IMF - The Qatari economy remains competitive, though there are certain areas that deserve attention. Qatar has fallen to 25th place (out of 137) in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index (2017–18), down from 18 th in 2016–17. Nonetheless, it still ranks ahead of most emerging markets, a reflection of a stronger infrastructure base.

EIA - North Sea Brent crude oil spot prices averaged $65 per barrel (b) in February, a decrease of $4/b from the January level and the first month-over-month average decrease since June 2017. EIA forecasts Brent spot prices will average about $62/b in both 2018 and 2019 compared with an average of $54/b in 2017.

REUTERS - International benchmark Brent crude was up 44 cents, or 0.68 percent, at $64.81 a barrel by 0135 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 41 cents, or 0.67 percent, to $61.66 per barrel.

EIA - EIA expects a 40% increase in natural gas consumed in the U.S. industrial sector, from 9.8 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2017 to 13.7 quadrillion Btu in 2050.

NPD - The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate’s (NPD’s) estimate for total proven and unproven petroleum resources on the Norwegian continental shelf is about 15.6 billion standard cubic metres of oil equivalents.

PETRONAS - PETRONAS’ Profit After Tax (PAT) jumped by 91 per cent in 2017 at RM45.5 billion, compared to RM23.8 billion recorded in 2016. The increase was achieved on the back of higher revenue, lower net impairment on assets and well costs and continuous efforts to optimise costs in 2017.

BEA - Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017, according to the "second" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 3.2 percent.

BAKER HUGHES A GE - U.S. Rig Count is up 3 rigs from last week to 981, with oil rigs up 1 to 800, gas rigs up 2 to 181, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged. Canada Rig Count is down 4 rigs from last week to 302, with oil rigs up 2 to 211 and gas rigs down 6 to 91.

REUTERS - U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for April delivery CLc1 was down 13 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $63.78 a barrel by 0753 GMT. The contract on Monday rose to its highest since Feb. 6 at $64.24. Brent crude LCOc1 in London was down 12 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $67.38 a barrel.

GAZPROM - In early 2018, the demand for gas is still on the rise in the country. According to estimates, from January 1 through February 21, 2018, Gazprom delivered to Austria 1.8 billion cubic meters of gas, a rise of 60.6 per cent against the same period of 2017 (1.1 billion cubic meters).

API - U.S. crude production rose to 10.2 million barrels per day (MBD) in January – the highest monthly output on record, according to API’s monthly statistical report. This was an increase of 1.1 percent versus December and 15.1 percent from January 2017.

PLATTS - China's crude oil imports from the US hit a new record high at 2.01 million mt or 474,450 b/d in January, General Administration of Customs data showed Monday.

SHELL - The global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market has continued to defy expectations of many market observers, with demand growing by 29 million tonnes to 293 million tonnes in 2017, according to Shell’s annual LNG Outlook. Such strong growth in demand is consistent with Shell’s first LNG Outlook, published in 2017. Based on current demand projections, Shell sees potential for a supply shortage developing in mid-2020s, unless new LNG production project commitments are made soon.

EIA - China surpassed South Korea to become the world’s second-largest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2017, according to data from IHS Markit and official Chinese government statistics. Chinese imports of LNG averaged 5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2017, exceeded only by Japanese imports of 11 Bcf/d. Imports of LNG by China, driven by government policies designed to reduce air pollution, increased by 1.6 Bcf/d (46%) in 2017, with monthly imports reaching 7.8 Bcf/d in December.

EIA - U.S. uranium concentrate production totaled 2.44 million pounds in 2017, down 16% from 2016 and the lowest annual total since 2.28 million pounds of uranium concentrate was produced in 2004. Domestic concentrate production peaked at 43.7 million pounds in 1980 but has remained lower than 5 million pounds annually since 1997.