Latest News
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White House does not have an opinion on the potential United Airlines merger with American Airlines
Karoline Lavitt, White House Press Secretary, told reporters that the Trump administration "doesn't have an opinion" on reports United Airlines was considering merging with rival American Airlines. Leavitt stated, "I understand that the idea has been put forward by the private sector.?But it is not something on which the White House or the President have an opinion. Two sources claim that United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby discussed the possibility of merging with American Airlines in a late-February meeting with U.S. president Donald Trump. This raises the prospect of a deal which could reshape the industry, but will likely face regulatory obstacles. The combination of two major?U.S. The combination of two of the largest?U.S. According to OAG data, United and American were already the two largest airlines in the world by available capacity, including international flights.
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Source: Iran proposes allowing ships to leave Oman side of Hormuz without being attacked
Iran may 'consider' allowing ships to pass through the Oman side of Strait of Hormuz without risk of attack as part of its negotiating proposals with the United States to avoid a new conflict. Due to Iran's disruption of traffic in the strait that handles around 20% of world oil and liquefied natural gas, the war has caused the biggest-ever global disruption of?oil? and gas?supplies. Since the Iran War began on February 28, 20,000 seafarers, including tankers and other vessels, have been trapped?inside of the Gulf. Source, who declined to be named due to the sensitive nature of the issue, stated that Iran may be willing to allow ships to use the other side in Omani waters, without interference from Tehran. The source did not specify whether Iran would agree to remove any mines that it might have placed in the water, or if all ships would be allowed free passage - including those linked to Israel. The source said that Washington's willingness to meet Tehran's demands was a key condition for any possible breakthrough in the Strait of Hormuz. The White House did not respond to a comment request immediately. Reporting by Parisa hafezi in Dubai, Jonathan Saul in London and Steve Holland in Washington. Editing by Nia William.
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Kalshi expands its prediction hub to include more commodities amid high volatility
Kalshi, a prediction markets platform, announced on Wednesday that it has launched a 'commodities hub', expanding its offering to include markets related to energy, metals, and agriculture. The launch comes at a time when the commodity markets are being roiled by geopolitical conflicts, such as the U.S./Israeli war against Iran, and the disruptions that followed in the Strait of Hormuz as well as inflation uncertainty. Oil prices have been trading around $100 per barrel and this has contributed to an increase in intrading on commodity-linked markets. Kalshi's expansion has added contracts for natural gas, coffee, sugar, corn and soybeans, wheat as well as nickel, diesel, and lithium to the existing markets?for oil benchmarks. These contracts allow users to make a bet on certain outcomes, like whether crude oil prices will rise above a certain level in a given period of time or if gold will close at a higher price. Investors have recently become more interested in the prediction market, which allows them to bet on real-world events. These include sports and politics as well as economic data and entertainment. Kalshi has said that it offers a continuous trading service, even outside of regular market hours, to attract institutional investors. The sector has been scrutinized for speculating on sensitive topics like elections and politics. Kalshi banned politicians and athletes last month from trading in their respective markets. The company wanted to avoid any scrutiny regarding possible insider trading. (Reporting from Prakhar Srivastava and Anirban SEN in New York, with editing by Sahal Muhammad)
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Urals oil price rises in Russian ports due to strong demand and lower freight
According to calculations, the discount for Russian Urals Oil on a FOB Basis for cargoes that?load from the Baltic Port of Primorsk in the month of April?was reduced to $15-$17 a barrel against dated Brent, from $24-$27 a barrel?in the second?half?of March. This was due to falling freight rates which reduced the?costs to Russian sellers. LSEG data show that the urals price in Russian ports has remained at a 12-year high of $100 per barrel. This is due to strong Brent prices and a combination of softer freight rates, firmer premiums, and strong premiums, which are boosting Russian producers' revenues. On Monday, the price of 'physical crude oil cargoes' for immediate delivery to Europe reached a new record near $150 a barrel as global demand remained strong despite disruptions in supplies caused by the U.S./Israeli war against Iran. Three sources confirmed that the premiums for Russian Urals oil in India remained unchanged despite the expiration of U.S. waivers. They added that lower freight rates helped sellers increase their profits. The sources stated that premiums for Urals oil delivered into Indian ports are $7-$9 above Brent on a DAP basis (delivered to port), in line with the estimates of April-loading cargoes, which were sold after the recent rise in price. Prices vary depending on the deal terms and seller. Last week, freight rates dropped to $18-19 million for a Suezmax journey from Russian Baltic ports into India. The cost of shipping Aframax from Primorsk, Russia to India fell to around $16 million, down from $20 million last month. The International Energy Agency reported that Russia's crude oil and refined product revenues rose in March. They had fallen to their lowest level since the beginning of the Ukraine Conflict in?2022. This was due to the price spikes caused by the Iran War. The firmer Urals prices in Russian ports will continue to support?Moscow revenues for April. Indian refiners continue to?buy Russian oil for delivery in May, despite the expiration of the U.S. sanction waiver that allowed the purchase of Russian oil already at sea, traders reported.
