OPEC - The JMMC reported that participating countries have achieved a conformity level of 152% during the fourth month of the second year of the Declaration of Cooperation. This demonstrates the commitment of participating countries to the restoration of market stability, which is intended to serve the long term interests of producers, consumers and the global economy.

ROSATOM - ROSATOM and French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission signed the strategic document on French-Russian partnership in the peaceful uses of atomic energy.

PLATTS - Novak also confirmed that Russia would like to lift production ceilings under the OPEC-led output cut deal in which Russia agreed to gradually cut 300,000 b/d. The deal, in place since January 2017, has 24 OPEC and non-OPEC countries jointly cutting a combined 1.8 million b/d.

PLATTS - "At end of the day as important as Russia and Saudi Arabia are in terms of the largest countries, we have to be sensitive to views of all countries and will be consulting with all of them," Falih told a key energy session at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

GAZPROM - It seems that putting renewables ahead of everything else doesn’t accomplish anything in today’s world. And striving for a total decarbonization of the global economy is downright quixotic. One should understand that fossil fuels will continue to play an essential role in the next 20 years.

BLOOMBERG - The agreement between Gazprom PJSC and the European Commission gives gas buyers more flexibility in handling imports and greater leverage to push for lower prices. That’s likely to make flows from Russia more attractive than alternatives such as expensive new links to fields at Europe’s southeast corner or tanker shipments of liquefied natural gas.

МИНФИН РОССИИ - Сейчас мы, к сожалению, видим обратные процессы – когда процесс введения ограничений, санкций сначала для одной, для другой страны, потом захватывает все больший и больший периметр, захватывает мировые экономики. Теперь мы видим, что санкции могут распространяться и на союзников.

REUTERS - The head of Ukraine’s Naftogaz said on Thursday EU-mediated talks over future Russian gas transit via the country to Europe must include Gazprom and must be based on firm commitments.

BLOOMBERG - Oil has touched a level above $80 a barrel for the first time since November 2014. OPEC’s inventory target for output cuts has been met.

REUTERS - Retail sales, the key gauge for consumer demand, the primary driver of economic growth, were up 2.4 percent year-on-year in April after a 2.0 percent rise in the year to March. Capital investment, the next most important driver, was up 3.6 percent year-on-year in the first quarter after increasing 1.4 percent in the same period a year earlier.