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February 4th - Zhu Weidong, Deputy Director of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission and Deputy Director of the Central Rural Work Leading Group, stated at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on the 4th that this years focus will be on stabilizing farmers income from grain cultivation. The key is to coordinate the use of policies such as pricing, subsidies, and insurance, improve the income protection mechanism for grain farmers, and prevent farmers from suffering losses due to low grain prices. Regarding prices, the government will make good use of policy tools such as minimum purchase prices and target prices, coordinate market-oriented procurement and policy-based storage, and promote the maintenance of reasonable prices for important agricultural products such as grain. Regarding subsidies, the government will maintain the implementation of subsidies for arable land protection, corn and soybean producers, and rice, effectively implement subsidies for agricultural machinery purchases and applications, and encourage local governments to conduct pilot programs for interest subsidies on special loans for grain and oilseed planting, providing farmers with tangible financial support. Regarding insurance, the government will strengthen insurance coverage for rice, wheat, corn, and soybeans, support the development of local specialty agricultural product insurance, improve insurance claims efficiency, effectively prevent natural and market risks, and provide farmers with a "safety belt" for grain cultivation.Petronas, the Malaysian national oil company, has signed a 20-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement with Qatar Energy.According to futures news on February 4th, for the week ending January 31st, Japanese commercial crude oil inventories increased by 654,790 kiloliters from the previous week to 9,905,950 kiloliters. Japanese gasoline inventories decreased by 23,192 kiloliters from the previous week to 1,695,734 kiloliters. Japanese kerosene inventories decreased by 126,993 kiloliters from the previous week to 1,803,582 kiloliters. The average operating rate of Japanese refineries was 87.7%, compared to 91.1% the previous week.February 4th - According to Sensor Towers store intelligence platform, 36 Chinese companies were among the top 100 global mobile game publishers in terms of revenue in January 2026, generating a total of $2.18 billion, accounting for 37.8% of the total revenue of the top 100 global mobile game publishers in that period. Tencent, thanks to the strong performance of its flagship products such as "Honor of Kings" and "Peacekeeper Elite," saw its mobile game revenue increase by 43% month-on-month, firmly retaining its title as the worlds highest-grossing mobile game publisher.On February 4th, Lazard CEO Peter Orszag stated at the "Wall Street Journal Invest Live" event that the Federal Reserve may not have cut interest rates at the end of last year. While the market generally believes inflation is declining, he expects inflation to unexpectedly rise this year. He added that artificial intelligence and high-income consumers could boost US economic growth, describing this momentum as "fragile but strong." He also pointed out that most of the impact of tariffs has not yet materialized, which could also push up inflation. He believes the Fed has fallen behind the curve and should not have cut rates at the end of last year. "If we are right," he said, "all of this has only further exacerbated inflation, led to further depreciation of the dollar, and steepened the yield curve."

Global Markets Slump As The US Bans Russian Oil, Gold Rises

Aria Thomas

Apr 01, 2022 10:19

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The US imposes a ban on Russian oil

President Joe Biden of the United States put a ban on Russian oil and gas imports on Tuesday, ratcheting up the pressure on Vladimir Putin after his invasion of Ukraine late last month.


The UK likewise made a similar action, announcing that it will begin reducing its imports of Russian oil and associated items. By the end of the year, Britain is projected to have phased out all Russia-related oil imports.


According to one analyst, a ban on Russian oil by the EU would be a significant blow.

While the US and UK actions are substantial, one geopolitical risk expert told Reuters that the EU ban would be the most severe blow to Russia.


According to the researcher, Europe is "relatively reliant on Russian energy supply," and a complete exit from the alliance would mean economic devastation for the nation.


However, as President Biden emphasized, the choices are not free as energy prices continue to rise and everyday people feel the pinch at the pump.


The news of the Russian oil ban boosted oil prices, with worldwide benchmark Brent crude reaching highs of more than $131 per barrel.


The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil price increased more than 7% in response to Biden's remarks, breaking beyond the $130 per barrel barrier. However, the US benchmark's surge to a 13-year high was short-lived, with the market closing at roughly $123 a barrel.

Gold continues its run, as nickel reaches $100,000 per ton.

Gold prices surged to session highs earlier in the afternoon as investors sought refuge in the precious metal. Due to the widespread risk-off mentality, spot gold increased more than 3% to $2,069.89 per ounce. Gold reached an all-time high of $2,072.50 in August 2020.


In other market news, nickel prices reached $100,000 a ton on Tuesday, prompting the London Metal Exchange (LME) to stop trading due to claims of short-covering by one of the world's biggest nickel producers.