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Jordan, UAE sign $2.3 billion Aqaba rail project deal
State news agencies from both Jordan and the United Arab Emirates reported that they signed an agreement on Wednesday to start a $2.3 billion rail line to 'Aqaba Port' and to form a joint venture to build and run it. The agreement relates to?the construction of a 360-kilometre rail?linking mining areas in Jordan, Al-Shidiya & Ghor Al-Safi with its port of Aqaba. The project will?transport 16 metric tons of phosphate and potassium?annually with an investment totaling $2.3 billion. The UAE's official news agency said that the UAE-Jordan Railway Company is a joint venture of?several Jordanian stakeholder and L'IMAD Holding Company, Abu Dhabi's new sovereign wealth fund. According to the Jordanian State News Agency, the project is the first step to building the Jordanian National Railway?Network Project to connect 'Aqaba to neighboring Arab countries and to link it with ports in Syria and the Mediterranean.
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Austria anticipates a shortfall in European fuel supplies from May
Austrian 'Economy Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer said during an official trip to India on Wednesday that the 'war in the Middle East - a reduction in fuel supplies - will be felt throughout Europe by next month. Oil prices have soared as a result of the Israeli and U.S. strikes against Iran and the response of Tehran, which has largely closed down shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Western governments are now looking for ways to cushion this blow to consumers. Hattmannsdorfer told?reporters from New Delhi that "the upheavals in recent weeks will arrive Europe with a 'time lag. His office was not available to comment. Hattmannsdorfer said that in May, diesel deliveries will fall by 5% while jet fuel will drop by 15%. This would "have an effect on the price", according to APA. Vienna International Airport is well-supplied with jet fuel, as 90% of its needs come from OMV's Schwechat refinery. However, the effects would be felt elsewhere. Hattmannsdorfer stated that "we are prepared for an emergency" and that Austria had not yet released oil from its strategic reserves, which it 'agreed' to tap in a coordinated move among member states of the International Energy Agency last month. Reporting by Francois Murph and Alexandra Schwarz Goerlich Editing Peter Graff
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Fuel costs are increasing, so airlines are reducing their prices and cutting back on their outlook.
The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, which has pushed up jet fuel prices, has shook the aviation industry around the world. Airlines have been forced to increase fares and re-evaluate their financial forecasts. In recent weeks, jet fuel prices have increased from $85-$90 per barrel up to $150-$200 per barrel. This is a major financial blow to an industry that relies on fuel for a quarter of its operating costs. Here is an alphabetical list of the ways airlines are responding to this issue: AEGEAN AIRLINES The Greek airline anticipates that the suspension of Middle East flights, as well as a spike in fuel costs, will have "a significant impact" on their first-quarter earnings. AIRASIA X The executives of the?Malaysian airlines said that the company has cut 10% of its flights in the group. Fuel prices have also been increased by about 20%. AIR FRANCE-KLM The airline group announced that it would increase the price of long-haul tickets to offset rising fuel costs. Cabin fares will rise by 50 euros ($58). AIR INDIA The Indian flag carrier announced it would change its fuel surcharge system from a flat-rate domestic surcharge grid to one based on distance. The airline said that surcharges for international routes do not compensate the astronomical rise in jet fuel prices. AIR NEW ZEALAND On April 7, the airline announced that it would cut flights in May and June, and raise fares. It was one of the first airlines to announce a large increase in ticket prices after the conflict began. The airline also suspended its earnings forecast for the full year due to volatility in the fuel markets. AKASA AIR Akasa Airlines, based in India, announced that it would be introducing fuel surcharges ranging from 199 to 1,300 Indian Rupees ($2 - $14) for domestic and international flights. ALASKA AIR The U.S. carrier said that it would raise fees by $5 for the first bag and $10 for the second for flights in North America, including Hawaiian Airlines. The third checked bag was raised from $50 to 200 dollars. AMERICAN AIRLINES The U.S. carrier announced that it would increase the fees for checked baggage by $10 for each of the first two bags, and $150 for the third bag, on both domestic and short-haul flights. The airline has also reduced certain benefits for economy travelers. The fuel price increase was expected to cause a $400-million increase in the first quarter expenses. CATHAY PACIFIC Hong Kong Airlines said that it will cancel about 2% of its scheduled passenger flight between mid-May and the end of June. Meanwhile, HK