Daily Basket of News Commentary – Sep 26, 2018
Iran Oil Exports?
India might continue buying Iranian oil via a Rupee payment scheme. India consumes 4.7 Million bpd (approx. 5% of world oil production) and is expected to reach 10 million bpd in 2040. It is difficult to see India putting its economy in jeopardy and taking sides in an unrelated problem i.e. the US/Iran quarrel – especially since the Iranian oil is cheaper than the competition. Continue reading “Daily Basket of News Commentary – Sep 26, 2018”
As the US second and tougher sanctions on Iran approach (Nov 4th), many countries have begun to reduce their purchases of Iranian oil and its exports have already dropped one million barrels a day (from a high of 2.7 Million bpd to 1.7 Mill bpd in August 2018). 
Qatar Gas and the US/China Trade War
As everything else, gold price is determined by supply and demand. However, it is also affected by the US Dollar exchange rate, because it is priced/Quoted in Dollars. If the Dollar rises in the forex market, gold prices tend to drop and vice versa. (Oil prices are similarly affected). 
COMMENTS: Citi Bank is launching an artificial intelligence automated robotic service that will receive payments and reconcile them with invoices. This is part of Citi’s US$ 8.5 Billion payment and receipt handling service that it provides to its clients all over 
COMMENTS: Another report on M&A’s in the Middle East (seems to exclude North Africa). It indicates that M&A activity surged 62% in the first half of 2018 reaching US$ 25.4 Billion, of which the UAE’s share was 65% (UAE Inbound M&A’s totaled 34 deals valued at US$ 6.6Bill). 
COMMENTS: Officially, India does not recognize the US sanctions on Iran and had announced that it will continue buying Iranian oil.
COMMENTS: The US/Turkish relations have not been rosy for a while now. They have been souring (at least visibly) since the failed coup against President Erdogan a couple of years ago, which Turkey insinuated was supported clandestinely by the US through the Fethulla opposition organization. 
Article in Arabic only