efficient coal utilization.

14:57:26

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is considering its first issuance of dim sum bonds.

14:30:50

[International Energy Agency: Global Coal Demand to Reach Record High in 2025] 1. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday that global coal demand will reach a record high in 2025, but is expected to decline by 2030 as renewable energy, nuclear power, and abundant natural gas will squeeze coal's dominance in power generation. While weaning the world off coal is seen as key to achieving global climate goals, coal remains the largest single fuel source for global power generation. 2. The IEA's 2025 Coal Report indicates that coal demand is projected to grow by 0.5% in 2025, reaching a record 8.85 billion tons. "Looking ahead, we believe global coal demand will plateau and decline very slowly by 2030," said Keisuke Sadamori, head of the IEA's Energy Markets and Security Department, at a press conference. 3. Despite a different trend in 2025, the forecast is largely unchanged from last year's outlook. India's coal consumption saw its third decline in 50 years as heavy rainfall increased hydropower supply and dampened electricity demand.

14:25:16

Oil Prices Rebound Over 1.5% on Geopolitical Risks; Trump's Lockdown Order Sparks Supply Concerns 1. International oil prices rose more than 1.5% on Wednesday, with WTI crude rising as much as 1.74% to $56.09 per barrel and Brent crude rising as much as $1.72 to $59.856 per barrel. US President Trump ordered a "complete and thorough" blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. This move, against the backdrop of weak global demand prospects, has triggered new geopolitical tensions and brought uncertainty to the oil market. 2. Trump announced the blockade order late Tuesday, stating that he had designated the Venezuelan rulers as a "foreign terrorist organization." A US oil trader estimated that this move could affect 400,000-500,000 barrels of oil supply per day, pushing oil prices up by $1-2 per barrel. 3. However, Asian oil traders pointed out that Wednesday's price increase was also driven by a recovery in buying in the futures market after it fell below $60 per barrel the previous day. One trader stated, "Today's prices were mainly driven by sentiment surrounding Venezuelan news, but overall, Venezuela's exports account for a small share of global supply. Given that the market focus remains on the Russia-Ukraine negotiations, oil prices still face downside risks." Another trader believes this rally may be unsustainable, stating, "This could be a good opportunity to establish short positions." Currently, although many oil tankers operating in Venezuela are sanctioned, some vessels transporting Venezuelan oil, as well as Iranian and Russian crude, remain outside the sanctions. Furthermore, Chevron can continue to transport Venezuelan crude to the United States using tankers previously chartered under US government authorization. Analysts point out that while the overall oil market supply is currently ample, a prolonged blockade could drive crude oil prices further up.

14:01:22

The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that global coal demand will reach a record high of 8.85 billion tons in 2025.

13:40:08

Nymex crude oil futures for the most active contract have just broken through the $56.00/barrel mark, currently trading at $56.01/barrel, up 1.60% on the day.

10:50:16

Crude oil buyers at Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA are demanding larger price discounts and adjustments to spot contract terms. Sources say many clients are asking PDVSA to relax trading terms, particularly the company's requirement that crude oil shipments be prepaid in digital currency before departure approval. Other clients are seeking demurrage compensation—costs incurred due to shipping delays. One company source stated that PDVSA could face a surge in return requests if the risks associated with shipping oil from Venezuela increase for clients and shipowners while the contract terms remain unchanged.

10:26:44

[Canada Announces New Regulations: Oil and Gas Industry Must Cut Methane Emissions by 75% by 2035] 1. The Canadian government officially announced a long-term commitment on Tuesday to significantly reduce methane emissions from its oil and gas industry. As the world's fourth-largest oil producer, Canada plans to reduce total methane emissions from the sector by 75% by 2035 compared to 2014 levels. 2. The new regulations fulfill current Prime Minister Mark Carney's commitment to strengthening emissions controls, but with a more relaxed timeframe compared to his predecessor Justin Trudeau's draft target of a 75% reduction by 2030, which was criticized by the industry for being difficult to achieve. The new law will take effect in 2028, and its core measures include a complete ban on routine emissions with a few exceptions and mandatory equipment leak detection and repair programs. 3. Under the new regulations, operators can design their own emissions reduction plans as long as they meet the legally mandated methane emission intensity thresholds. The Canadian government projects that the new regulations will reduce emissions by 304 million tons of CO2 equivalent between 2025 and 2035, while only slightly decreasing total oil and gas production by 0.2%. Methane, a major component of natural gas, has a much greater short-term greenhouse effect than CO2. In Canada, oil and gas facilities contribute approximately half of methane emissions. Although the Carney government has faced criticism for prioritizing economic development over climate issues and for reversing some emissions policies to stimulate energy investment, Canada has made progress in methane control through previous regulations and is on track to achieve its early target of reducing methane emissions by 40% to 45% by 2025 compared to 2012 levels. However, with increasing production, total greenhouse gas emissions from the sector are still rising, and Canada is not expected to meet its overall emissions reduction target by 2030.

