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Wed 13 Jun 2018, 06:34 GMT

US interest rate decision, OPEC report and weekly oil stocks data


By A/S Global Risk Management.


Michael Poulson, Global Risk Management.
Image credit: Global Risk Management
Today, the US FOMC - which is a part of the US central bank (the Fed) - is meeting to announce future policy. The so-called federal funds rate is especially important as this is the rate at which banks charge each other for overnight loans. Since 2015, the Fed has increased this rate gradually and it is expected to be raised from 1.75% to 2% as of the meeting today. Though this is an important macroeconomic parameter, it is not expected to stir much up in the financial markets as it has been expected for a while and likely is priced in already.

U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met yesterday in a historical session with a destruction of the North Korean nuclear programmes on the agenda. Even though the session historically and politically speaking was huge, it didn't have much economic significance - at least not on the oil market.

Turning tofundamentals: OPEC released its monthly oil market report which mentioned that a high degree of uncertainty is still present in the oil markets despite accompanying data showing that the supply overhang is gone. OPEC+ producers will meet in Vienna 22-23 June to discuss the further nature of the oil cut deal that is currently in place.

Yesterday, the American Petroleum Institute released its oil inventory data which showed U.S. crude stocks increased by 0.83 mbbl, gasoline stocks increased by 2.3 mbbl and distillates stocks increased by 2.1 mbbl. Later today, the EIA will release the weekly inventory report.


Svitzer Balder vessel. Battery-methanol harbour tug completes sea trials ahead of Gothenburg deployment  

Svitzer Balder is claimed to be the most powerful electric escort tug in the world.

Launching ceremony of Nave Orbit vessel. Changhong International launches fourth LR2 tanker for Navios  

Chinese shipbuilder floats 115,000-tonne LR2/Aframax product tanker with methanol and LNG conversion capability.

Nippon Yuka Kogyo logo. Nippon Yuka Kogyo launches lubrication oil analysis service for ammonia-fuelled engines  

Japanese company offers condition monitoring service to support adoption of ammonia as a marine fuel.

Steel cutting ceremony of vessel with builder's hull no. S1128. CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering advances two 20,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel projects  

Two sister vessels for Singapore and Luxembourg owners reach construction milestones in China.

MPA and SSA logo side by side. Singapore maritime sector to accelerate AI adoption under new partnership  

MPA and SSA sign MOU to support AI implementation across shipping operations and bunkering.

Aerial view of a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operation. Portland Port receives licence for LNG ship-to-ship transfer operations  

UK port can now support direct LNG transfers, reducing transit times and streamlining logistics operations.

Martin White, CEO of Stream Marine Group. Seafarer training must match pace of alternative fuel adoption, says Stream Marine Training  

Training provider highlights regulatory gap as methanol, ammonia and hydrogen gain traction in shipping.

Anji Luck vessel. Jiangnan Shipyard delivers final methanol-ready car carrier to Anji Logistics  

The 9,500-vehicle capacity vessel completes a 12-ship series built for SAIC’s logistics arm since 2022.

Bunker vessel alongside a ship during fuel transfer. Nippon Biofuel secures METI funding for Africa-based marine biofuel supply chain  

Japanese company to establish Jatropha cultivation and biofuel production facilities in Mozambique and Ghana.

Everllence B&W 6G60ME-LGIA HPSCR engine. Everllence’s ammonia-fuelled engine passes factory acceptance test ahead of October delivery  

Engine built by HHI-EMD will power Eastern Pacific Shipping’s very large ammonia carriers.


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