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.

BP - “This is a transformational acquisition for our Lower 48 business, a major step in delivering our Upstream strategy and a world-class addition to BP’s distinctive portfolio. Given our confidence in BP’s future – further bolstered by additional earnings and cash flow from this deal – we are increasing the dividend, reflecting our long-standing commitment to growing distributions to shareholders.”

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.

CONOCOPHILLIPS - ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) reported second-quarter 2018 earnings of $1.6 billion, or $1.39 per share, compared with a second-quarter 2017 loss of $3.4 billion, or ($2.78) per share. Excluding special items, second-quarter 2018 adjusted earnings were $1.3 billion, or $1.09 per share, compared with second-quarter 2017 adjusted earnings of $0.2 billion, or $0.14 per share. Special items for the current quarter were primarily driven by an unrealized gain on Cenovus Energy equity and recognition of deferred licensing revenue, partially offset by pension settlement expense.

NOVATEK - In the second quarter and the first half of 2018, profit attributable to shareholders of PAO NOVATEK increased to RR 32.0 billion (RR 10.63 per share), or by approximately ten-fold, and to RR 75.2 billion (RR 24.93 per share), or by 1.2%, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods in 2017.

WNN - The Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKEs), published today by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), shows low-carbon sources of electricity accounted for a record 50.1% of power generated in the UK in 2017, which is up from 45.6% the previous year. This figure consists of 21.0% from nuclear, 14.8% wind (onshore and offshore), 3.4% solar and 2.3% hydro amongst low-carbon power sources.

NOV VARCO - National Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE: NOV) reported second quarter 2018 net income of $24 million, or $0.06 per diluted share. Revenues for the second quarter were $2.11 billion, an increase of 17 percent compared to the first quarter of 2018 and an increase of 20 percent from the second quarter of 2017. Operating profit for the second quarter of 2018 was $52 million, or 2.5 percent of sales, and Adjusted EBITDA (operating profit excluding depreciation, amortization, and other items) was $226 million, or 10.7 percent of sales.

REUTERS - Brent crude was up 54 cents, or 0.7 percent, at $73.98 a barrel by 0318 GMT. The global benchmark settled 38 cents higher at $73.44 a barrel on Tuesday, after climbing to as high as $74. U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose 24 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $68.76, having settled the previous session up 63 cents, or nearly 1 percent.

PLATTS - "I have not seen this bill, we need to study it from a legal point of view, but based on what the media has written about it, this is, in my opinion an absurd bill that offsets all market rules," Novak told journalists, Prime reported.

PLATTS - "Our own budget is based on a price of $63/b. Today we see that prices are around $75/b, I think that prices will be at around this level -- $75, or a maximum of $80/b," Sechin said when asked about his expectations for price levels by the end of 2018.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - Стороны обсудили ход реализации Дорожной карты российско-иранского сотрудничества в энергетической сфере, возможность участия российских нефтегазовых компаний в ряде добычных проектов на территории Ирана, взаимодействие в части совместных инфраструктурных газовых проектов, а также сотрудничество в многосторонних форматах – по линии ОПЕК и ФСЭГ.

SHANA - A non-disclosure agreement was signed last year between Iran's OIEC and Russia's Gazprom Neft for the development of the Azar and Changuleh oil fields. The agreement was endorsed by the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).

REUTERS - Two thirds said they supported the construction of the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline because it would help provide Germany with a more reliable supply of natural gas.

REUTERS - Turkey has told American officials it opposes U.S. sanctions on Iran and is not obliged to implement them, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday.