REUTERS - October Brent crude futures were last up 36 cents at $75.12 a barrel by 0902 GMT. The September contract expires on Tuesday. U.S. crude futures were up 78 cents at $69.47 a barrel.

NYT - Demand for natural gas — a cleaner-burning fossil fuel than coal or oil — is rising worldwide, and the United States is a growing supplier of liquefied natural gas, or L.N.G. The European Union, meanwhile, wants to diversify its energy supply, which remains somewhat dependent on Russia, with which it has a difficult relationship.

U.S. BEA - Real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 4.1 percent in the second quarter of 2018 , according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP increased 2.2 percent.

EXXONMOBIL - Exxon Mobil Corporation announced estimated second quarter 2018 earnings of $4 billion, or $0.92 per share assuming dilution, compared with $3.4 billion a year earlier. Cash flow from operations and asset sales was $8.1 billion, including proceeds associated with asset sales of $307 million. During the quarter, the corporation distributed $3.5 billion in dividends to shareholders. Capital and exploration expenditures were $6.6 billion, up 69 percent from the prior year, reflecting key investments in Brazil, the U.S. Permian Basin and Indonesia.

CHEVRON - Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) reported earnings of $3.4 billion ($1.78 per share – diluted) for second quarter 2018, compared with $1.5 billion ($0.77 per share – diluted) in the second quarter of 2017. Included in the current quarter was a receivable write-down of $270 million charged to operating expense. Foreign currency effects increased earnings in the 2018 second quarter by $265 million, compared with an increase of $3 million a year earlier.

ENI - Group results Adjusted operating profit: €2.56 billion, up by 152% on a quarterly basis; €4.94 billion in the first half (up by 73% vs. first half of 2017). Adjusted net profit: €0.77 billion, up by 66% q-o-q; €1.74 billion, up by 45% in the first half of 2018. Net profit: €1.25 billion in the second quarter (€2.20 billion in the first half).

WEATHERFORD - Weatherford’s non-GAAP net loss for the second quarter of 2018, which excludes unusual charges and credits, was $156 million, or $0.16, diluted loss per share. This compares to a $188 million non-GAAP net loss in the prior quarter, or $0.19 diluted loss per share, and a $282 million non-GAAP net loss for the second quarter of 2017, or $0.28 diluted loss per share.

BAKER HUGHES A GE - U.S. Rig Count is up 2 rigs from last week to 1,048, with oil up 3 to 861, gas rigs down 1 to 186, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1. Canada Rig Count is up 12 rigs from last week to 223, with oil rigs up 12 to 154 and gas rigs unchanged at 69.

REUTERS - Brent futures were down 5 cents at $74.49 a barrel by 0319 GMT, after gaining 0.8 percent on Thursday. They are heading for a near 2 percent gain this week, the first weekly increase in four. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were 5 cents lower, at $69.56, after rising nearly 0.5 percent in the previous session. The contract is heading for a 1.3 percent weekly loss, a fourth week of declines.

EIA - Capital expenditures for these 46 companies totaled almost $19 billion in the first quarter of 2018, a year-over-year increase of nearly $2 billion (10%). Most of these companies have announced that they expect to increase full-year 2018 capital expenditures from 2017 levels.

PLATTS - China's crude oil imports from the US for July have fallen sharply from June, and are expected to drop even further for August, vessel tracking data showed, as Beijing's tariffs on US crude imports get closer to implementation.

IMF - The Chinese economy continues to perform strongly. GDP growth accelerated to 6.9 percent in 2017, driven by a cyclical rebound in global trade. Growth is projected to weaken slightly to 6.6 percent in 2018 owing to the lagged effect of financial regulatory tightening and the softening of external demand. Headline inflation has remained contained at around 2 percent and is expected to rise gradually to 2½ percent.

IMF - Near-term growth prospects remain favorable, although less buoyant than in 2017. Real GDP growth is projected to reach 1.8 percent this year and 1.7 percent in 2019, supported by robust investment and solid consumption.

IMF - Slovakia’s economic performance continues to be favorable, with real per capita GDP growing at the average annual rate of 3 percent over the past five years. Growth has been supported by predominantly domestic demand. Private consumption continued to benefit from strong credit growth, robust job creation, and rising wages, while investment reversed its temporary decline from 2016 that was due to a slow start in the implementation of new EU funds programming period. Unemployment reached a record low of 7.7 percent at end-2017.

SHELL - the main numbers for this quarter: $4.7 billion earnings on a current cost of supplies basis excluding identified items. $9.5 billion cash flow from operations $9.5 billion free cash flow and all of this at an oil price of $74 per barrel. Return on average capital employed reached 6.5%. Since the beginning of the year we reduced net debt by some $4 billion and gearing was 23.6% at the end of the second quarter. This performance builds upon the strong results delivered in 2017.