World Biz
China’s Economic Woes and Interest Rate Speculations Tug at Oil Prices
In the early hours of Wednesday (August 23), oil prices experienced a mild decline, primarily influenced by apprehensions regarding prolonged higher U.S. interest rates and potential economic slowdown in China, a significant player in global crude import. The foremost crude importer’s economic growth concerns have raised apprehensions about diminishing fuel demand.
During this period, Brent crude witnessed a slight dip of 17 cents, equivalent to 0.2%, settling at $83.86 per barrel. Simultaneously, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude stood at $79.56 a barrel, marking an 8-cent decrease, or 0.1%.
This minor retreat follows a similar trend observed on Tuesday when both benchmarks underwent a marginal decline of around 0.5%.
Market participants are in anticipation of crucial signals concerning interest rates from eminent financial policymakers. The forthcoming annual central bank conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, will witness the gathering of Federal Reserve officials, along with policymakers from the European Central Bank, Bank of England, and Bank of Japan. The insights provided at this conference are expected to shape market expectations.
Hiroyuki Kikukawa, President of NS Trading, a subsidiary of Nissan Securities, noted, “Investors are reluctant to take big positions ahead of the Jackson Hole Symposium later this week as they want to find clues for the next step by the U.S. Federal Reserve.” He further emphasized that concerns regarding elevated interest rates and China’s subdued demand could overshadow the near-term impacts of supply adjustments made by OPEC+.
China’s economic dynamics are of paramount importance as it stands as the world’s second-largest economy. The country’s ongoing sluggish growth has posed challenges for oil demand, despite prior stimulus commitments falling short of market expectations. Notably, a recent moderate cut in a crucial lending benchmark was deemed inadequate.
On the supply front, Saudi Arabia’s voluntary decision to further trim output by 1 million barrels per day (bpd) from July through September, coupled with Russia’s plan to reduce August exports by 500,000 bpd, underscores the coordinated efforts of OPEC+ to curtail supplies and stabilize prices.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., crude stocks continued their decline, dropping by approximately 2.4 million barrels in the week ending August 18, as indicated by market sources referencing data from the American Petroleum Institute. This drawdown, while slightly smaller than analysts’ projected 2.9 million barrels decrease, highlights the ongoing tightening of supply. A more comprehensive report from the Energy Information Administration is slated for release on Wednesday at 1430 GMT.
In a tragic incident on Tuesday, a bus carrying at least 21 people, including two children and foreign tourists, met with a horrific accident in Venice, resulting in multiple casualties. The bus, which was powered by methane, veered off a bridge in Venice and subsequently caught fire, causing extensive loss of life and injuries.
Venice Regional Governor Luca Zaia confirmed the devastating toll, with at least 21 fatalities and over 20 individuals hospitalized. Describing it as a “tragedy of enormous proportions,” Zaia expressed his condolences and reported that efforts were underway to extract and identify the victims. Among the victims, there were people of various nationalities, not solely Italians, as confirmed by the governor.
Reports indicate that among the deceased were Ukrainian tourists, while other fatalities included citizens of Germany and France. Additionally, three Ukrainians, along with a Croatian, a German, and a French national, sustained injuries in the accident.
The bus had been en route from Venice’s historic center to a nearby camping site when the tragic incident unfolded at around 7:30 pm (1730 GMT). The bus careened off a bridge spanning a railway line, connecting the Mestre and Marghera districts in northern Venice, and subsequently burst into flames. Firefighters swiftly arrived at the scene, where they worked diligently to manage the aftermath of the devastating accident.
The investigation into the accident’s cause is ongoing, with Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi mentioning methane as an “aggravating factor” that contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. There are concerns that the death toll may rise as the situation unfolds.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni conveyed her deep condolences and assured that she was closely monitoring the situation, maintaining contact with local authorities. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini suggested that the accident could have been triggered by the sudden illness or incapacitation of the bus driver.
The tragedy drew expressions of sympathy from world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Union Chief Ursula von der Leyen. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed deep sorrow over the incident and pledged support for the victims and their families.
As authorities work to manage the aftermath and determine the exact circumstances leading to this devastating accident, the international community joins in mourning the loss of lives in Venice.
In a bid to address the persistent shortage of bus drivers in Tokyo, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has initiated test runs of a self-driving bus. This autonomous vehicle, capable of reaching speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour, commenced its trial on Monday. Operating along a regular loop route that links Shinjuku Station with two key government buildings, the self-driving bus offers a limited seating capacity of 18 passengers. To secure a spot on this cutting-edge journey, passengers are required to reserve their seats in advance through an online booking system.
The test runs are set to continue until October 13, with the self-driving bus running 12 services during the week, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a reduced schedule on weekends and holidays. Tokyo’s metropolitan officials aim to assess the vehicle’s performance in navigating areas with heavy traffic and determine the necessary infrastructure requirements for designated autonomous lanes. Despite Japan’s ambitious strides in pioneering transportation solutions, including level IV autonomous vehicles, experts acknowledge that the widespread adoption of driverless transit in the country still faces considerable challenges.
Bangladesh and India have engaged in discussions regarding the initiation of talks for a free trade agreement aimed at bolstering their economic ties. This noteworthy development emerged during an official-level meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade (JWG) between the two nations, which took place in Dhaka last week.
The discussions, as outlined by the Indian Commerce Ministry, encompassed a wide array of bilateral issues. These included addressing port restrictions, laying the groundwork for the commencement of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aligning standards, mutual recognition of standards, and ensuring the supply of essential commodities to Bangladesh.
These annual meetings serve as a crucial platform for both countries to delve into key trade-related concerns and explore opportunities for collaboration, trade expansion, technical cooperation, and diversification of their economic engagement.
CEPA, a variant of a free trade agreement, involves a substantial reduction or elimination of customs duties on a substantial portion of traded goods between the participating nations. Additionally, CEPA facilitates the easing of regulations to encourage trade in services and investments.
In the course of the meeting, discussions also revolved around matters pertaining to the enhancement of road and rail infrastructure, regional connectivity via multi-modal transportation, and the development or fortification of infrastructure at Land Customs Stations and Integrated Check Posts, as well as the establishment of border haats.
Notably, bilateral trade between the two nations has seen fluctuations, with it registering at $14.2 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23, compared to $8.13 billion in the preceding fiscal year 2021-22.
