2017-18 was a strong year for the Future Fund, delivering a return of 9.3% and adding over $12 billion in earnings.

U.S. BEA - Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018, according to the "initial" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 3.4 percent.

RECHARGE - The EU will spend up to €10bn ($11.37bn) supporting innovative low-carbon technologies in sectors such as renewables and energy storage over the next decade, said the European Commission.

IMF - Looking ahead, Armenia's growth is expected to moderate to about 4½ percent in 2019, reflecting a weaker global environment and copper prices, and remain in the 4-5 percent range over the medium term. CPI inflation is projected to gradually converge to the CBA’s target of 4 percent over the next two years, as one-off factors wane. The current account deficit is expected to gradually narrow to around 5 percent of GDP. The risks to the outlook are mainly external.

NB - The Government Pension Fund Global returned -6.1 percent, or -485 billion kroner, in 2018.

Repsol posted net income of 2.341 billion euros in 2018, a 10% increase from the 2.121 billion earned in 2017 and the highest in eight years. This was achieved with average Brent oil prices at 71 dollars per barrel last year, compared with more than 111 dollars in 2011.

SHELL - Strong demand for cleaner-burning fuel in Asia continued to drive rapid growth in liquefied natural gas (LNG) use in 2018, with global demand rising by 27 million tonnes to 319 million tonnes, according to Shell’s latest annual LNG Outlook.

REUTERS - Weak returns at U.S. shale producers could cost more executives their jobs and lead to increasing battles with activist investors, analysts said following changes at two producers.

OGJ - Saudi Aramco has signed a $10-billion agreement to form a joint venture with China North Industries Group Corp. (Norinco) and Panjin Sincen to develop a fully integrated, grassroots refining and petrochemical complex in Panjin, in China’s Liaoning province.

REUTERS - Nigeria has ordered foreign oil and gas companies to pay nearly $20 billion in taxes it says are owed to local states, industry and government sources said, in a move that could deter investment in Africa’s largest economy.

IMF - Australia has advanced further in its economic rebalancing after the end of the mining investment boom of the 2000s. Economic growth picked up to rates above that of potential output in the first half of 2018, with solid private and public consumption and residential investment more than offsetting the drag from delays in public investment plans and drought.

GAZPROM NEFT - Revenue for FY2018 amounted to RUB 2,489 billion , a 28.7% increase year-on-year.** Adjusted EBITDA grew by more than 45.1% year-on-year to RUB799.5 billion.

NOVATEK - Profit attributable to shareholders of PAO NOVATEK increased to RR 163.7 billion (RR 54.33 per share), or by 4.7%, as compared to 2017.

SANTOS - Santos reports record annual underlying profit of $727 million and record free cash flow of $1,006 million

AP - The expansion of the regional electricity grid cannot be undertaken without foreign investment, thus presenting a lucrative win-win opportunity for foreign investors. Numbers by the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicate that the region would require US$1.2 trillion in investments between now and 2040 in order to modernise and expand its electricity grids.