Benchmark oil contract Brent North Sea hit its highest level since late 2014 on Thursday, breaching US$ 80 per barrel, with some market players predicting it could rise all the way to US$ 100. Higher oil prices, in turn, pushed the shares of energy firms in European stock markets higher, helping London's FTSE to set a new all-time high, and the Paris CAC to establish a fresh 2018 peak.
The EU's top court has backed an almost complete EU-wide ban on the use of three insecticides, which studies have linked to declining bee populations. Chemicals giants Bayer and Syngenta had gone to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) hoping to get the restrictions on neo-nicotinoids overturned.
The International Monetary Fund will move quickly to agree on a loan program to support Argentina but there are no details yet on what it will entail, a fund spokesman said on Thursday. However spokesperson Gerry Rice also underlined that the IMF nowadays has a greater focus on social protection, in particular towards the most vulnerable, ensuring the economy and living standards.
A cross-party group of UK parliamentarians is in Gibraltar on a two-day working visit. The visit takes place against the backdrop of the negotiations for the United Kingdom and Gibraltar to leave the European Union, which means that it will centre on Brexit issues.
A Brexit bank holiday should be created to mark the June 23 referendum result, a Tory MP has said. Peter Bone told ministers that the bank holiday would become known as “independence day” – to laughs from fellow MPs.
Britain is the largest contributor to security collaboration in the EU, a former spy chief has said. Ex-MI5 director general Lord Evans of Weardale highlighted the UK’s input on information flows and expertise. He told a Lords Committee there was a “mutual benefit” from co-operation with Europe on security.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said there is still time to secure an agreement on vital Brexit legislation as UK Ministers were urged to come to Scotland to hear Holyrood’s concerns. The First Minister told MSPs the Scottish Government was continuing to press the UK Government to listen to the concerns of the Scottish Parliament over the EU Withdrawal Bill.
Geopolitics has taken over the oil market, driving oil prices up to three-year highs. The inventory surplus has vanished, and more outages could push oil prices up even higher. Yet, there are some signs that demand is starting to take a hit as oil closes in on $80 per barrel.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled that the European Union (EU) failed to comply with requests to end subsidies for Airbus. US Trade Representative (USTR) said the ruling in the dispute opens the way for placing tariffs on EU goods.
Digital radio has become more popular than listening over FM and AM for the first time, according to new figures. Radio research body Rajar said 50.9% of all listening in the UK was digital in the first three months of the year.