Int'l Roadmap to Rehabilitate Sudanese Economy

Customers look on as a vendor displays the fresh produce in Khartoum, Sudan December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Customers look on as a vendor displays the fresh produce in Khartoum, Sudan December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
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Int'l Roadmap to Rehabilitate Sudanese Economy

Customers look on as a vendor displays the fresh produce in Khartoum, Sudan December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Customers look on as a vendor displays the fresh produce in Khartoum, Sudan December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

Sudan has agreed a roadmap to "rehabilitate" the country in a trilateral agreement with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and African Development Bank.

The IMF revealed in a report in Dec. that “Economic conditions in Sudan remain challenging on the back of persistent fiscal deficits, high inflation, and low access to financing.”

“Bold and comprehensive reforms are needed to stabilize the economy and strengthen growth,” it added, noting that: “The expansion of social safety nets to support the reforms and improvements in the business environment and governance are crucial to unlocking growth.”

The report continued: “In 2018, economic activity contracted by an estimated 2.3 percent and GDP is projected to contract by 2.5 percent in 2019. Inflation increased to 60 percent in November 2019.

Representative of the World Bank stated that the aim of the visit was to achieve economic development in Sudan to integrate into the global markets, the International Monetary Fund, and the African Development Bank on a roadmap for the rehabilitation of the country.

Minister of Industry and Trade Madani Abbas Madani stressed the importance of the steps taken by the state in boosting confidence in the markets, achieving development, increasing production, protecting the investor, and developing the industrial and marketing sector through a clear strategic plan.



Oil Trims Gains on Dollar Strength, Tight Supplies Provide Support

FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
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Oil Trims Gains on Dollar Strength, Tight Supplies Provide Support

FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo

Oil prices trimmed earlier gains on Wednesday as the dollar strengthened but continued to find support from a tightening of supplies from Russia and other OPEC members and a drop in US crude stocks.

Brent crude was up 21 cents, or 0.27%, at $77.26 a barrel at 1424 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 27 cents, or 0.36%, to $74.52.

Both benchmarks had risen more than 1% earlier in the session, but pared gains on a strengthening US dollar.

"Crude oil took a minor tumble in response to a strengthening dollar following news reports that Trump is considering declaring a national economic emergency to provide legal ground for universal tariffs," added Ole Hansen, analyst at Saxo Bank.

A stronger dollar makes oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.

"The drop (in oil prices) seems to be driven by a general shift in risk sentiment with European equity markets falling and the USD getting stronger," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

Oil output from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries fell in December after two months of increases, a Reuters survey showed.

In Russia, oil output averaged 8.971 million barrels a day in December, below the country's target, Bloomberg reported citing the energy ministry.

US crude oil stocks fell last week while fuel inventories rose, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.

Despite the unexpected draw in crude stocks, the significant rise in product inventories was putting those prices under pressure, PVM analyst Tamas Varga said.

Analysts expect oil prices to be on average down this year from 2024 due in part to production increases from non-OPEC countries.

"We are holding to our forecast for Brent crude to average $76/bbl in 2025, down from an average of $80/bbl in 2024," BMI, a division of Fitch Group, said in a client note.