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.

GULF TIMES - As part of his official visit to Qatar, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his accompanying delegation paid a visit to the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Secretariat in Doha

PLATTS - Ukraine is preparing for zero Russian gas transit flows in 2020 once Russia's 55 Bcm/year Nord Stream 2 gas link to Germany comes online, but European gas supply security will not be disrupted, a senior Naftogaz executive said

LUKOIL - In 2018, profit attributable to shareholders amounted to RUB 619.2 bln, 47.8% higher year-on-year. The growth was constrained by higher DD&A due to the launch of new production facilities.

NOVATEK - PAO NOVATEK (“NOVATEK” and/or the “Company”) and TOTAL S.A. signed a Sales and Purchase Agreement (“Agreement”) in relation to the sale of a 10% participation interest in the Arctic LNG 2 project (the “Project”), within the binding agreement, signed at the 22nd Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum in May 2018. The transaction will be closed by the end of first quarter 2019.