US crude stockpiles rose for a fifth week and production jumped to a record high. Reuters
US crude stockpiles rose for a fifth week and production jumped to a record high. Reuters
US crude stockpiles rose for a fifth week and production jumped to a record high. Reuters
US crude stockpiles rose for a fifth week and production jumped to a record high. Reuters

Oil futures set for second weekly gain amid US-China optimism and Opec cuts


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Oil headed for a second weekly advance on signs the US and China are moving closer to a trade deal, and as investors weighed the Opec+ coalition’s output cuts against surging American supply.

Futures in New York edged higher Friday and were up 2.7 per cent this week. US President Donald Trump will meet with China’s top trade negotiator on Friday as the world’s two biggest economies try to resolve differences. US crude stockpiles rose for a fifth week and production jumped to a record high, the Energy Information Administration said Thursday.

After a rocky start to the month, crude has resumed its rally due to aggressive supply cuts from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies. While Saudi Arabia has said it expects oil markets to balance by April, record-breaking American production is tempering the outlook.

“Expectations are really rising that the US-China meetings will result in a deal, and commodities are getting a boost since they’re included in their discussions,” said Hong Sungki, a commodities trader at NH Investment & Securities Company in Seoul. “Easing of trade tensions will lead to improved global growth and more demand from China for American oil.”

West Texas Intermediate for April delivery rose 13 cents to $57.09 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 7:33am in London after reaching a three-month high of $57.61 on Thursday. Futures have added $1.49 this week.

Brent for April settlement climbed 6 cents to $67.13 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The contract has risen 88 cents this week. The global benchmark crude was at a $10.06 premium over WTI for the same month.

Mr Trump is set to meet Chinese Vice Premier Liu He. He was listed on the White House’s daily schedule for 2:30pm in Washington. That comes after reports that negotiators are working on memorandums of understanding - including on agriculture and non-tariff barriers - that would form the basis of a final deal.

Even as trade talks boosted investor sentiment, nationwide US crude stockpiles rose to 454.5 million barrels - the highest since November 2017 - in the week to February 15, the EIA data showed. US production reached 12 million barrels per day in the same period.

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, last-16. first leg

Atletico Madrid v Juventus, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports

PAST 10 BRITISH GRAND PRIX WINNERS

2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

LILO & STITCH

Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Rating: 4.5/5

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The%20specs
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Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

What are the main cyber security threats?

Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How has net migration to UK changed?

The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.

It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.

The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.

Company%20profile
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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl

Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: Dh99,000

On sale: now

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

THE CLOWN OF GAZA

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Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab

 

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