Tokyo-based Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd. (JAPEX) today unveiled its ambitious “JAPEX Management Plan 2026-2035,” a decade-long strategy designed to quadruple its oil and gas production and position the company as a more resilient global energy player. The plan places heavy emphasis on U.S. expansion, building on the company’s recent $1.26 billion acquisition of operated […]
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In the high-stakes world of global energy markets, two prices for oil exist side by side — but they are telling wildly different stories right now. The “paper” price, reflected in Brent and WTI futures contracts traded on exchanges, sits around $99 per barrel as of April 22, 2026. Meanwhile, the physical price for delivered […]
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As U.S. stock futures surge ahead of Monday’s open, signaling yet another leg higher for the major indices, energy markets tell a very different story. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz—following Iran’s recent declaration that the vital waterway is “completely open” during the ceasefire—has triggered a sharp plunge in oil prices. This is great […]
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Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is navigating a critical juncture that could define its earnings trajectory and investor appeal for years to come. On April 15, 2026, the utility filed with the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) to recover approximately $809 million in extraordinary fuel and purchased power costs incurred during an extreme winter cold snap […]
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In a move that continues to underscore Beijing’s strategic shift away from U.S. dollar assets amid geopolitical tensions and diversification efforts, China has steadily reduced its holdings of U.S. Treasuries. The latest official data from the U.S. Treasury’s TIC report confirms China’s holdings stood at $693.3 billion at the end of February 2026, down slightly […]
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The global energy markets are in flux as of mid-April 2026, shaped by severe disruptions from the ongoing Middle East conflict (centered on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz). This has curtailed roughly 7–10 mb/d of crude, NGLs, and refined product exports in March–April, triggering sharp price spikes and inventory draws. Brent crude averaged $103/bbl […]
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The United States is in the midst of a historic expansion of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export infrastructure. After a decade of rapid growth that transformed the U.S. from a minor player into the world’s largest LNG exporter, a new wave of projects under construction and recently sanctioned is poised to add more than […]
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As the U.S.-imposed blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz enters its critical phase, global oil and LNG supply chains are in chaos. Tankers are idled, LNG prices have spiked, and energy-short nations in Asia and Europe are scrambling for alternatives. The result? Coal—reliable, abundant, and easy to stockpile—is surging back into favor […]
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The 2026 Iran conflict, which escalated in late February with U.S.-Israeli strikes and Iranian retaliation—including the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on energy infrastructure—has triggered the largest supply disruption in global oil market history. Nearly 20% of the world’s oil and significant LNG volumes have been taken offline, sending Brent crude […]
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As the 2026 Iran War continues to ripple through global energy markets—particularly with disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz—policymakers, energy producers, and consumers are closely watching the inflationary fallout. A timely new working paper from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas provides a rigorous, scenario-based framework for quantifying exactly how oil price shocks from […]
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