At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was down 0.57% at 2,734.52.

China's oil product consumption over the first two months of 2020 dropped 14.1% year on year to 41.94 million mt.

The preliminary level for dry natural gas production in January 2020 was 2,930 billion cubic feet (Bcf), or 94.5 Bcf/d. This level was 5.9 Bcf/d (6.7%) higher than the January 2019 level of 88.6 Bcf/d.

Many manufacturing operations in India were forced to halt to contain the spread of the virus and production has seen a decline, especially among automakers, with the outbreak affecting supply chains.

Over the next decade, traditional fuel-based generation will shrink as a proportion of the power mix. This will increase the flexibility needs of utility and power markets,

The benchmark Nikkei average fell 4.5% to a one-week closing low of 18,065.41. However, overall trading was subdued, with the volume of shares traded on the main board valued at 2.72 trillion yen, its lowest level in a month.

Podcast/Audio - Energy Central Podcasts - Voices of The Community Energy Central - views on transportation, on nuclear energy, on VARS technology, and what it will take to decarbonize utilities and society generally.

Brent was up by 61 cents, or 2.7%, at $23.37 a barrel, WTI was up by $1.04, or 5.2%, at $21.13 a barrel

Putin and Trump discussed the oil market at a time when prices continue to tumble due to the collapse of the OPEC+ crude production cut agreement, and the major economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Stocks have rallied since the start of last week but remain down more than 20% for the quarter.

Iraq is selling around 70% of its crude exports to Asia,

Pakistan has long-term contracts for the import of eight LNG cargoes per month on a take-or-pay basis, and out of these five are from Qatar, a government spokesman said, adding that the Qatari volumes had been reduced to three cargoes for April through mutual discussion, without invoking any force majeure.

Kuwait's nonoil growth strengthened to estimated 3 percent in 2019, propelled by government and consumer spending.

Financing of RusHydro’s investment program for 2020-2025 amounts to RUB 634.04 bn, out of which RUB 430.4 bn is allocated for projects in the Far East. The investment program is balanced from the point of view of financing sources.

Brent was down 5.8%, or $1.45, to $23.48 a barrel, WTI fell as far as $19.92, near an 18-year low hit earlier this month, and was last trading down 3.8%, or $0.82, at $20.69 a barrel.