WOTS Saturday 5/19/18:
Forex Rates:
| Symbol | Bid | Ask | High | Low | Open | Change | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD/IQD | | | 1,168.1000 | 1,168.1000 | 1,168.1000 | | 20:00 |
| USD/VND | | | 22,750.5000 | 22,442.0000 | 22,442.0000 | | 04:15 |
| USD/CNY | | | 6.3784 | 6.3572 | 6.3572 | | 06:17 |
| USD/KWD | | | 0.3017 | 0.3010 | 0.3015 | | 06:17 |
| GBP/USD | | | 1.3527 | 1.3482 | 1.3511 | | 06:18 |
| USD/IRR | | | 12,048.0000 | 12,048.0000 | 12,048.0000 | | 17:51 |
| USD/IDR | | | 14,167.3000 | 14,062.5000 | 14,153.5000 | | 06:18 |
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DC NY Iraq Articles:dd
Lebanese newspaper: Iran and the US may agree to remove Sadr from the scene of the formation of the next government and this may happen
May 19, 2018
Baghdad- Today, the newspaper An Nahar in a report on Saturday that the hostility of the leader of the current Sadr, Moqtada al-Sadr, Ifan and the United States may cost him to lose the formation of the next govenment and to provide a president acceptable to accept. The negotiatord
Newtechnic wins Contract for new Central Bank of Iraq
19-05-2018
Newtechnic, which describes itself as a world leader in building engineering technology, has reportedly won the contract to design the facade and oversee the co-ordination and construction of the new Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) building in Baghdad.
According to New Civil Engineer, the building, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), will be 172m high and will stand on a 200m by 100m podium.
Chief Executive Andrew Watts said he will deploy UK- and US-based design-engineering teams to work on the project, which is expected to be completed by 2021.
iraq-businessnewsd
Iraqi neighboring ambassadors meet with al-Sadr
Najaf/ Iraq TradeLink: Turkish, Syrian, Jordanian, Saudi and Kuwaiti ambassadors met here with the leader of the Sadrist Trend, Muqtada al-Sadr, to discuss the developments in Iraqi post-elections development and the formation of the new government.
The Iranian ambassador did not attend the meeting.
At the end of the discussions, the Kuwaiti ambassador Salem al-Zamanan expressed hopes in the coming stage of Iraqi politics.
He added that views were exchanged, as reported by Iraqi news agencies.
On th other side, the Turkish ambassador Fat-ih Yeldiz pointed the support of his country to form a strong and national government that will extend services and have good and solid relations with the neighboring countries.
Syrian ambassador Satam al-Dandah expressed satisfaction for the success of the elections in Iraq, stressing the support of the Syrian government for the formation of an all-Iraqi government.
Al-Dandah pointed that Syria refuses any external intervention in Iraqi affairs, particularly in Syria and Iraq.
Experts paraphrased the absence of the Iranian ambassador Irij Mesjedi is a confirmation of the cross-roads between al-Sadr and Tehran, expressing that the latter is not satisfied for al-Sadr policies.
They added that Tehran is trying that its allies in Baghdad will form the coming government, because the victory of the Sadrist Trend will not serve their ambitions in Iraq.
Current media reports pointed that Iran is trying to prevent the young Shiite al-Sadr leader from forming the coming government.
Al-Sadr confirmed his approach for reforms in Iraq, pointing that the success of his trend in the Iraqi elections “disturbed” many circles, stressing that he “does not want posts, but the protection of Iraq is his duty”.
24 million Iraqis were supposed to participate in the elections, but only about 11 million took part (44.52%) out of Iraqi population that reached 38 million people.d
Municipality of Baghdad is a service plan during the holy month of Ramadan
19/5/2018 12:00 am
Will be implemented by 14 municipal departments in the capital
He explained that the municipal departments will double their service campaigns to clean the streets and residential shops and raise waste and waste and create public gardens for the establishment of Ramadan evenings after it was equipped with lighting systems and other necessary services.
Abdul-Zahra pointed out that the Secretariat will provide the net water under high pressure to the role of citizens through the operation of projects and stations and pools clearance high capacity, as well as the immediate treatment of any emergency may be caused by fractures water pipelines, especially as the summer multiplies the consumption of good water
To drink.