10:15:04

Shanghai fuel oil futures have just broken through the 2400 yuan/ton mark, currently trading at 2401 yuan/ton, up 0.25% on the day.

09:52:55

On December 17th, Xiaomi open-sourced MiMo-V2-Flash. According to reports, Xiaomi MiMo-V2-Flash is a self-developed MoE model with a total of 309 bytes (15 bytes activated). Its code capabilities rival those of the benchmark closed-source model Claude Sonnet 4.5, but its inference cost is only 2.5% of Sonnet's. The API pricing for MiMo-V2-Flash is: 0.7 yuan per million tokens for input and 2.1 yuan per million tokens for output. Xiaomi stated that the model weights and inference code are fully open-sourced, the API is free for a limited time, and a web demo is now available.

09:48:34

【Short-term trading advice for US crude oil: downward trend, sell on rallies】 (1) Reasons for analysis: The risk premium of geopolitical situation continues to weaken, putting pressure on oil prices. From the supply side, although the national commercial crude oil inventory has decreased by about 1.8 million barrels, the decline is significantly lower than market expectations. The inventory in Cushing has rebounded for the first time in a month after continuous decline. At the same time, there is no force on the demand side that can reverse the supply and demand imbalance. US gasoline demand weakened at the end of the year and is currently down about 1.3% compared with the same period last year. Technically, after the oil price breaks through the box support, it may open up the downward space. In the short term, we will maintain a downward trend. (2) Key focus: geopolitical situation, trade sentiment, inventory data (3) Resistance: 55.80, 56.00, 56.30 (4) Support: 55.20, 55.00, 54.50

09:36:52

[Trump's Blockade of Venezuelan Oil Tankers Sparks Supply Concerns, International Oil Prices Rebound Over 1%] 1. On Wednesday in Asian trading, international oil prices rebounded from recent lows. US crude oil rose as much as 1.58% to $56.00 per barrel, while Brent crude is currently trading at $59.42 per barrel, up about 1%. This rise was mainly driven by geopolitical tensions. 2. US President Trump ordered a "complete and thorough" blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela on Tuesday, and designated the Venezuelan regime as a "foreign terrorist organization." This move directly targets Venezuela's key oil revenue source and is expected to significantly escalate tensions between the US and Venezuela. 3. Trump stated on his social media platform that the decision was based on the Venezuelan regime's "theft of assets" and involvement in "terrorism, drug trafficking, and human trafficking." 4. Currently, the Trump administration has not yet clearly disclosed the specific methods for implementing this blockade order. In recent months, the US has deployed thousands of military personnel and nearly ten warships to the region, including an aircraft carrier. The previous week, the US had seized a sanctioned oil tanker in waters near Venezuela to increase pressure on the Maduro government. 5. US crude oil prices fell to near a five-year low overnight, mainly influenced by factors such as progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Supply concerns triggered by the lockdown temporarily reversed the downward trend in oil prices. 6. A significant drop in API crude oil inventories also provided some upward momentum for oil prices. The latest data shows that API crude oil inventories decreased by 9.32 million barrels last week, the largest weekly decline since June.

09:04:33

Brent crude oil futures for the most active contract rose 1.01% to $59.44 per barrel on the day.

08:28:32

[Trump's Blockade of Tankers Pressures Venezuela, Oil Prices Rebound from Multi-Year Lows] 1. International oil prices rebounded slightly from their lowest levels since 2021 after US President Trump increased pressure on Venezuela by blocking sanctioned oil tankers. However, the shadow of a global supply glut continues to loom over the market, with signs of weak demand emerging from the Middle East to the US. 2. Investors are bracing for the International Energy Agency's (IEA) prediction of the largest supply glut since the pandemic. This glut is primarily driven by OPEC+ restoring spare capacity at a faster-than-expected pace and increased production from other oil-producing countries, putting downward pressure on crude oil prices for the year. 3. Meanwhile, traders are also weighing the prospect of a potential peace agreement in Ukraine, which could pave the way for reduced restrictions on Russian crude oil exports, potentially further increasing market supply. Currently, geopolitical risks and fundamental supply glut are jointly shaping the complex landscape of the oil market.

