Mr Amano said the IAEA continued to closely follow international developments on the North Korea nuclear issue. “We hope that these processes will lead to an agreement and to implementation of concrete denuclearization measures,” he said. “The IAEA stands ready to undertake verification and monitoring activities in the DPRK if a political agreement is reached among countries concerned.”

Libya’s biggest oil field resumed production, adding another complication to OPEC’s effort to trim a global supply glut.

PLATTS - "US LNG, if priced competitively, can play an increasing role in EU gas supply, enhancing diversification and EU energy security,"

PLATTS - An international tribunal on Friday ordered Venezuela to pay ConocoPhillips roughly $8.7 billion in compensation for the seizure of company assets in 2007.

U.S. BLS - Total nonfarm payroll employment changed little in February (+20,000), and the unemployment rate declined to 3.8 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Employment in professional and business services, health care, and wholesale trade continued to trend up, while construction employment decreased.

BHGE - The worldwide rig count for February 2019 was 2,306, up 41 from the 2,265 counted in January 2019, and up 135 from the 2,171 counted in February 2018.

BHGE - U.S. Rig Count is down 11 rigs from last week to 1,027 rigs, with oil rigs down 9 to 834 and gas rigs down 2 to 193. Canada Rig Count is down 22 rigs from last week to 189, with oil rigs down 22 to 118 and gas rigs unchanged at 71.

Oil prices crept up on Thursday amid ongoing OPEC-led supply cuts and U.S. sanctions against exporters Venezuela and Iran, but gains were capped by record U.S. crude output and rising commercial fuel inventories.

PLATTS - The US and Russia saw the greatest year-on-year growth of LNG exports to Europe in February, on the back of higher production and flexible, price-driven supplies,

GAZPROM - Between January 1 and March 5, 2019, the Company’s gas supplies to the country amounted to an estimated 3.3 billion cubic meters, an increase of 32.9 per cent from the same period of last year.

U.S. BEA - For 2018, the goods and services deficit was $621.0 billion, up $68.8 billion from $552.3 billion in 2017. Exports were $2,500.0 billion in 2018, up $148.9 billion from 2017. Imports were $3,121.0 billion, up $217.7 billion from 2017.

IMF - Economic growth is anticipated to remain around 1.8 percent in 2019. The authorities’ Fiscal Balance Program, underpinned by the 2019-20 budget, has provided a commendable framework to arrest the decline in fiscal and external buffers since 2014.

IMF - In 2019, despite lower commodity prices and slowing external demand, Uzbekistan's GDP growth is projected to pick up from 5 percent to 5½ percent

The Saudi plan to expand in the renewable energy sector and diversify partnerships with progressive countries in the field is moving forward.

Oil prices fell on Wednesday as bullish output forecasts by two big U.S. producers and a build in weekly U.S. crude stockpiles outweighed OPEC-led production cuts.