Express, its budget airline, is cutting around 6%. The carrier had previously announced that it would increase its fuel surcharge across all routes by 34% from April 1, and to review the charges every two weeks. CEBU AIR The Philippines-based carrier said that the sharp increase in fuel prices is a major concern. It will continue to review pricing and network strategies for a reduction of?the impact. CHINA EASTERN EXPRESS AIRLINES Air China said that it would increase fuel surcharges on domestic flights starting April 5. Flights of less than 800km will be charged a surcharge of 60 yuan, and flights above 800km will be charged a surcharge 120 yuan. DELTA AIR LINES Delta announced that it would reduce capacity by 3.5 percentage points compared to its original plan, and increase fees for checked baggage in order to offset the rising costs of jet fuel. The price increase will be $10 on first and second bags and $50 on third bags. The U.S. carrier pulled all planned growth in capacity for the current quarter, and forecast profits below Wall Street expectations. Delta CEO said that it would not update its full-year forecast due to uncertainty about how long fuel prices would rise. EASYJET EasyJet CEO Kentonjarvis warned that European consumers can expect to pay higher prices for tickets towards the end summer when fuel hedges expire. FRONTIER AÉRIENS Fuel prices have increased dramatically since the airline's forecast. GREATER BAY Airlines The Hong Kong-based firm said that it will increase fuel surcharges for most routes starting April 1, but keep them the same on routes to mainland China and Japan. The carrier has announced that its surcharge on flights between Hong Kong and the Philippines will double. HONG KONG Airlines The airline announced that it would 'raise fuel surcharges up to 35% starting March 12th, with the biggest increase occurring on flights between Hong Kong, Bangladesh, and Nepal where the charges will rise from HK$284 to HK$384 (US$49). British Airways' owner IAG stated on March 10, that it does not intend to increase ticket price immediately as it has hedged a large amount of fuel in the short to medium term. INDIGO India's largest airline announced that it will begin charging fuel fees on both domestic and international flights as of March 14. The charges include 900 rupees per flight to the Middle East, and 2,300 rupees per flight to Europe. Sources say that the company is lobbying for the Indian government's reduction of fuel taxes. JETBLUE AERWAYS Low-cost airline based in the United States has announced that it will increase fees for optional services, such as checked luggage, due to "increasing operating costs". The airline said that baggage prices would rise either by $4 or $9. Sources with knowledge on the subject have confirmed that KOREAN will be in emergency mode as of April due to rising oil costs. The airline will implement phased responses based on the oil price levels and increase company-wide efficiency to offset rising fuel costs. PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS Fuel surcharges are cited as the reason for raising domestic flight prices by $20, and international flights by up to $100. QANTAS AIRWAYS Qantas, Australia's largest airline, said it had delayed its planned A$150-million ($106-million) buyback. It also increased the estimated fuel bill in 2026 for the second half to A$3.1-A$3.3 billion from an earlier A$2.5 billion estimate. Scandinavian Airlines announced that it would cancel 1,00 flights in April due to high jet fuel and oil prices. In March, the airline had cancelled "couple hundred" of flights. SAS, which has already raised flight prices, stated that the surge in fuel costs would be a major blow to the aviation sector, even if they tried to absorb them. SPRING AIRLINES Budget Chinese airline announced that it will increase fuel surcharges for domestic flights starting April 5. Details to be revealed later. SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWAST AIRLINES The American carrier announced that it would increase the fees for checked bags by $10 each for the first two bags. This will bring the cost to $45 and $55 respectively for the first bag. The Portuguese airline claimed that its price increases would partially offset the impact of fuel prices changes on its revenues. THAI AIRWAYS The Thailand-based airline?said that it would increase fares between 10% and 15% in order to combat rising fuel costs. TURKISH AIRLINES LUFTHANSA SunExpress is a joint venture of Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa. It announced that it would be imposing a temporary fuel charge of 10 euros per person on routes between Turkey, Europe and the Middle East, starting May 1. The fuel surcharge will be applied to all bookings made after April 1, for departures after May 1. Turkish Airlines announced on April 10, that it would not be distributing any dividends from its 2025 net profits, instead opting to keep earnings in order to conserve cash. T'WAY AIR As part of its efforts to combat the effects of the Middle East war, the South Korean low cost carrier announced on April 13 that it will furlough cabin