Author: Lucas

Helped by the newly-issued crude import quotas, China’s independent refiners are buying sanctioned Iranian crude again and raising their processing rates, making room for Iran’s oil to move out of floating and bonded storage and potentially easing the year-end glut on the market. The independent refiners in China’s Shandong province, the so-called teapots, have been buying cheap Iranian oil from onshore storage in China, including bonded storage, since the Chinese authorities issued a fresh batch of import quotas last week. These quotas are important for China’s purchases and storage of crude as all refiners except the five big state-owned giants need to…

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER).And retail traders should know.We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don’t know. But when something this big happens with UBER, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.So how do we know what these investors just did? Today, Benzinga’s options scanner spotted 67 uncommon options trades for Uber Technologies.This isn’t normal.The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between…

Steve Burkhart (left), Ballard Spahr​, and ​Matt Burkhart (right), RealTech​, present at CSP’s Captive Insurance Forum. | CSP StaffA captive insurance company is an insurance entity formed and owned by a business, like a convenience-store retailer, to insure its own risks.There are two primary benefits to a captive insurance program—improved cash flow and control, said Luke Foley, vice president of The Graham Co., an insurance brokerage and consulting firm based in Philadelphia, at CSP’s Captive Insurance Forum on Dec. 3-4 in Phoenix. Captives can improve cash flowInstead of buying insurance only from a regular insurer, a c-store captive insurance company can make…

General Oleksandr Syrskyi said peace can only be achieved if fighting is stopped along current frontlines Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has said giving land to Russia would be ‘unacceptable’. Picture: Getty It would be “unacceptable” for Ukraine to “simply give up territory” as part of a peace deal with Russia, the head of Ukraine’s armed forces has said. General Oleksandr Syrskyi said peace can only be achieved if fighting is stopped along current frontlines before negotiations can take place. He accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of using talks with the US as a “cover” while his…

Cameroon raises Sonara refinery rehab estimate to 300 billion CFA after new study Lenders, including BEAC’s Window B facility, signal interest in financing the project Refinery shutdown since 2019 fire forces costly fuel imports, straining regional reserves Cameroon’s sole oil refinery will require 300 billion CFA francs ($533 million) for rehabilitation, according to a new feasibility study, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute said on Wednesday.  The estimate is 20 percent higher than the government’s initial projection. Dion Ngute presented the estimate, based on a detailed assessment by French firm Axens, to the National Assembly on Nov. 26, 2025, during the…

Eldridge Industries and Arctos are teaming up to “independently manage a fund that aims to invest in five major North American sports leagues” such as the NFL and the NBA, as well as TV and film companies, music catalogs and live event properties, according to Laura Benitez of BLOOMBERG NEWS. According to a statement, CAIS Advisors will launch the fund, which is “expected to require a minimum investment of as low as $25,000.” The terms will potentially “allow investors to redeem as much as 5% of the fund’s net asset value semi-annually, subject to board approval.” According to a filing,…

The fintech disruptor just announced a surprising equity raise.SoFi (SOFI 7.23%) has been one of the stock market’s better performers in 2025, with shares up by 77% year-to-date. In a nutshell, the fintech disruptor’s business has been growing rapidly and more profitably than most experts had predicted. However, today is another story. On Friday, SoFi’s stock fell by about 9% shortly after the market’s opening on news of a new $1.5 billion capital raise. SoFi is raising more money SoFi announced a new $1.5 billion equity offering after the market’s close on Thursday. It then announced that the new offering…

Maintaining a commercial property goes far beyond interior cleanliness. The exterior of your building is the first impression clients, visitors, and employees have of your business. Over time, weather, pollution, foot traffic, and other environmental factors can leave surfaces looking worn, dirty, and even unsafe. Commercial pressure washing has become an essential service for businesses in Baton Rouge, ensuring that properties remain clean, safe, and presentable. Here are 10 reasons why commercial pressure washing matters and why every business owner should consider it as part of their regular maintenance plan. 1. Preserves Property Value Commercial buildings are significant investments. Dirt, grime,…

Welcome to this week’s Food Exec Brief, your strategic intelligence roundup covering the accelerating deployment of AI across R&D and operations, the seismic impact of GLP-1 medications on consumer behavior, and the convergence of automation and sustainability reshaping competitive dynamics in food and beverage manufacturing. Key takeaways: 🤖 AI moves from novelty to necessity: Food giants are embedding AI into core operations, from predictive modeling to supply chain orchestration, with measurable returns on efficiency and innovation velocity. 💊 GLP-1 medications reshape market fundamentals: With 23% of U.S. households now impacted and projections showing 35% of food sales influenced by 2030,…

Friday 05 December 2025 12:00 pm  |  Updated:  Friday 05 December 2025 12:01 pm Share Facebook Share on Facebook X Share on Twitter LinkedIn Share on LinkedIn WhatsApp Share on WhatsApp Email Share on Email AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (“AmTrust” or the “Company”), a global specialty property casualty insurer, and Blackstone Credit & Insurance (“BXCI”), today announced the closing of a strategic transaction under which AmTrust and funds managed by BXCI have partnered to spin-off certain of AmTrust’s Managing General Agencies (“MGAs”) and fee-based businesses in the U.S., United Kingdom, and Continental Europe, into ANV Group Holdings Ltd. (“ANV”), a newly…