08:09:55

The Trump administration escalates pressure on the Maduro government, ordering a "complete and total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela." 1. Trump stated in a social media post that he has ordered a "complete and total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela," adding that the fleet surrounding Venezuela will only grow larger, and the impact on them will be unprecedented—until they return all the oil, land, and other assets they have previously stolen from us to the United States. 2. Trump also designated Venezuelan President Maduro's regime as a "foreign terrorist organization." He accused the "illegitimate" regime of using oil obtained from these stolen oil fields to fund itself, drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping. This move marks an escalation of pressure from the Trump administration on Maduro. Last week, the United States seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.

08:07:26

Nymex crude oil futures for the most active contract rose 1.02% to $55.69 per barrel on the day.

06:21:18

[Hungary and the US Sign LNG Purchase Agreement] Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced in Budapest on December 16 that Hungarian Electric Power Company (EDC) and US-based Chevron Corporation signed a five-year LNG purchase agreement for 2 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Szijjártó made the announcement at a joint press conference with US Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danley. He stated that under the agreement, Chevron will supply EDC with 400 million cubic meters of LNG annually. This marks the first time US LNG has been included in Hungary's energy supply structure. Szijjártó also mentioned that Hungary has signed a contract with Westinghouse Electric Corporation for nuclear fuel supply to the Pákš nuclear power plant, with plans to commence operations between 2028 and 2029. The two sides also reached an agreement on using US technology to build small modular reactors in Hungary. (CCTV)

05:45:09

According to a report, as Mexico’s largest refinery gradually releases its capacity, the country’s refining system has recently reached its highest operating level in 11 years. Last week, Pemex’s refining system processed 1.35 million barrels of crude oil per day. The last time it processed more than 1.3 million barrels per day was in April 2014.

05:40:52

U.S. API crude oil inventories fell by 9.322 million barrels in the week ending December 12, compared with an expected decrease of 2.197 million barrels and a previous decrease of 4.779 million barrels. Meanwhile, API gasoline inventories rose by 4.835 million barrels, compared with an expected increase of 2.1 million barrels and a previous increase of 6.955 million barrels. API distillate fuel inventories rose by 2.511 million barrels, compared with an expected increase of 2.066 million barrels and a previous increase of 1.027 million barrels. API Cushing crude oil inventories fell by 510,000 barrels, compared with a previous increase of 47,000 barrels. API heating oil inventories fell by 435,000 barrels, compared with a previous increase of 296,000 barrels. API crude oil imports fell by 225,000 barrels, compared with a previous increase of 175,000 barrels.

05:14:47

International oil prices fell on the 16th. By the close of trading that day, the price of light sweet crude oil futures for January 2026 delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell by $1.55 to settle at $55.27 per barrel, a drop of 2.73%; the price of Brent crude oil futures for February delivery on the London ICE Futures Exchange fell by $1.64 to settle at $58.92 per barrel, a drop of 2.71%.

04:37:39

Argentine state-owned oil company YPF revealed that JPMorgan Chase will contact at least hundreds of banks and investment funds in an effort to raise approximately $14 billion for Argentina’s top liquefied natural gas (LNG) export program.

04:32:53

So far this year, U.S. crude oil prices have fallen by about 23%, marking their worst performance since 2018, while Brent crude oil has fallen by about 21%, potentially recording its worst annual performance since 2020.

04:31:42

In January, Brent crude oil, the global benchmark for crude oil prices, fell by $1.64, or 2.71%, to settle at $58.92 a barrel.

04:29:35

The price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures for January delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell $1.55, or 2.73%, to settle at $55.27 a barrel.

03:32:02

WTI crude oil futures for January delivery closed at $55.27 per barrel, NYMEX natural gas futures for January delivery closed at $3.8860 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), NYMEX gasoline futures for January delivery closed at $1.6809 per gallon, and NYMEX heating oil futures for January delivery closed at $2.1286 per gallon.

02:35:08

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced in Budapest on the 16th that Hungarian Electricity Company had signed a five-year, 2 billion cubic meter liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchase agreement with Chevron Corporation of the United States.

02:11:27

OpenAI today rolled out a new image model and features to all users on ChatGPT, and also integrated the application programming interface (API) with GPT image version 1.5.