WNN - The UK's National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) and the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have agreed to cooperate on nuclear energy research. The announcement came as the UK and USA signed a nuclear R&D action plan.

U.S. FRB - Industrial production rose 0.4 percent in August for its third consecutive monthly increase. Manufacturing output moved up 0.2 percent on the strength of a 4.0 percent rise for motor vehicles and parts; motor vehicle assemblies jumped to an annual rate of 11.5 million units, the strongest reading since April. Excluding the gain in motor vehicles and parts, factory output was unchanged.

BAKER HUGHES A GE - U.S. Rig Count is up 7 rigs from last week to 1,055, with oil rigs up 7 to 867, gas rigs unchanged at 186, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 2. Canada Rig Count is up 22 rigs from last week to 226, with oil rigs up 15 to 148 and gas rigs up 7 to 78.

REUTERS - Brent crude was up 3 cents at $78.21 a barrel by 0634 GMT, after falling 2 percent on Thursday. The global benchmark rose on Wednesday to its highest since May 22 at $80.13. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were up 18 cents, or 0.2 percent, at 68.76 a barrel, after dropping 2.5 percent on Thursday.

IEA - If Venezuelan and Iranian exports do continue to fall, markets could tighten and oil prices could rise without offsetting production increases from elsewhere.

PLATTS - In a meeting with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak in Moscow, US Energy Secretary Rick Perry reiterated US opposition to the expansion of the Nord Stream pipeline from Russia, claiming it would hurt European allies and distort energy markets.

REUTERS - U.S. shale producers are locking in prices for their production as much as three years into the future in a sign that strong domestic crude pricing is nearing a peak, according to market sources familiar with money flows.

IMF - Russia’s economy is recovering from the 2015–16 recession, thanks to the authorities’ effective policy response and higher oil prices. Output increased by 1.5 percent in 2017 on the back of robust domestic demand, but short of expectations. Inflation has fallen well below the CBR's 4 percent target since July 2017, driven by a weaker-than-expected recovery, tight monetary policy, as well as temporary effects on food and energy prices.

ROSNEFT - Rosneft and the Chinese National Oil and Gas Corporation (CNPC) signed the Agreement on Cooperation in Exploration and Production in the Russian Federation in the framework of the IV Eastern Economic Forum.

ROSNEFT - Under the Agreement the parties plan to build over 160 CNG stations in Russia and the possibility of using LNG as natural gas motor fuel is being discussed.

REUTERS - Benchmark Brent crude oil LCOc1 was down 70 cents a barrel at $79.04 by 0830 GMT. U.S. light crude CLc1 fell $1.15 to a low of $69.22 a barrel.

CNBC - "We can see that the pricing situation today depends not just on the supply/demand balance or the general economic situation but also on the uncertainty that we observe today in the global markets: the trade wars, the sanctions that the U.S. pursue," Novak said, speaking to CNBC's Geoff Cutmore at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, Russia.

IAEA - Overall, the new projections suggest that nuclear power may struggle to maintain its current place in the world’s energy mix. In the low case to 2030, the projections show nuclear electricity generating capacity falling by more than 10% from a net installed capacity of 392 gigawatts (electrical) (GW(e)) at the end of 2017. In the high case, generating capacity increases 30% to 511 GW(e), a drop of 45 GW(e) from last year’s projection. Longer term, generating capacity declines to 2040 in the low case before rebounding to 2030 levels by mid-century, when nuclear is seen providing 2.8% of global generating capacity compared with 5.7% today.

GAZPROM - A working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, and Wang Yilin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of CNPC, took place at the 4th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

GAZPROM - A working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, and Hidenori Takaoka, Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Business Group of Mitsubishi Corporation, took place at the 4th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.