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CANADA CRUDE-Western Canada Select trades at steepest discounts ever since March
The difference between the West Texas Intermediate benchmark futures and Western Canada Select futures, which is North American benchmark, has narrowed slightly on Thursday. However, it remains larger than ever before. CalRock reported that WCS for Hardisty, Alberta delivery in January settled at $12.85 per barrel, which is lower than the U.S. benchmark WTI. This compares to $13 Wednesday. The WCS discount on increased Canadian oil production has recently increased after spending most of the year in historically tight levels. This is largely due to the Trans Mountain expansion pipeline which has provided additional export capacity for Canadian oil producers. According to government statistics, the oil-producing province Alberta has set a record for production in 2024 with an average of 3.98 million barrels per day. The first 10 months of the year 2025 have been 3.8% higher than the same period of last year. * Oil prices fell globally on Thursday as investors waited for the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut. Meanwhile, the stalled Ukraine talks dampened expectations that a deal would be reached to restore Russian oil supplies. (Reporting from Amanda Stephenson, Calgary; Editing done by Maju Sam)
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Brazil 2026 Budget Sponsor proposes $1.9 Billion Exclusion for State-run Firms' Fiscal Target
Gervasio maia, the Brazilian congressman who sponsored the bill on budget guidelines for 2026, proposed to exclude up to 10 billion reals ($1.9 billion) of next year's fiscal goal for state-owned enterprises. According to Maia’s amendment, this amount will cover the expenses of companies that have an active and approved economic-financial plan. The proposal gives President Luiz inacio Lula da Silveira fiscal flexibility. It comes at a time when the postal service Correios is facing a cash crisis. Last month, it approved a restructuring program as its losses soared this year. This raised doubts over the viability of state-run Correios. The company reported a loss for the year to date of 6 billion reals ($1.13 billion), nearly three times the amount reported a year ago. The government has to compensate state-owned companies when they exceed their fiscal targets. This often means freezing federal spending. This is what happened with this year's Budget, when the government in November approved it. It was necessary to offset the 3 billion reais deficit that had been expected at state-owned firms due to Correios’ troubles. Maia removed from her proposal a clause on compensation. This effectively prevents the government from implementing it in the event that state-owned companies miss their targets next year. After the bill was passed, the change to the budget proposal for 2026 was announced ahead of the joint session of the Congress on Thursday. Committee approval is expected to be made on Wednesday. Correios stated earlier this week that the Treasury Blockage It was prevented from taking out a loan of 20 billion reais (3.67 billion dollars) from a bank consortium with a guarantee from the government because the interest rates exceeded the limit for deals backed by the state. ($1 = 5.3048 reales) ($1= 5.3133 reales) (Reporting and editing by Diane Craft; Marcela Ayres)
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Irish media reported that drones were spotted near Zelenskiy's flight path from Dublin.
Local media reported that an Irish navy ship saw up to five drones near the flight path for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as he arrived in Ireland on Monday to make a state visit. Irish Times reported that the sighting caused a major alert due to fears of an attempted interference with the flight path. The Irish Times cited unnamed sources who said that the aircraft was not in danger, despite its arrival a little early. The Ukrainian delegation arrived on Monday late and left late the following day, as part of an effort to drum up support for Kyiv in Europe as Russia continues its war against Ukraine. Recent drone flights in Europe have disrupted airspace operations. Their origin is mostly unknown. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has called these incursions hybrid warfare. The Journal website first reported that drones were spotted at Dublin Airport. They said they arrived at the exact location where Zelenskiy’s plane had been expected to be, at the exact time it was due to pass. The authorities said they were conducting investigations to determine if the drones had taken off from a ship or landed on land. Both news outlets reported that they were first seen northeast of Dublin at a distance of around 20 km (12miles) from the airport. Ireland's Defence Forces stated that it could not comment on any specifics about any alleged incident for operational security purposes. A spokesperson stated that "however, the Defence Forces' support to An Garda Siochana's (police) security operation was successfully deployed by multiple means, ultimately leading to a successful and safe visit,"
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US investigations report that Waymo's self-driving car illegally passed 19 school buses in Texas
The U.S. government said Thursday that it had asked Waymo for more information after Texas officials claimed that Alphabet's self-driving cars had passed school buses illegally 19 times since the beginning of the school year. In October, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation after an incident that occurred in Georgia. A Waymo was not stationary as it approached a school bus while its red lights were flashing and its stop arm was deployed. The Austin Independent School District posted a letter on November 20, 2018 by the NHTSA. In the letter, they stated that five incidents had occurred in November following the announcement from Waymo that it had updated its software to fix the problem. They asked the company not to operate around schools at pick-up or drop-off hours until it was able to ensure the vehicles wouldn't violate the law. Waymo didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. A lawyer for the district wrote: "We cannot let Waymo continue to endanger our students as it tries to fix the problem." Citing an incident in which a Waymo was "recorded" driving past a school bus that had stopped only moments after the student who crossed in front, while still on the road, had been in front of the vehicle. A spokesperson for the school district did not respond immediately to whether Waymo had met this request. NHTSA was prompted by the letter to ask Waymo if it would comply to the request that self-driving vehicles cease operations during pick-up or drop-off hours for students. They also asked: "Was a software fix developed or implemented to mitigate this concern?" If so, will Waymo file a recall to fix the problem? In a letter sent to Waymo by the NHTSA on Wednesday, it demanded answers to questions about school bus incidents and software updates that address safety concerns. David Shepardson is reporting.
