"With regard to the cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the dialogue between our two countries is developing in a tangible way, whether in the framework of a multi-party structure or on a bilateral level," Novak was quoted as saying.

The group exploited 10.32 million tons of crude oil and 6.56 billion cubic metres of gas in the first seven months.

Gazprom's sales volume to its core ‘Europe and other’ markets in 1Q grew by 49% to 58.1bn m³, an increase of 19bn m³ on 39.1bn m³ in January-March 2015. Sales to former Soviet countries declined by 15.5% (by 2bn m³) to 10.9bn m³, while those in Russia declined more modestly to 75.4bn m³, just 6% or 4.9bn m³ less than in 1Q 2015.

Employment in oil and natural gas production reached a high of 538,000 jobs in October 2014. Since then, oil and natural gas production employment declined 26%, a loss of more than 142,000 jobs through May 2016, based on the latest jobs data available. The total decrease in production jobs is nearly three times the 51,000 jobs lost over a 13-month period during the 2008–09 recession.

The deficit rose to $44.5 billion in June, 8.7 percent higher than a revised May deficit of $41 billion, the Commerce Department reported Friday. It was the biggest gap between what America sells abroad and what the country imports since a $44.6 billion deficit last August.

In common with other oil companies, the European trio are looking to divest non-core assets to help shore up their balance sheets and defend dividends at a time of mounting pressure from the prolonged weakness in oil prices.

Latin America should strengthen regional trade and financial linkages to boost growth and further the social achievements of the past 15 years.

Debt levels are currently rising at an annual rate of 11.5 percent, more than double the 5.1 percent witnessed between 2009 and 2014.

Energy giant is set to begin selling its offshore-China assets this month, the latest in a series of divestments in Asia. The company is looking to raise up to $10 billion globally from asset sales, a big chunk of which will come from its Asian upstream operations, as part of a broader effort to cut costs and adapt to an environment of lower oil prices.

Russian assets are under pressure as concerns resurface that the global oil market is over supplied. After rallying from a record low at the start of the year as crude rebounded, the ruble is the third-worst performer in emerging markets so far this quarter.

Maersk Drilling will cut 122 jobs in the United States due to the early termination of a contract for deepwater rig Maersk Valiant

In the latest transaction, Statoil will divest some of its non-operated interests in the US state of West Virginia to Antero Resources Corporation (“Antero”) for approximately USD 96 million in cash.

Iran's failure to get full access to the global financial system a year after it signed the nuclear deal with world powers has intensified domestic political infighting. It has also turned up the heat on President Hassan Rouhani, a pragmatist facing re-election next year, who has gambled on attracting foreign investment to help raise voters' living standards.

Mozambique made one of the world's biggest gas finds in a decade in 2010 but negotiations with operators Eni and U.S. firm Anadarko have dragged on for years due to disputes over terms and concerns about falling energy prices.

Brent crude oil prices averaged at the lowest level since 2004, significantly reducing profits and cash flow for energy companies.