The move by Brussels underscores growing European awareness that key industries risk falling behind if they don’t fill manufacturing gaps in energy storage technology. Lithium-ion batteries are poised to power the next generation of plug-in cars. They also promise to help balance electric grids transmitting renewable energy like wind and solar.

Indonesia’s GDP is projected to grow at 5.0 percent in 2019 and then rise to 5.1 percent in 2020. This projection is based on easing international trade tensions and reduced domestic political uncertainty.

Following growth of about 1.8 percent in 2019, the economy is expected to expand by 2.2 percent in 2020.

Consistent with its statutory mandate, the Committee seeks to foster maximum employment and price stability. The Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 1‑1/2 to 1-3/4 percent.

“We also see that the human capital, at 46 percent, comprises the largest share of wealth in Russia, with the natural capital share, standing at 20 percent. As a rough approximation, we estimate that Russia's forests provide annual absorption of about 640 million tons of CO2 equivalent.”

This would make Aramco's listing the world's largest, beating Alibaba's $25bn IPO at $25.6bn.

I was pleased to note that IMF staff has reached agreement with the authorities on the policies to underpin a new 3-year, SDR 4 billion (about US$ 5.5 billion) arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility.

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 266,000 in November, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 3.5 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported

overall real GDP growth in the GCC is estimated to drop to 0.8% this year compared with 2% last year.

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $47.2 billion in October, down $3.9 billion from $51.1 billion in September,

The market capitalization of five of the top 10 U.S. coal companies was sliced by more than half from early January to mid-November 2019.

The package would come to around 13 trillion yen ($120 billion), but that would rise to 25 trillion yen ($230 billion) when private-sector and other spending are included.

The Saudi economy recorded its biggest increase in new work in more than four years in November according to a report from IHS Markit.

In total, the Saudi government plans to sell 0.5% of Aramco to individual investors and the remainder to domestic institutions and international firms registered in the kingdom, known as qualified foreign investors.

Russia, a key non-OPEC ally, has so far opposed deeper cuts or a longer extension. But Moscow has often taken a tough stance before every meeting before approving the policy. Sources said Saudi Arabia was working on convincing Russia.