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The Sun
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
MIDF Research: Oil prices under pressure as supply outpaces demand
KUALA LUMPUR: Crude oil prices are expected to remain under pressure and could fall below US$65 per barrel (pb) due to persistent oversupply and weaker demand projections, according to MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd (MIDF Research). However, MIDF Research noted that prices may stabilise over the longer term, even as inventories continue to rise. Sentiment surrounding trade policy developments between the United States (US) and China remains a significant risk to market movements, it said in a note today. 'Natural gas and liquified natural gas (LNG) are expected to see a rebound after May 2025's maintenance round concluded for most of the global gas and LNG facilities. 'Nevertheless, the downside risks to the lower oil price remain on new exploration projects, but may be beneficial for onshore storage, long-term tankers and retail fuel,' it said. MIDF Research opines that the scenarios of the global oil market and global economy will continue to keep Brent crude oil price within the US$60-65 pb range, averaging around US$62 pb in June 2025. 'This lower expectation is considering the risks of post-US trade tariff pause, as well as the stockpiling of oil inventories in the near term,' said MIDF Research. Meanwhile, the investment bank said ASEAN collaborations have offered a brighter outlook for the oil and gas (O&G) sector. MIDF Research stated that Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) is continuing its aggressive exploration and production (E&P) activities in the upstream sector, despite lower crude oil prices. Meanwhile, the midstream and downstream divisions are expected to turn towards sustainability and green energy solutions, integrating these initiatives into their operations. 'During the ASEAN summit that concluded in May 2025, the transportation and logistics of LNG and carbon capture and storage (CCS) were highlighted as strategic priorities for the region. 'More focus was set on renewable energy and hydrogen projects to be integrated with the conventional O&G developments, providing a balanced and sound energy transition as highlighted in Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR),' it noted. MIDF Research added that regional cooperation is likely to expand through energy security, carbon credit management, Environmental Corporation America (ECA) compliance and CCS solutions. 'In addition, we opine that domestic demand and robust LNG exports will continue to locally support the sector. 'Overall, we retain a 'Neutral' view on the O&G sector, as it continues to face challenges, primarily from oil price volatility, driven by output hikes from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries plus (OPEC+) and non-OPEC producers, including sluggish global demand due to tariff-related uncertainties,' it added.
The Sun
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Oil prices may dip below $65 amid weak demand, oversupply
KUALA LUMPUR: Crude oil prices are expected to remain under pressure and could fall below US$65 per barrel (pb) due to persistent oversupply and weaker demand projections, according to MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd (MIDF Research). However, MIDF Research noted that prices may stabilise over the longer term, even as inventories continue to rise. Sentiment surrounding trade policy developments between the United States (US) and China remains a significant risk to market movements, it said in a note today. 'Natural gas and liquified natural gas (LNG) are expected to see a rebound after May 2025's maintenance round concluded for most of the global gas and LNG facilities. 'Nevertheless, the downside risks to the lower oil price remain on new exploration projects, but may be beneficial for onshore storage, long-term tankers and retail fuel,' it said. MIDF Research opines that the scenarios of the global oil market and global economy will continue to keep Brent crude oil price within the US$60-65 pb range, averaging around US$62 pb in June 2025. 'This lower expectation is considering the risks of post-US trade tariff pause, as well as the stockpiling of oil inventories in the near term,' said MIDF Research. Meanwhile, the investment bank said ASEAN collaborations have offered a brighter outlook for the oil and gas (O&G) sector. MIDF Research stated that Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) is continuing its aggressive exploration and production (E&P) activities in the upstream sector, despite lower crude oil prices. Meanwhile, the midstream and downstream divisions are expected to turn towards sustainability and green energy solutions, integrating these initiatives into their operations. 'During the ASEAN summit that concluded in May 2025, the transportation and logistics of LNG and carbon capture and storage (CCS) were highlighted as strategic priorities for the region. 'More focus was set on renewable energy and hydrogen projects to be integrated with the conventional O&G developments, providing a balanced and sound energy transition as highlighted in Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR),' it noted. MIDF Research added that regional cooperation is likely to expand through energy security, carbon credit management, Environmental Corporation America (ECA) compliance and CCS solutions. 'In addition, we opine that domestic demand and robust LNG exports will continue to locally support the sector. 'Overall, we retain a 'Neutral' view on the O&G sector, as it continues to face challenges, primarily from oil price volatility, driven by output hikes from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries plus (OPEC+) and non-OPEC producers, including sluggish global demand due to tariff-related uncertainties,' it added.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
