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Brent Rises on Middle East War Jitters, While WTI Dips Ahead of Inventories Report

An aerial view shows Vladimir Arsenyev tanker at the crude oil terminal Kozmino on the shore of Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia August 12, 2022. REUTERS/Tatiana Meel/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
An aerial view shows Vladimir Arsenyev tanker at the crude oil terminal Kozmino on the shore of Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia August 12, 2022. REUTERS/Tatiana Meel/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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Brent Rises on Middle East War Jitters, While WTI Dips Ahead of Inventories Report

An aerial view shows Vladimir Arsenyev tanker at the crude oil terminal Kozmino on the shore of Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia August 12, 2022. REUTERS/Tatiana Meel/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
An aerial view shows Vladimir Arsenyev tanker at the crude oil terminal Kozmino on the shore of Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia August 12, 2022. REUTERS/Tatiana Meel/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Brent crude futures edged up in early trade on Thursday as Israeli tanks advanced into Gaza, while US crude futures dipped on the prospect of swelling oil inventories.

Brent crude futures for August delivery rose 8 cents to $85.15 a barrel by 0008 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude for June was down 27 cents, or 0.3%, to $81.30 per barrel.

A US federal holiday, Juneteenth, kept trading activity subdued.

Israeli troops, backed by tanks, warplanes and drones, moved farther into the Gaza Strip city of Rafah on Wednesday, killing eight people, residents and Palestinian medics said.

Escalating war in the Middle East supports prices as a wider conflict could disrupt oil supply from the region, according to Reuters.

WTI crude, meanwhile, slipped ahead of the US government's oil inventories report, which was delayed by a day due to the national holiday. The Energy Information Administration is due to release last week's oil stocks data at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Thursday.

An industry report release on Tuesday showed US crude stocks rose by 2.264 million barrels in the week ended June 14, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures, while gasoline inventories fell.

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Kuwait Finance Minister Forecasts $85 Bn Deficit Over Next Four Years

Kuwait’s Finance and Investment Minister Dr. Anwar Al-Mudhaf (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Kuwait’s Finance and Investment Minister Dr. Anwar Al-Mudhaf (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Kuwait Finance Minister Forecasts $85 Bn Deficit Over Next Four Years

Kuwait’s Finance and Investment Minister Dr. Anwar Al-Mudhaf (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Kuwait’s Finance and Investment Minister Dr. Anwar Al-Mudhaf (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Kuwait’s Finance and Investment Minister, Dr. Anwar Al-Mudhaf, anticipates a budget deficit of 26 billion dinars ($85 billion) over the next four years. Speaking to Kuwait TV, he revealed that in the past decade alone, Kuwait accumulated a deficit of 33 billion dinars ($107.7 billion), financed from state reserves.

Looking ahead to the 2024-2025 fiscal year, Kuwait expects revenues of 18.9 billion dinars ($61.7 billion) against expenditures of 24.5 billion dinars ($80 billion), resulting in a projected deficit of 5.6 billion dinars ($18.2 billion).

Al-Mudhaf emphasized the need for economic reforms, focusing on fiscal sustainability and diversifying non-oil revenues to strengthen Kuwait’s economy.

He outlined nine initiatives aimed at restructuring the budget and increasing non-oil income, stressing that these reforms are essential and supported by the country's leadership.

Regarding social support, Al-Mudhaf assured that citizens’ salaries will be unaffected, with subsidies directed more equitably to those in genuine need. He highlighted the importance of fair distribution of support, addressing disparities between individual and corporate beneficiaries.

Al-Mudhaf reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to economic reform through initiatives aimed at enhancing trade, tourism, and financial sectors while preserving reserves for future generations.

Moreover, the minister emphasized that the country’s ruler has directed clear efforts to boost new investment opportunities, refuting claims of impending salary or bonus cuts as untrue. He urged people not to trust social media rumors about the Ministry of Finance or any other ministry.

Regarding foreign investments, the Al-Mudhaf said: “We have multiple agreements with Chinese firms and are working on developing free trade zones.”

“The Chinese government has assigned a company to handle and represent its interests in Kuwait, particularly at Mubarak Port. Additionally, there are agreements concerning the Shaqaya project, housing developments, and the northern region,” he clarified.

Al-Mudhaf also stressed the importance of supporting the private sector, expanding trade, and diversifying financial tools.