crew in May and/or June without pay. UNITED AIRLINES Scott Kirby, CEO of the U.S. carrier, said that the airline will cut unprofitable flights in the next two quarters to prepare for the oil price remaining above $100 by the end 2027. Andrew Nocella, United's Chief Commercial Officer, said that the company was able to increase fares in response to a rapid rise in jet fuel and oil prices. In an email, the carrier said that it would also be increasing the first and second checked bags fees by $10 to customers traveling in Latin America, Mexico, Canada, and the United States. VIETJET Vietnamese budget airline?said that it had reduced flight frequencies on certain routes due to possible fuel shortages. VIETNAM Airlines Vietnam's aviation authority announced that the carrier will cancel 23 flights per day on domestic routes from April after it requested assistance from the government to remove an environment tax on jet fuel. VIRGIN ATLANTIC Corneel Kster, the CEO of the airline, told The Financial Times that despite adding fuel surcharges on fares this year it will struggle to achieve profitability. VIRGIN AUSTRALIA Virgin Australia has said that it anticipates an increase of jet fuel costs of between A$30 and A$40million for the second half this fiscal year. It also expects a 1% decrease in capacity during the fourth quarter. The airline had previously announced that it would adjust fares in order to reflect the rising costs. WESTJET Canadian Press reported that the airline would add a fuel surcharge of C$60 ($43), and will combine some flights to reduce costs.
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Financial ministers warn about the long-term impact of Middle East conflict on markets
Finance ministers from over 10 countries said that even after the Middle East conflict is resolved, it will continue to weigh on global growth and inflation. The British government issued a statement during the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington that said: "Renewed hostilities, an expansion of the conflict, or continued disruption of the 'Strait of Hormuz' would pose serious risks to global energy security, supply chain, economic and financial stability." "Even with a durable solution to the conflict,?impacts on markets, growth and inflation will continue." The statement was signed off by the finance ministers of Britain, Australia and Japan, as well as Sweden, the Netherlands?Finland, Spain, Norway Ireland, Poland, New Zealand, and Spain. The statement said: "With government budgets being constrained, we are committed to ensuring any domestic responses must be fiscally responsible and targeted towards those most in need of support." "We are committed to avoiding protectionist measures, and we call on all countries not to take them, such as unjustified 'export controls,' stockpiling, and other trade barriers, in the?hydrocarbon supply chain and other supply chains that have been affected by this crisis.
S&P 500 reaches first intraday record since US-Iran War
S&P 500 reached an intraday high on Wednesday. It was its first since the U.S. - Iran conflict began. Investors were drawn back into risky assets by expectations of a de-escalation and a robust outlook for earnings.
The market's willingness to accept less severe risks of escalation, at least for the short term, was evident when traders reached a "new record" during an active "geopolitical crisis".
After weekend talks in Islamabad failed, U.S. president Donald Trump said that talks with Iran could resume soon and lead to a 'deal.
When hostilities broke out last month, equity markets fell sharply. This unleashed a historic shock on oil markets. It also rekindled concerns about inflation and future interest rates in the United States.
S&P 500 fell as much as 9 percent after the conflict began on February 28. This did not confirm a correction. Both the Nasdaq and the Dow Jones Industrial Average confirmed a correction. A correction is defined as a closing index that is at least 10% lower than a recent high.
The markets have also been boosted by expectations of a robust corporate earnings season. The U.S. consumer remained resilient despite oil shocks, according to executives at the big banks. They also said that the pipeline of deals and IPOs was robust.
According to data compiled?by LSEG, analysts expect S&P500 companies to earn a total of $605.1 billion in the first quarter of this year. This is up from the $598.7 predicted at the beginning of the quarter.
Many?brokers have seen the sale as a chance to buy equities for a bargain, as the conflict has brought the?values down to a more reasonable level.
The prospect of a'renewed escalation' in the conflict is still looming, and any flare-up will likely test the recent confidence on the market.
Even if geopolitical risks fade, fears that were prevalent before the war may reappear, notably those about disruptions linked to artificial intelligent.
The private credit industry has also had to deal with the redemption risk of investors who are nervous and want to exit. (Reporting and editing by Shilpa Majumdar in Bengaluru, with Niket Nishant from Bengaluru)
(source: Reuters)