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US investigations report that Waymo's self-driving car illegally passed 19 school buses in Texas
The U.S. government said on Thursday that it had asked Waymo for more information after Texas officials claimed that Alphabet's self-driving cars had passed school buses illegally 19 times since the beginning of the school year. In October, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation after a Georgia incident where a Waymo failed to remain stationary as it approached a school bus that had its red lights flashing with a stop arm deployed. In a letter published by NHTSA on Nov. 20, the Austin Independent Schools District stated that five incidents had occurred in November, after Waymo claimed to have made software updates to fix the problem. The district asked the company to stop operations near schools at pick-up or drop-off hours until it could be ensured the vehicles wouldn't violate the law. Waymo didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. David Shepardson reports.
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Sources: Deutsche Bahn will return to profitability this year and next.
According to sources close the company, Deutsche Bahn will return to profitability this year and next, despite its underinvestment in trains and delays. After more than a decade underinvestment by the state-owned Deutsche Bahn, it has begun upgrading its tracks and overhead lines, as well as cutting administrative costs. This has led to major delays and cancellations across the country. Positive outlook is also a result of CEO Evelyn Palla's task to turn the company around. She took over on October 1. Palla will present her restructuring plan for the company at a meeting of the supervisory board scheduled to take place on Wednesday. Significant job cuts are expected. Deutsche Bahn has declined to comment. Sources said that the company expects a slightly positive profit before interest and tax (EBIT) in 2025 after a loss last year of 388 million euros. EBIT is expected to reach 500 million euros by 2026. The German Bahn also aims at reducing its net loss from 820 million euros to 180 million next year. Revenues are expected to stay stable, around 28 billion euro next year.
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Senators in the US want airlines to compensate passengers for delays with cash
A group of Democratic Senators introduced legislation on Thursday that would require airlines to compensate passengers for significant delays with cash. Mark Kelly, Ed Markey, and Richard Blumenthal, senators who are leading the charge, propose to mandate compensation that is in line with European Union (EU) and Canadian requirements. This includes mandating a minimum of $300 for delays of over three hours, and a minimum of $600 for delays of six hours or longer. This proposal was first reported on by after President Donald Trump's administration withdrew his predecessor's plan to force airlines to compensate passengers for flight delays caused by carriers. Kelly said that airlines must be held accountable for their actions when they leave travelers stranded and cost the American public money. "We are working to protect passengers so that they don't have to pay for cancellations or delays out of pocket." The U.S. Transportation Department, under the then-President Joe Biden in December 2024 sought public comments on writing rules that would require airlines to pay up to $775 per hour for delays exceeding three hours domestically. Airlines for America (a trade group that represents American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines) had previously criticised Biden's plan for cash compensation, claiming it would increase ticket prices. USDOT stated last month that the rule would create "unnecessary regulations burdens," which is why it wouldn't go forward. In the United States, airlines are required to refund customers for cancelled flights but not compensate them for delayed flights. All four countries - the European Union, Canada and Britain - have rules on airline compensation for delays. No major U.S. airlines currently guarantee cash compensation for flight delays. USDOT announced in September that it would consider rescinding the Biden regulations, which required airlines and ticket agents disclose service fees along with airfares. The Trump administration plans to also reduce regulatory burdens for airlines and ticket agents. This will be done by writing new regulations that define a cancellation of flight, which entitles the consumer to a refund. It will also revisit rules regarding ticket pricing and advertising.
