Author: Lucas

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.The US has indefinitely waived sanctions on a key refinery in Germany owned by Russian oil company Rosneft, sparing Berlin the risk of major supply disruptions.The exemption, issued by the US Treasury on Thursday, allows transactions with Rosneft’s German subsidiaries, including the PCK oil-processing plant in Schwedt, which supplies 90 per cent of the petrol, kerosene and heating fuel to Berlin, its airport and the surrounding state of Brandenburg. It follows a trip by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Washington earlier this…

Photo Credit: iStock A Massachusetts homeowner shared three years’ worth of solar panel data on Reddit — and the results might surprise people who think that going solar only makes sense in sunnier climates. “Our net savings for three years is $11k, and 52% of our investment has been paid off in these three years. Our risk-free IRR is 19%, and our total projected payoff period is 5.7 years,” they noted in the r/solar community. “… Oddly enough, my savings went down year on year because electric rates were lower in 2025 and we used less electricity this year.” Rooftop…

NS&I is soon to change the rules for Premium BondsPremium Bonds savers may want to make a change(Image: Getty)Premium Bonds holders may want to check over the rules around the savings scheme, as significant changes are on the horizon. A financial expert has shed light on how the prize draw operates ahead of key rule changes to the NS&I programme.NS&I recently told customers that both the prize fund rate and winning odds for Premium Bonds will decrease from the April draw onwards. The prize rate is set to drop from its current 3.6 percent to 3.3 percent, whilst the chances…

Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has reassured Nigerians of its commitment to maintaining stable petrol supply despite recent shocks in the international oil market.The assurance comes days after marketers increased pump prices of petrol following the military conflict involving the United States, Iran and Israel.The refinery stated that despite the measured N100 increase in petrol price, it still absorbed 20% of the cost of crude oil surge to cushion the impact in domestic market.The refinery made this known in a statement issued on Thursday, March 5, 2026, and seen by Nairametrics, noting that disruptions in global refining operations have intensified…

Markets tend to freak out first and ask questions later when international tensions flare — but history also says that panic often fades in days or weeks (sometimes months). The exception is the ugly one: a prolonged, boots-on-the-ground conflict. With recent market history already skittish, the cleanest risk-off tells right now are three levels in three different markets. If WTI crude (CL=F) punches and holds above $80, inflation and growth fears can compound. Tuesday’s high near $78 was quickly and forcefully rejected to the downside, which keeps this signal safe for now. Next, if the US dollar index (DX-Y.NYB) pushes…

The Oil Marketing Association of Pakistan (OMAP) has raised serious concerns over local refineries deviating from product supply commitments agreed during the recent Product Review Meeting, warning that the situation could disrupt the national fuel supply chain if immediate corrective measures are not taken. In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, OMAP Chairman Tariq Wazir Ali stated that the volumes committed by local refineries during the last Product Review Meeting were mutually agreed, finalised, and formally locked. Based on these confirmed allocations, most oil marketing companies planned their supply strategies accordingly and did…

Marula mine. (Image courtesy of Impala Platinum) The current rally in prices of platinum group metals does not justify new mining projects given the industry still faces the long-term threat from the growing adoption of electric vehicles, Impala Platinum CEO Nico Muller said on Thursday. Unlike conventional vehicles, electric cars do not need emission-curbing catalytic converters, which have been for decades a key source of demand for platinum. The precious metal’s prices more than doubled in 2025 and hit a record of more than $2,700 an ounce in late January, amid tight supply from major producer South Africa. The European…

A commercial property consultancy says it has laid foundations for growth after completing a rebrand. Naylors Gavin Black has become Naylors. Bosses say the move forms part of a three-year strategy that includes senior recruitment, a greater emphasis on occupier services and potential geographical expansion. The company, which employs 40 staff from its Newcastle base, is also investing in IT upgrades and new client relationship and property management software. Keith Stewart, managing partner and industrial agency lead, said: “The refreshed identity reflects our progression in recent years and better showcases our established market expertise alongside our highly personal approach to…

Ching-Tse Chen, Finance PhD student The study aims to examine the effect of noise trading on financial market and the validity of noise trader risk as a source of limits to arbitrages. In particular, I would like to test whether an increase in noise trader affect market volatility and firms’ dividend policy using a quasi-experiment from Taiwan. This reform exogenously lower the day trader transaction tax imposed by Taiwanese government by half, from 30 bps to 15 bps and, thus, the volume of day trading almost double on the day when this policy takes effect. In this study, I will present evidence…

Japanese oil refiners are asking the government to release crude from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserves as the Middle East crisis worsens, according to people familiar with the matter. The processors are in discussions with authorities to access government stockpiles as well as oil stored in tanks that are leased to producing countries, said the people, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. Source link