Tighter U.S. natural gas supply and demand balances in recent months contributed to price increases.

U.S. LNG exports increased in the first half of this year as international natural gas and LNG spot prices increased in Asia and Europe due to cold weather.

U.S. commercial crude oil inventories increased by 2.1 million barrels from the previous week to 439.7 million barrels.

Historically just one of the major providers of finance to overseas coal power projects, China has more recently looked increasingly isolated as other nations and financial institutions continue to withdraw from coal.

Filipino households pay on average $0.189 (PHP9.5) per kilowatt-hour—the highest rate in Southeast Asia by far.

Brent climbed 34 cents, or 0.46%, to $74.84 a barrel , WTI rose 20 cents, or 0.28%, to $72.11 a barrel.

Reaching 50% renewables by the end of this decade would still remain well short of President Biden's call for 80% clean power by 2030 (assuming "clean" means "renewable" and does not include nuclear power or fossil fuels with carbon capture).

U.S. Rig Count is up 7 from last week to 491, Canada Rig Count is down 1 from last week to 149.

Brent were up 60 cents, or 0.8%, at $74.72 a barrel , WTI were up 69 cents, or 1%, at $73.63.

The spot and long-term LNG pricing dynamics have shifted dramatically from 2020 to 2021, with record lows to record highs recorded in a period of nine months.

U.S. commercial crude oil inventories decreased by 6.9 million barrels from the previous week to 445.5 million barrels.

Brent slipped by 23 cents, or 0.3%, to $73.20 a barrel, WTI were down 33 cents, or 0.5%, at $71.87 a barrel.

We expect rising production will reduce the persistent global oil inventory draws that have occurred for much of the past year and keep prices similar to current levels, averaging $72/b during the second half of 2021 (2H21).

The Hang Seng index (.HSI) led losses with a 1.9% drop, its eighth consecutive session in the red, with more falls in internet giants Tencent (0700.HK), Meituan (3690.HK) and Alibaba (9988.HK) as the sector reels from sweeping Chinese regulatory scrutinty.

Brazil is responsible for almost half of the imports into South America for the record month, accounting for almost half of the total demand, or 37 Bcf for the month. Imports into Argentina have also been on the rise as domestic gas production and imports from Bolivia have proved insufficient to meet the projected demand for winter in the Southern Hemisphere.