API - “The implementation of new tariffs will disrupt the U.S. oil and natural gas industry’s complex supply chain, compromising ongoing and future U.S. energy projects, which could weaken our national security. Additionally, Canada, Mexico and the European Union are imperative members of our Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and are top military allies – far from a threat to America’s security.

API - A diverse group of energy industry associations including energy efficiency and storage, natural gas, oil, solar and wind issued the following statement condemning the Administration’s draft plan to bail out coal and nuclear plants across the country.

IMF - The near-term growth outlook is broadly positive. Overall, GDP growth of 2.6 percent is projected for 2018. Inflation is expected to peak at 3.9 percent in 2018—as the impact of the value-added tax being introduced during the second half of 2018 would mostly be felt in that year—before easing to 2.2 percent in the medium term. The availability of significant external and fiscal buffers and the strong financial sector should enable the country to withstand downside risks, including lower-than-envisaged oil prices, tighter global conditions and an escalation of the diplomatic rift.

PLATTS - Japan is keen to back oil investments in the Caspian states of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan as it tries to reduce its reliance on Middle Eastern countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, the UAE and to a lesser extent Iran, Japanese officials said

EIA - In April 2018, Bangladesh became the newest country to begin imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). In the next two years, six more countries—Panama, Gibraltar, Russia, Philippines, Ghana, and Bahrain—are expected to start importing LNG, adding a combined 2.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of new regasification import capacity.

BAKER HUGHES A GE - U.S. Rig Count is up 1 rig from last week to 1,060, with oil rigs up 2 to 861 and gas rigs down 1 to 197. Canada Rig Count is up 18 rigs from last week to 99 rigs, with oil rigs up 21 to 56 and gas rigs down 3 to 43.

REUTERS - U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 lost 16 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $66.88 a barrel by 0423 GMT, after falling almost 2 percent on Thursday. Global benchmark Brent crude LCOc1, which was little changed in the previous session, was down 9 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $77.47 per barrel.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - Глава Российской Федерации отметил, что через территорию Болгарии проходят транзитные потоки российских углеводородов в другие страны Юго-Восточной Европы. «Есть возможности развивать сотрудничество в этой важнейшей сфере – тем самым вносить ещё больший вклад в обеспечение европейской энергетической безопасности», - подчеркнул Владимир Путин.

GAZPROM - Profit attributable to the owners of PJSC Gazprom for the three months ended March 31, 2018 totalled RUB 371,623 million which is by RUB 38,170 million, or 11 %, more than for the same period of the prior year.

REUTERS - Ukraine’s state energy group Naftogaz said it has asked Swiss courts to enforce a ruling that it receive $2.6 billion from Russian giant Gazprom after a long-running legal battle.

EIA - U.S. oil production up to 10.474 MBD, gas production up to 98,323 MCFD

РОССЕТИ - Чистая прибыль группы «Россети» в первые три месяца 2018 года составила 32,9 млрд руб., что на 39,4 % больше, чем за аналогичный период прошлого года. При этом выручка составила 260,3 млрд рублей против 230,6 млрд рублей в январе – марте 2017 года.

BLOOMBERG - Exxon is planning to invest more than $200 billion in major oil and gas projects around the world over seven years, a signal that growth carries a bit more weight in company plans.

BEA - Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.2 percent in the first quarter of 2018, according to the "second" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2017, real GDP increased 2.9 percent.

REUTERS - Environmentalists derided the “tar sands” as too dirty for investment, and analysts said the region’s high production costs made little sense in a world of $50-a-barrel oil.