S&P 500's Banner Month Faces Off With June's Lackluster Record
(Bloomberg) -- A frenzied May rally has equity analysts bracing for an end to the run in what has historically been one of the weakest months for S&P 500 Index returns. NYC Congestion Toll Brings In $216 Million in First Four Months Now With Colorful Blocks, Tirana's Pyramid Represents a Changing Albania The Economic Benefits of Paying Workers to Move NY Wins Order Against US Funding Freeze in Congestion Fight Why Arid Cities Should Stick Together The prospect of renewed trade-war concerns, uncertainty over the path of Federal Reserve policy and quarter-end portfolio rebalancing all risk rattling the market after the S&P 500 soared 6.2% this month through Thursday, putting it on track for the biggest May gain since 1990. The blistering rally, propelled by a reprieve from President Donald Trump's tariff offensive, has left the benchmark within 4% of its February record. 'Traders have become too desensitized to the tariff shock-and-awe strategy by Trump,' said Jeffrey Hirsch, editor of the Stock Trader's Almanac, who correctly forecast the recovery after the 2008 global financial crisis. 'After this massive rally, stocks will likely hit a bumpy stretch in the coming weeks on risks that this administration may try to implement more dramatic trade policies.' Pricey valuations, muted demand for hedges and stretched investor positioning have left stocks vulnerable to a pullback, according to Hirsch. That may lead to weaker returns in June. The S&P 500 has risen just 0.2% on average in June over the past three decades, compared with a 0.8% move in the other 11 months of the year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Fault lines are already forming after a Thursday rally mostly stalled out as solid results from Nvidia Corp. were overshadowed by uncertainties on Trump's levies. Tests Ahead The first test of the market's resolve will be the Fed's interest-rate decision on June 18. Two days later comes 'triple witching' — when a large swath of equity-tied options expire, amplifying volatility — and the end of the month brings quarterly portfolio rebalancing. Those are the critical milestones that will determine if bulls can keep driving stocks higher with the S&P 500 edging toward 6,000, a key psychological threshold. History doesn't bode well for stocks in the months ahead. In post-US presidential election years over the past seven decades, the S&P 500 has typically struggled in early June as investors book profits heading into the summer months, which is particularly the case if stocks get a strong boost in May, like this year, according to Hirsch. 'Sell in May' The adage 'sell in May and go away' alludes to a six-month stretch ending in October that historically has been the worst time to own stocks. Since the early 1970s, the S&P 500 has had a mediocre stretch from Memorial Day through Labor Day, averaging a gain of just 1.8%, Hirsch says. Still, in recent memory, the S&P 500 has suffered losses in June just once in the past decade, data compiled by Bloomberg show. This time though, fund managers have reduced cash holdings and invested heavily in US stocks in recent weeks. That bullish tilt raises questions over who's left to buy after fund managers piled into stocks at a furious pace in May. Commodity trading advisers, or CTAs, which typically buy stocks as index prices rise and sell when they decline, turned net long on equities last week for the first time since early March after the S&P 500 broke above 5,800, according to UBS Group AG. But CTAs will be only moderate buyers in the coming weeks if the S&P 500 doesn't top 6,000 soon, says Maxwell Grinacoff, an equity derivatives strategist at the bank. 'CTA positioning remains skewed to the downside,' Grinacoff said by phone. 'If the market rally unwinds soon, those trend followers will be forced to turn net short on stocks. That would inevitably push shares lower from here.' YouTube Is Swallowing TV Whole, and It's Coming for the Sitcom Mark Zuckerberg Loves MAGA Now. Will MAGA Ever Love Him Back? Millions of Americans Are Obsessed With This Japanese Barbecue Sauce Inside the First Stargate AI Data Center How Coach Handbags Became a Gen Z Status Symbol ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Fibre2Fashion
26-05-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Euro area LEI declines in April, CEI steady; GDP to rise at 0.9%: TCB
