
EU Gas Rally Unjustified But May Last Through Winter, BNP Says
Supply fears stoking the recent rally in European natural gas prices are unjustified, but the sentiment is so strong that it's unlikely to ease before the cold season ends, according to BNP Paribas SA.
'Prices have gone gangbusters,' Aldo Spanjer, senior commodities strategist at the bank, said in a note. And, even though the market may be proven wrong in pricing in a tough end to the heating season, a difficult summer and the same intense demand in Asia as last year, he doesn't 'see sentiment turning until the end of the European winter.'

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Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Asian shares climb, dollar eases ahead of US-China talks
By Rocky Swift TOKYO (Reuters) - Shares jumped and the dollar pared recent gains on Monday as Asian markets reacted to better-than-expected U.S. jobs data ahead of talks in London aimed at mending a trade rift between the United States and China. Wall Street stocks had closed sharply higher on Friday after the jobs data eased concerns about damage to the world's biggest economy from President Donald Trump's unpredictable tariff regime. Safe-haven assets such as gold remained lower after steep selloffs. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.5% in early trade on Monday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index surged 1.3%, touching the 24,000-point level for the first time since March 21. Japan's Nikkei stock index rose 0.9%. At the same time, a standoff in Los Angeles that led to Trump calling in the California National Guard to quell demonstrations over his immigration policies weighed on sentiment. The dollar slid 0.3% against the yen to 144.39, trimming its 0.9% jump on Friday. The European single currency was up 0.2% on the day at $1.1422. Top trade representatives from Washington and Beijing are due to meet for talks expected to focus on critical minerals, whose production is dominated by China. The discussions follow a rare call last week between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. "Trade policy will remain the big macro uncertainty," said Kyle Rodda, a senior financial market analyst at "Signs of further momentum in talks could give the markets fresh boost to kick-off the week." U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will represent Washington in talks with China, Trump said in a social media post. China's foreign ministry said Vice Premier He Lifeng will be in Britain for the first meeting of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism. U.S. employers added 139,000 jobs in May, data showed on Friday, fewer than the 147,000 jobs added in April, but exceeding the 130,000 gain forecast in a Reuters poll of economists. Attention now turns to inflation data on Wednesday that will feed into expectations for the timing of any rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Markets are facing "mixed fortunes" on Monday as they balance optimism over trade and the U.S. economy against the potential for social unrest in California, said Jeff Ng, Head of Asia Macro Strategy at SMBC. "The trade talks, if there's any progress, may help as well, but markets may not have priced in a lot of breakthrough for that," Ng said. "In the meantime, we are also quite cognizant that in the U.S. there are protests in L.A. and the National Guard is also being sent in, so we have to be on the watch for event risk as well." Spot gold fell 0.2% to $3,303.19 an ounce. U.S. crude was little changed at $64.56 a barrel after a two-day gain.


