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August 19th - According to the latest report from AFP, British Prime Minister Andrew Burnham confirmed on the 18th that he had exchanged messages with someone impersonating Susie Wiles, the White House Chief of Staff. The report stated that Burnham discussed the matter during a visit to Wolverhampton, a city in central England, saying that "nothing sensitive was discussed in the exchange." When asked if he was embarrassed by being deceived, Burnham replied, "No, Im not embarrassed because it was a very brief exchange, nothing substantial. And I quickly realized I needed to report it, and I did." US media reported that on the 17th, a reporter asked US President Trump if he was concerned about the matter. Trump responded that he believed it was just a "communication misunderstanding" and said he had had several "very good conversations" with Burnham.On August 19th, according to the Wall Street Journal, OpenAI told investors that its second-quarter revenue grew 18% from the first quarter, but losses widened further, disappointing some shareholders who had hoped the startup would make more progress and catch up with its competitor Anthropic. According to sources familiar with the matter, the companys revenue reached $6.7 billion in the three months ending June, compared to $5.7 billion in the first quarter. Meanwhile, its operating profit margin declined further, making its prospects for profitability ahead of its highly anticipated IPO even more uncertain.According to the Wall Street Journal, OpenAI said its revenue grew to $6.7 billion in the three months ending in June.Market sources indicate that Anthropic is expected to begin its IPO process within weeks.The China Earthquake Networks Center automatically determined that an earthquake of approximately magnitude 5.6 occurred near Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province at 05:36 on August 19. The final result is subject to the official rapid report.

Weak Demand Concerns Limit Oil Gains, But Oil Still Climbs

Aria Thomas

May 13, 2022 09:54

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Oil prices rose in early trading on Friday, but were on track for their first weekly decline in three weeks as fears about inflation and China's COVID lockdowns, which are stifling global growth, overshadowed worries about Russia's diminishing fuel supply.


At 00:08 GMT, Brent crude prices rose 97 cents, or 0.9%, to $108.42 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose $1.00, or 0.9%, to $107.13 per barrel.


Both benchmark futures were expected to tumble for the week, with Brent falling more than 3 percent and WTI falling more than 2 percent.


The market continues to be pushed and pulled by the possibility of a European Union ban on Russian oil reducing supply and worries about demand being hampered by sluggish global growth, inflation, and China's COVID restrictions.


Vivek Dhar, a commodities analyst at Commonwealth Bank, remarked, "Demand-related concerns have escalated substantially."


Inflation and aggressive rate hikes have pushed the U.S. currency to 20-year highs, which has restrained advances in oil prices because the strong dollar makes oil more expensive for buyers holding foreign currencies.


Analysts continue to focus, though, on the possibility of a European Union ban on Russian oil, after Moscow levied penalties this week on European units of state-owned Gazprom (MCX:GAZPROM) and Ukraine halted a gas transit route.


Stephen Innes, managing partner of SPI Asset Management, stated, "As Russia takes another step toward weaponizing energy, supply concerns are bolstering oil prices."


According to a report published by the International Energy Agency on Thursday, growing oil output in the Middle East and the United States, as well as a slowdown in demand growth, are likely to "offset an acute supply deficit amid a deepening Russian supply disruption."


The agency predicted that Russia's oil production will decline by over 3 million barrels per day (bpd) from July, or roughly three times more than is already displaced, if sanctions for its involvement in the crisis in Ukraine are expanded or if they discourage additional buying.