The latest Market Talks covering Energy markets. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.

0955 ET - U.S. natural gas futures start the week lower with forecasts showing a loss of near-term cooling demand, although selling is limited by support from stronger LNG feedgas flows. The market's main focus is the weather, with the pickup in Atlantic tropical activity making its way onto traders' radars. The system forming off the coast of Africa looks more likely to pose a bearish risk to demand if it reaches the U.S. Atlantic coast, than to enter the Gulf affecting infrastructure, Tradition Energy's Gary Cunningham says in a note. Nymex natural gas is off 0.8% at $2.966/mmBtu. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

0930 ET - Oil futures pick up with the market looking ahead to Friday's Trump-Putin meeting to discuss possible ways to end the Ukraine-Russia war. "Markets are already pricing in its potential implications--with a bearish tone--in line with broader global tariff risks and OPEC's production strategy, which includes an increase of 547,000 barrels per day in September," Razan Hilal of Forex.com says in a note. Meanwhile, Tuesday's U.S.-China tariff deadline, U.S. inflation report and OPEC monthly report could make it a "high-impact" day for crude, she adds. WTI is up 0.8% at $64.40 a barrel, and Brent is 0.7% higher at $67.07. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

0800 ET - BP's second-quarter results show its operational performance is improving but the British oil major will need to deliver several good quarters to build a track record, HSBC analysts write. The improved performance in its refining and customers divisions are particularly noticeable, they add. BP's cost-saving initiatives are also finally starting to show up in its financial results, they add. The discovery in Bumerange offshore Brazil shows BP has retained its exploration expertise and the finding could be as materially beneficial as Exxon's discovery in Guyana, they add. Shares trade flat at 423.60 pence. (adam.whittaker@wsj.com)

0637 ET - Oil prices are little changed in afternoon trade as markets focus on a planned Friday meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that could pave the way for a Ukraine peace deal. Brent crude edges 0.1% higher to $66.65 a barrel, while WTI is flat at $63.91 a barrel. "Oil has fallen over 10% this year as OPEC+ restores production faster than planned and slowing global growth clouds demand prospects," says Soojin Kim, analyst at MUFG. "A peace deal could end sanctions on Russian oil, heightening the risk of a supply glut later in 2025." Traders also await monthly reports from the U.S., EIA, OPEC and the IEA this week for further insights into supply and demand trends. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)

0545 ET - Schneider Electric's data-center commentary remains robust with continued prospects for mid-high-single digit organic group sales growth in 2026, Citi analysts say in a research note. In addition, while gross margins were lower for the French group, this appears to be driven by price timing that will inflect positively in the second half of the year, the analysts add. Citi cuts its target price to 272 euros from 277 euros, to reflect the higher cash outflow for the India joint-venture minority buyout. Shares trade 0.9% lower at 220 euros. (nina.kienle@wsj.com)

0449 ET - Harbour Energy's first-half results point to strong production and free cash flow generation, Berenberg analysts write. Following the London-listed oil-and-gas company's results, the analysts raise their 2025 and 2026 Ebitda expectations by 6% and 5%, and increase free cash flow expectations by 23% and 8%, respectively. However, over the long-term, cash flow will decline as production and European gas prices fall, they write. Shares trade up 1.85% at 231.40 pence.(adam.whittaker@wsj.com)

0439 ET - CATL's suspension of one of its major mines due to a license renewal could drive lithium prices to over 80,000 yuan a ton in the short term before falling back to 70,000 yuan-80,000 yuan a ton, Citi analysts say in a note. Lithium accounted for around 11% of battery cell cost during 1H for the industry. If lithium prices continue to surprise to the upside, battery companies could seek to pass through cost inflation to downstream customers. Citi views the mine suspension as part of Chinese authorities' push to address deflationary pressures and overcapacity in the economy. The suspension of domestic mining of lithium may benefit regional lithium companies and Australian miners but hurt the battery supply chain in the short term. However, this should help China to reprice its strategic resources in the long term, the bank adds. (jiahui.huang@wsj.com; @ivy_jiahuihuang)

0425 ET - European natural-gas prices trade below 33 euros a megawatt hour as traders await Friday's meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In early trade, the benchmark Dutch TTF contract rises 0.7% to 32.70 euros, but is down nearly 5% on the week. Prices closed lower last week as falls across the oil market dragged TTF down, despite reports that Electricite de France might be forced to curb nuclear output due to high river temperatures--a scenario that would see the region rely on gas-fired power generation more. Friday's Trump-Putin talks are fueling hopes for a peace deal in Ukraine, which could pave the way for looser sanctions and increased oil supply. Meanwhile, EU member states progress with gas stockpiling ahead of the winter, with storage levels now above 71%. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)

0410 ET - OPEC+ is expected to hold its oil policy unchanged after the latest round of output hikes in September, according to UBS. "After the full unwind of one layer of its production cuts, we expect the group to hold production unchanged unless larger and lasting supply disruptions emerge," says strategist Giovanni Staunovo. Meanwhile, the group's crude exports last month were lower than in March, before member states decided to unwind their voluntary output curbs. "Hot weather in the Middle East, resulting in higher domestic consumption, and smaller effective production increases are likely important drivers of this pattern," Staunovo says. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)

0357 ET - Oil prices are forecast to fall to a lower level than previously expected due to strong oil production from South America, resilient output from countries sanctioned by the U.S. and expectations of larger inventory builds ahead, according to UBS. Brazil's production reached a fresh record high following a weak 2024. Meanwhile, the U.S. administration granted Chevron a license to resume operations in Venezuela and has held off on extending stricter sanctions on buyers of Russian oil other than India. Iranian production also remains at multiyear highs. UBS now sees Brent crude at $62 a barrel by the end of the year before recovering to $65 a barrel by mid-2026, compared to a previous forecast of $68 a barrel. The international oil benchmarks currently trades at $66 a barrel. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)

0352 ET - European oil stocks trade down as oil prices fall ahead of talks between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks could eventually end sanctions on Russian oil, head of investment at Interactive Investor Victoria Scholar writes. In London, Shell falls 0.5% while BP drops 0.45%. France's TotalEnergies trades down 0.4% and Spain's Repsol falls 0.7%. Portugal's Galp Energia trades 0.6% down. (adam.whittaker@wsj.com)

0332 ET - Oil prices fall in early trade as traders await President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin's meeting in Alaska later this week. Brent crude is down 0.7% at $66.13 a barrel, while WTI is down 0.8% at $63.36 a barrel. "President Trump's deadline for Russia to strike a peace deal with Ukraine passed without stricter U.S. sanctions imposed on Moscow," ING analysts say. "This likely contributed to the recent weakness in crude oil prices, with Brent trading at its lowest levels since early June." The latest positioning data shows that speculators scaled back their bets that Brent prices will rise despite supply risks from sanction threats, according to ING. Oil prices are also pressured by concerns over the global demand outlook as Trump's tariffs on imports of dozens of trade partners are expected to weigh on the economy. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 11, 2025 09:56 ET (13:56 GMT)

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