New York Post
5 hours ago
- New York Post
US-China trade talks to open in London as new disputes emerge
US-China trade talks in London this week are expected to take up a series of fresh disputes that have buffeted relations, threatening a fragile truce over tariffs. Both sides agreed in Geneva last month to a 90-day suspension of most of the 100%-plus tariffs they had imposed on each other in an escalating trade war that had sparked fears of recession. Since then, the US and China have exchanged angry words over advanced semiconductors that power artificial intelligence, 'rare earths' that are vital to carmakers and other industries, and visas for Chinese students at American universities. Advertisement 3 President Trump spoke at length with Chinese leader Xi Jinping by phone last Thursday in an attempt to put relations back on track. REUTERS President Trump spoke at length with Chinese leader Xi Jinping by phone last Thursday in an attempt to put relations back on track. Trump announced on social media the next day that trade talks would be held on Monday in London. The latest frictions began just a day after the May 12 announcement of the Geneva agreement to 'pause' tariffs for 90 days. Advertisement The US Commerce Department issued guidance saying the use of Ascend AI chips from Huawei, a leading Chinese tech company, could violate US export controls. That's because the chips were likely developed with American technology despite restrictions on its export to China, the guidance said. The Chinese government wasn't pleased. One of its biggest beefs in recent years has been over US moves to limit the access of Chinese companies to technology, and in particular to equipment and processes needed to produce the most advanced semiconductors. 'The Chinese side urges the US side to immediately correct its erroneous practices,' a Commerce Ministry spokesperson said. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick wasn't in Geneva but will join the talks in London. Analysts say that suggests at least a willingness on the US side to hear out China's concerns on export controls. Advertisement 3 US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will take part in the talks in London. One area where China holds the upper hand is in the mining and processing of rare earths. They are crucial for not only autos but also a range of other products from robots to military equipment. The Chinese government started requiring producers to obtain a license to export seven rare earth elements in April. Resulting shortages sent automakers worldwide into a tizzy. As stockpiles ran down, some worried they would have to halt production. Trump, without mentioning rare earths specifically, took to social media to attack China. Advertisement 'The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US,' Trump posted on May 30. 3 China dominates the mining and processing of rare earth minerals. REUTERS The Chinese government indicated Saturday that it is addressing the concerns, which have come from European companies as well. A Commerce Ministry statement said it had granted some approvals and 'will continue to strengthen the approval of applications that comply with regulations.' The scramble to resolve the rare earth issue shows that China has a strong card to play if it wants to strike back against tariffs or other measures. Student visas don't normally figure in trade talks, but a US announcement that it would begin revoking the visas of some Chinese students has emerged as another thorn in the relationship. China's Commerce Ministry raised the issue when asked last week about the accusation that it had violated the consensus reached in Geneva. It replied that the US had undermined the agreement by issuing export control guidelines for AI chips, stopping the sale of chip design software to China and saying it would revoke Chinese student visas.

NBC Sports
11 hours ago
- NBC Sports
NBA at 'least a couple years away from launching' NBA Europe league, Adam Silver says
OKLAHOMA CITY — In March, the NBA and international basketball governing body FIBA announced a joint 'exploration of a new professional men's basketball league in Europe.' That's still moving forward, just don't expect it to happen quickly, Adam Silver told reporters at an NBA Cares event at a refurbished Boys & Girls Club in Oklahoma City on Friday, via Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. 'I will say it's measured in years, not months,' Silver said. 'So, we're at least a couple years away from launching. It would be an enormous undertaking. And while we want to move forward at a deliberate pace, we also want to make sure that we're consulting with all the appropriate stakeholders, meaning the existing league, its teams, European players, media companies, marketing partners. There's a lot of work to be done.' Silver told reporters that the NBA is in talks with the existing EuroLeague (the basketball equivalent of the soccer Champions League, featuring the top clubs on the continent) about a partnership at some level. However, what that might look like (or if it would even work) is up for debate. The NBA's initial target was a 16-team league, something Silver previously said would be 'integrated into the current European basketball landscape,' which means teams would continue competing in their respective national leagues. There would be permanent members in the NBA Europe league (existing clubs and possibly some new ones) as well as a chance for teams to be promoted into it each year. Speaking at the NBA Paris games in January, Silver said the goal was to 'professionalize the game to another level here, to create a larger commercial opportunity' — to make more money, both for European teams, but also to expand the NBA brand (and with that make the American owners more money). Silver discussed the European league in terms of NBA expansion when speaking with the media before Game 1 of the Finals. 'We have been discussing potentially creating a league in Europe. I view that as a form of expansion as well,' Silver said. 'Again, just as the same as in American cities, we think there's an opportunity to serve fans in Europe. No knock on European basketball, because most of those international MVPs I just talked about are coming from Europe. There's really high-level basketball being played there. But we think there is an opportunity to better serve fans there. I view that as a form of expansion as well, and that's something we're also thinking hard about.' There are numerous stakeholders, and a lot of mouths to feed; putting together this new league is a massive challenge. The NBA owners will discuss next steps when they meet in July, Silver said. Whatever those next steps are, this is a process that will take years, not months.