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Mercuria's copper takeover from LME Asia increases supply anxiety
Four sources with knowledge of the matter have confirmed that commodity trader Mercuria plans to remove significant quantities of copper from London Metal Exchange storage facilities in Asia. Prices are rising on account of expectations of a shortage. LME copper prices reached a record of $11,540 per metric ton Wednesday, partly because of anticipated shortages in the coming year due to disruptions to mine supplies including accidents and incidents in Indonesia and Chile. Mercuria, a Swiss company, has cancelled or designated for delivery over 40,000 tonnes of copper stored in LME facilities in South Korea. Taiwan Sources familiar with the situation say that copper was discovered on December 2. The value of copper at current prices would be $460,000,000. Mercuria declined comment. The LME approved warehouses that store copper for the construction and power industries have historically low inventories, which has contributed to an increase in prices in recent months. Copper is a major export from the LME, and prices in the United States are high. This is despite the fact that copper has been exempted from the import tariffs which came into effect on August 1. On December 2, the total amount of copper warrants that were cancelled - documents that confer ownership - was 56,875 tonnes or 35%. LME stocks Mercuria's action helped to boost the premium for cash copper contracts over the three-month ahead price . On Wednesday, premiums, which have been on an upward trend since November, reached $88 per ton, the highest level since October 13. Comparatively, a contango or discount of around $35 was offered on November 19, Last year, the premium per ton was around $38. As the settlement date of December 17 nears, traders expect even higher premiums on cash contracts. Companies with short positions must find copper in order to fulfill their contracts against them or roll them over - a process known as a "short squeeze". According to industry sources, cancellations are more frequent in contango markets where the prices of contracts with longer dates are higher than nearby contracts. It is rare to cancel warrants in a backwardated market, as the premium is usually intended to encourage deliveries at the LME.
Tiny Chain Bridge is leading banker to Trump, Republican campaigns
When Republican projects want a. banker, they don't go to New york city or San Francisco, however to. downtown McLean, Virginia about a 20 minute drive from the. White House, where a onebranch bank next to an automobile service center. has actually beaten bigger monetary competitors to end up being a musthave partner. for political work.
Chain Bridge Bank, independently owned and with some 70. workers, has worked with the project of every Republican politician. Party governmental candidate because John McCain in 2008, consisting of. Donald Trump.
For nearly 20 years the bank established by former Republican. U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald has quietly developed its position by. dealing with politics, where large amounts shift at short notice and. bankers are constantly on call. Its company design, and the group it. serves, could deal with more examination after the bank stated in May it. was thinking about going public.
In the U.S., federal politics is a $20 billion dollar. industry and a number of financial institutions have appealed. and marketed themselves to these entities, said Daniel Weiner,. a director at the Brennan Center for Justice.
Part of it is that the environment is a little Wild West. but part of it is that it is a rather insular neighborhood, people. work by word of mouth.
examined project files filed with the Federal. Election Commission going back to 2007 and spoke to Chain. Bridge's management and customers before its preliminary public. using strategies were announced, to find out how it came to control. the market for Republican political campaigns.
As just recently as 2016, leading Republican governmental. contenders Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio banked at BB&T - a sprawling. North Carolina-based lending institution that was combined into Truist. Financial.
However in the 2024 election cycle, where Republican politicians have. currently raised over $1 billion, every major Republican. presidential candidate, consisting of former South Carolina Governor. Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, was a Chain. Bridge consumer.
The Republican National Committee, the celebration's primary. coordinating body, has been a customer because 2008, although it. likewise has accounts with Truist Financial.
The bank has been so effective due to the fact that it meets the oddball. requirements of political projects in such a way no competitor does,. according to Bradley Cage, treasurer for Trump's 2024 and 2020. campaigns and head of political consultancy Red Curve Solutions.
