PLATTS - Recent activity in the US Gulf Coast shipping market signals that Chinese buyers have returned to buying US crudes oil after halting all imports of US grades in August and September.

BHGE - U.S. Rig Count is down 3 rigs from last week to 1,079, with oil rigs down 3 to 885 and gas rigs unchanged at 194. Canada Rig Count is up 7 rigs from last week to 204, with oil rigs up 6 to 124 and gas rigs up 1 to 80.

BLOOMBERG - The $11 billion pipeline is one of three giant projects helping the world’s biggest gas producer strengthen its grip on Europe and Asia. Thousands of miles to the east, the Power of Siberia pipeline will connect with China, and a project under the Black Sea will deliver fuel to Turkey and southeast Europe.

U.S. API - U.S. petroleum demand in October of 20.8 million barrels per day (mb/d) was the strongest for the month since 2006 and a continued reflection of solid economic activity.

REUTERS - Next-day natural gas prices for Friday at the Sumas hub on the border between Washington state and British Columbia quadrupled to a record high on forecasts for cooler, near-normal weather in the Pacific Northwest and declining pipeline flows from Canada.

U.S. DT - The sum total in September of all net foreign acquisitions of long-term securities, short-term U.S. securities, and banking flows was a net TIC outflow of $29.1 billion. Of this, net foreign private inflows were $23.5 billion, and net foreign official outflows were $52.7 billion.

U.S. FRB - Industrial production edged up 0.1 percent in October, as a gain for manufacturing outweighed decreases elsewhere. As a result of upward revisions primarily in mining, the overall index is now reported to have advanced at an annual rate of 4.7 percent in the third quarter, appreciably above the gain of 3.3 percent reported initially.

BHGE - U.S. Rig Count is up 1 rig from last week to 1,082, with oil rigs up 2 to 888 and gas rigs down 1 to 194. Canada Rig Count is up 1 rig from last week to 197, with oil rigs up 1 to 118 and gas rigs unchanged at 79.

REUTERS - “The Saudis are very angry at Trump. They don’t trust him any more and feel very strongly about a cut. They had no heads-up about the waivers,” said one senior source briefed on Saudi energy policies.

U.S. OFR - The U.S. Office of Financial Research (OFR) released its 2018 Annual Report to Congress, stating that risks to U.S. financial stability remain in the medium range, reflecting a mix of high, moderate, and low risks to the financial system.

OGJ - “Nord Stream 2 and Turkish Stream are not commercial projects as their proponents proclaim,” Perry said. “They are naked political gambits aimed at driving a wedge between Europeans. They would increase Russia’s leverage over Europe’s foreign policy, and Europe’s vulnerability to a supply disruption.”

U.S. EIA - U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased by 10.3 million barrels from the previous week.

WNN - The countries intend to cooperate in areas including nuclear research and development, including innovative reactors. They plan to discuss mid- to long-term planning to create private sector-led innovation, as well as encourage the private sector and university researchers to develop advanced reactors.

U.S. EIA - Crude oil production from the major US onshore regions is forecast to increase 113,000 b/d month-over-month in December from 7,831 to 7,944 thousand barrels/day , gas production to increase 1,038 million cubic feet/day from 74,041 to 75,079 million cubic feet/day .

WNN - in 2017 the average total generating cost - which includes capital, fuel and operating costs - for nuclear energy was USD33.50 per megawatt-hour (MWh).