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the euro area declined by 1.0 per cent in April 2025 to 99.9 (2016=100), marking its second consecutive monthly drop following a 0.4 per cent fall in March. The euro area's Leading Economic Index fell 1.0 per cent in April 2025, driven by weakened consumer confidence and sector expectations post-US tariff announcement. The six-month LEI decline slowed to 2.9 per cent. The Coincident Index was unchanged in April, with 0.8 per cent growth over six months. The Conference Board forecasts 0.9 per cent euro area GDP growth for 2025. Over the six-month period from October 2024 to April 2025, the LEI contracted by 2.9 per cent—an improvement compared to the steeper 3.7 per cent decline during the prior six-month span, the TCB said in a release. 'The euro area LEI fell at a steeper rate last month, in the wake of the US tariff announcement on April 2nd. All non-financial components weighed on the Index. In particular, consumer confidence declined while expectations in the service and manufacturing sector weakened,' said Stephanie Guichard, senior economist, at The Conference Board. Meanwhile, the Conference Board Coincident Economic Index (CEI) for the region remained unchanged in April at 110.0, after registering a 0.3 per cent increase in March. The CEI posted a 0.8 per cent rise over the latest six-month period, accelerating from 0.3 per cent growth recorded between April and October 2024. 'Taking into account the impact of US tariffs, the high level of uncertainty and the persistence of geopolitical tensions, The Conference Board projects euro area's real GDP to grow by 0.9 per cent in 2025,' Guichard added. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
News18
10-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
'We Know Where Pakistan Ends & Afghanistan Begins'
Reported By : Edited By: Last Updated: May 10, 2025, 15:21 IST India's engagement with Kabul has been quiet but strategic—and more importantly, devoid of the overt interference that has long defined Islamabad's policy. (PIB) The latest claim by Pakistan's military spokesperson, DG ISPR, about an Indian missile targeting Afghanistan—without specifying a location, region or any evidence—has stirred diplomatic dust. While India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri issued a sharp rebuttal, pointing to Pakistan's long record of making a series of efforts to destabilise Kabul, the question arises—What is Islamabad really aiming for with this sudden, unrelated and certainly vague yet loaded assertion? News18 spoke exclusively with Amar Sinha, a former Indian ambassador to Afghanistan, to understand the dynamics. Calling the military spokesperson's statement related to Afghanistan as an attempt to create further geo-political confusion, Sinha, who served as India's Ambassador to Afghanistan between 2013 and 2016, said: 'It is just a shabby attempt at sowing confusion and has been roundly refuted by our Foreign Secretary. Clearly, Pakistan's Afghanistan policy lies in shambles today, and nothing makes them squirm more than friendly and cordial relations between Kabul and Delhi." He added: 'Unfortunately, at least two generations of Afghans have grown up amid death and destruction caused by Pakistan. Afghans are not as naive and foolish as DG ISPR assumes. Indian action is limited to terror infrastructure and its ecosystem in Pakistan, and unlike Pakistan, we know where Pakistan ends and Afghanistan begins," said Sinha, who retired as secretary economic relations in the ministry of external affairs. No Longer Pakistan's Proxy Playground At face value, the statement by the Pakistani military spokesperson appears to be a calculated move. It does not seem about the missile itself but more about messaging. 'Pakistan knows and understands well that Afghanistan is a volatile theatre, and invoking an Indian aggression on Afghan soil serves dual purposes. It will discredit New Delhi's regional standing, and test Kabul's diplomatic alignment post-US withdrawal," said a source in the government, who does not want to be named. Significantly, the timing is telling. With the Taliban government still navigating global legitimacy and India maintaining a careful yet consistent engagement with the new regime in Kabul through humanitarian aid and technical assistance, Pakistan's claim appears to be an attempt to wedge itself into the narrative as Afghanistan's 'defender', the source further added. Pakistan's diplomatic bandwidth has been stretched thin over the past few years with its economy in turmoil and its credibility on issues like terror financing constantly under scrutiny. In that light, such statements are most likely to be attempts to divert global attention, shift the heat onto India, and potentially revive the old 'victim' posture in international forums. However, such a 'shabby' attempt, as Sinha called it, may not work as intended. Swipe Left For Next Video View all Afghanistan is no longer a pliable proxy space for Pakistan that may want to manipulate it with ease like earlier. The Taliban regime now has their own geopolitical aspirations and, crucially, are wary of being seen as pawns. Meanwhile, India's engagement with Kabul has been quiet but strategic—and more importantly, devoid of the overt interference that has long defined Islamabad's policy. News india 'We Know Where Pakistan Ends & Afghanistan Begins': Ex-Indian Envoy Slams Islamabad's Missile Claim | Exclusive