We don't have time to wait on people's lunch breaks, he. told . If there's an issue at a big bank, I'm not. going to have the ability to call the head of the bank to figure it out.
New accounts at Chain Bridge take minutes to open, even at. short notification. Dog crate, who has opened more than 1,200 accounts at. the bank for clients, as soon as established new accounts in 15 minutes on. a Sunday.
All huge depositors are designated a representative and Cage. has called his as late as 11:00 pm. If that does not work, he. likewise has the chairman's number.
The bank has actually likewise lent cash to projects. During Mitt. Romney's 2012 campaign the bank made a loan against contributions. which had actually been available in but could not be spent up until after the. Republican Politician National Convention, when Romney officially became. the party's candidate, according to Crate.
Projects hurrying to spend for last-minute advertisements or. events can rely on the bank processing transfers right up till. the Federal Reserve stops accepting requests at 6:45 pm.
When larger banks close their wire at 3:00 pm and someone. contacts us at 4:30 pm and they need payment for an occasion. tomorrow, we need to FedEx a check, which is silly, Cage stated.
Chain Bridge's political consumers extend beyond Republican politician. circles. The pro-Israel United Democracy Job super PAC. ( political action committee) and tobacco company Altria's. business PAC are customers, electoral filings reveal. The United States. Chamber of Commerce PAC is too.
The 2024 election project for Republican Mike Johnson added. Chain Bridge Bank to its documentation for the first time within. 3 weeks of his election as House speaker on Oct 25.
We're like Tesla, Fitzgerald, who is likewise Chain Bridge's. chairman, stated in an interview with in January,. referencing the electric vehicle maker that for many years eschewed. traditional marketing.
We have a marketing budget plan that's basically no and. we have actually grown by word of mouth.
GOOD FRIENDS WITH MCCAIN
Fitzgerald's own background in politics was essential to the. bank's development. A Republican politician from Illinois, he released the bank. in 2007, after retiring from the U.S. Senate 2 years previously. His seat was won by previous U.S. President Barack Obama.
Fitzgerald states Senator John McCain, who he called a close. good friend, became the bank's first significant political customer in 2008. when his campaign required a new bank after pulling money from. Wachovia, which was hit hard by the 2008 banking crisis.
They were really worried, Fitzgerald said. They switched to. us due to the fact that we had the cleanest balance sheet.
Electoral filings reveal Chain Bridge joined the McCain. project in April 2008 as one of 4 banks, including Wachovia.
Money has actually poured into politics since then, in large part due. to the 2010 Supreme Court People United decision which relaxed. rules around campaign finance.
Republican prospects for president and Congress raised $2.6. billion in 2020, according to the Federal Election Commission, a. two-thirds jump from 2016. Those figures do not include cash. raised by 3rd party groups like incredibly PACs.
Today, Chain Bridge wins a substantial portion of. political campaign work, according to Fitzgerald, although it is. no monopoly. Electoral filings show the Charles Koch-backed. Americans for Prosperity PAC, which backed Haley's project,. banked with Truist Financial.
Lobbying committees for oil giant Exxon Mobil and. Pfizer bank with Citibank and Bank of America,. respectively, while Google chooses Wells Fargo, according to. electoral filings.
Democrats also have a favored bank. Biden's campaign banks. with the partially union-owned and publicly-listed Amalgamated Bank. , as did Obama and 2016 governmental candidate Hillary. Clinton before him.
ROLLER COASTER BALANCE SHEET
Chain Bridge's balance sheet transfers to a political rhythm. Deposits rise through the election project duration and after that. crater as political leaders invest furiously in the ending up stretch. Deposits fell 21% after the November 2020 election. After the. mid terms in 2022 they dropped 25%.
Confronted with the equivalent of a little bank run every 2. years, Chain Bridge is a conservative lender. It has actually had no. non-performing loans in twelve years, according to its annual. report. Roughly 3 quarters of its $1.2 billion in possessions at. the end of 2023 were investment grade securities or money.
While it stays to be seen what sort of welcome the bank. will receive from the stock market, consumers will keep coming as. long as it preserves its client service culture, states Crate.
We have actually banked at larger banks - Bank of America, JP Morgan,. things of that nature - and we simply don't get the very same. experience, he said. It makes it actually difficult to go anywhere. else.
(source: Reuters)