WNN - "The vision of Saudi Arabia 2030 considers nuclear energy as an important source to support stability and sustainable growth," Al Sultan said. "Deployment of nuclear energy aims for peaceful purposes, in a safe, secure and sustainable manner consistent with highest standards and best practices. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested the INIR mission to support this goal. It was a valuable tool to pinpoint areas of improvement and ensure that the required infrastructures are in place before signing the contract for building the first nuclear power plant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

PLATTS - Germany has added over 2 GW of new solar capacity over the past year as the rebound for the sector accelerates and annual additions are on track for the strongest growth since 2013, the latest monthly data from the federal grid regulator showed

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - По итогам голосования представителей Национальных комитетов стран членов Мирового энергетического совета Российская Федерация получила право на проведения 25-го Мирового энергетического конгресса, который пройдет в Санкт-Петербурге в период с 11 по 15 июня 2022 года. Заявку на право проведения 25-го Мирового энергетического конгресса подавали также Национальные комитеты США и Португалии.

PLATTS - EDF maintained its annual French nuclear output target of 395 TWh and reported further progress in the regulator-requested Creusot review of its entire nuclear fleet with 34 reactors now cleared and 48 files submitted to the ASN by July 30.

SHANA - Iran exported an average of 2.3 million barrels per day of crude oil to Asian and European countries during the four months. This is while exports for last calendar year's corresponding period stood at 2.115 mbd.

REUTERS - Brent spot crude oil futures dropped 30 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $73.91 a barrel by 0435 GMT, adding to a 1.8 percent loss in the previous session. U.S. crude futures were down 38 cents, or 0.6 percent, at $68.38 a barrel, having dropped nearly 2 percent on Tuesday.

PLATTS - Kuwait's crude oil production currently stands at 2.8 million b/d, the country's oil minister Bakheet al-Rashidi said Wednesday, up about 90,000 b/d from June levels.

PLATTS - Iraqi southern crude oil exports in July surged to a record high of 3.543 million b/d, data from the oil ministry showed Wednesday, despite OPEC's second largest oil producer facing major protests near its key oil assets.

PLATTS - Russia's July crude oil and condensate output rose 1.4% month on month to 11.215 million b/d, in line with Russia's pledge in late June to boost output under the deal with OPEC and other non-OPEC producers, preliminary data by the Central Dispatching Unit, the statistical arm of the energy ministry, showed Thursday.

U.S. FRB - In view of realized and expected labor market conditions and inflation, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 1-3/4 to 2 percent. The stance of monetary policy remains accommodative, thereby supporting strong labor market conditions and a sustained return to 2 percent inflation.

TRANSCANADA - TransCanada Corporation (TSX, NYSE: TRP) (TransCanada or the Company) today announced net income attributable to common shares for second quarter 2018 of $785 million or $0.88 per share compared to net income of $881 million or $1.01 per share for the same period in 2017.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - «Страны БРИКС являются одними из самых крупнейших экспортеров, производителей энергоресурсов и потребителей. На долю стран БРИКС приходится почти 40% общемирового потребления энергоресурсов», - отметил замминистра.

МИНФИН РОССИИ - Средняя цена нефти марки Urals по итогам января – июля 2018 года составила $ 69,43 за баррель. В 2017 году средняя цена на Urals в январе – июле составила $ 49,94 за баррель. Средняя цена на нефть марки Urals в июле 2018 года сложилась в размере $ 72,87 за баррель, что в 1,52 раза выше, чем в июле 2017 года ($ 47,85 за баррель).

МИНФИН РОССИИ - По состоянию на 1 августа 2018 г. объем ФНБ составил 4 844 377,8 млн. рублей, что эквивалентно 77 163,7 млн. долл. США,

МИНЭКОНОМРАЗВИТИЯ РОССИИ - По оценке Минэкономразвития России, ВВП во 2кв18 вырос на 1,8 % г/г. Положительный вклад в динамику ВВП в апрелеиюне внесло промышленное производство, профессиональные услуги и финансовая деятельность. Ускорению экономического роста по сравнению с 1кв18 способствовало улучшение ситуации в транспортной отрасли и торговле, а также восстановление динамики строительного сектора. Рост ВВП в целом за январь–июнь оценивается на уровне 1,7 % г/г.

BANK OF RUSSIA - On 27 July 2018, the Bank of Russia Board of Directors decided to keep the key rate at 7.25% per annum. Though annual inflation remains below the target, it is tending to return to 4%. The Bank of Russia forecasts that consumer prices will grow by 3.5–4% year-on-year at the end of 2018 and annual inflation will temporarily overshoot 4% in 2019 due to the planned increase of the value added tax. The annual consumer price growth rate will return to 4% in early 2020.

IMF - Amid a marked growth deceleration, some of South Africa’s economic and social achievements after the end of apartheid have recently unwound. While the economy is globally positioned, sophisticated, and diversified, gaps in physical infrastructure and education create large productivity differentials across sectors. Low consumer and business confidence has dampened productivity growth. Fast growing debt has constrained policy space. As a result, per-capita growth has turned negative, the poverty rate stands at around 40 percent, unemployment has crept up to 27 percent—almost twice that level for the youth—and income inequality is one of the highest globally.

BLOOMBERG - Saudi Aramco, as the state-owned company is known, cut pricing for September shipments of all grades to Asia, its largest market. Aramco set the premium for Arab Light crude to Asia at $1.20 a barrel above the Middle East benchmark, it said Thursday in an emailed price list. The reduction of 70 cents for Arab Light was the second consecutive monthly cut for the grade and was 10 cents deeper than the median estimate of five traders in a Bloomberg survey.

WNN - it was announced that Brookfield Business Partners, together with institutional partners - collectively known as Brookfield - had agreed to acquire 100% of Westinghouse from Toshiba for about USD4.6 billion.

NOBLE - Noble Corporation plc (NYSE: NE, the Company) reported a net loss attributable to the Company for the three months ended June 30, 2018 of $628 million, or $2.55 per diluted share, on revenues of $258 million. The results included a non-cash charge totaling $793 million, or $2.06 per diluted share, ($507 million, net of tax and noncontrolling interests) relating to the impairment of three rigs and certain capital spares. Excluding the non-cash charge, the Company's net loss attributable to Noble Corporation for the three months ended June 30, 2018 would have been $121 million, or $0.49 per diluted share.