He added that the municipal departments will distribute garbage bags to citizens and shops as well as restaurants that have been granted licenses to sell food and drink, as well as the distribution of containers meters on the main streets to reduce the spread of waste at random, as well as maintenance of carrots and medium, d
Baghdad / Al-Sabah
The Municipality of Baghdad has prepared a service plan for the holy month of Ramadan, which will be implemented by 14 municipal departments to remove the waste and clean the approaches of the holy shrines and places of worship, in celebration of the holy month.
The Secretariat of the Secretariat Hakim Abdul-Zahra said in a special statement to the "morning" that the Secretariat prepared an integrated service plan implemented by 14 municipal departments, including clean areas near the mosques and Hsinyat and places of worship, in addition to the beautification and decorating the nearby areas surrounding the religious shrines in Kadhimiya Holy and Adhamiya to show it the right appearance Which is suitable for its religious status and receives large numbers of visitors during the holy month of Ramadan.He explained that the municipal departments will double their service campaigns to clean the streets and residential shops and raise waste and waste and create public gardens for the establishment of Ramadan evenings after it was equipped with lighting systems and other necessary services.
Abdul-Zahra pointed out that the Secretariat will provide the net water under high pressure to the role of citizens through the operation of projects and stations and pools clearance high capacity, as well as the immediate treatment of any emergency may be caused by fractures water pipelines, especially as the summer multiplies the consumption of good water
To drink.
He added that the municipal departments will distribute garbage bags to citizens and shops as well as restaurants that have been granted licenses to sell food and drink, as well as the distribution of containers meters on the main streets to reduce the spread of waste at random, as well as maintenance of carrots and medium, d
URGENT Official statistics of the number of seats winning lists in the elections
Date of release: 2018/5/19 3:39 • 1720 times read
(Baghdad: Al Furat News) The Electoral Commission announced on Saturday the final results of the elections, noting that it received 1416 complaints in the results, including 33 red.
Al-Fateh alliance won 44 seats, Al-Nasr coalition won 42 seats, State of Law coalition 26 seats, Kurdistan Democratic Party 25 seats, National coalition 21 seats and National Wisdom stream 20 seats.
These leading lists of results constitute a total of 232 seats out of 329 seats in the new House of Representatives.
The rest of the seats were divided between lists and other entities, some of which were small and had one seat.
The commission said in a press conference at midnight on Saturday that the distribution of votes in Baghdad was as follows: 17 seats, 9 seats, 9 seats, 8 seats, 8 seats, 4 seats. Baghdad 4, Biyarek Al-Khair 2, Tamdun 1, Democratic Civil Alliance 1, Civil Party 1, Irada Movement 1, Competencies for Zero Change.
In Karbala, each of the Fatah and the Allawi Alliance won 3 seats each, followed by the victory coalition and the coalition of law with two seats for each of them, and then the stream of wisdom with one seat.
Dohuk: The Kurdistan Democratic Party won 10 seats, while the Kurdistan Islamic Union won one seat.
Al-Muthanna Province: Suron gets 2 seats, Conquest 2 seats, Victory 1, Wisdom 1, State Law 1
Erbil: KDP gets 8 seats, PUK 2 seat, new generation 2, Alliance for Democracy and Justice 1, change 1, Jemaah Islamiah 1.
Dhi Qar: Suron gets seats 6, conquest 5, law 3, victory 3, wisdom 2.
Distribution of Seats in Babil Province: Conquest Seats 4, Suron 4, Victory 3,, Wisdom 3, Law 3, Competencies for Change 1.
Distribution of seats in Wasit Governorate: 3 seats, Al Fateh 2, Al Nasr 2, Al Hikma 2, Law 1, Competencies 1.
Distribution of seats in the province of Salah al-Din: the castle of the national masses 3 seats, Fath 2, National 2, Victory 2, Alliance Resolution 2, Saladin our identity 1
Distribution of seats in Sulaymaniyah Governorate: National Union 8, Change 4, New Generation 2, JI 1, Kurdistan Democratic Party 1, Coalition for Democracy and Justice 1, Kurdistan Islamic Union 1.
Distribution of seats in the province of Diwaniya: Al-Fateh 3 seats, Suron 3, Victory 2, Law 1, Wisdom 1, Will 1.
Distribution of seats in the province of Basra: Fath 6, Surson 5, Victory 5, State Law 4, Wisdom 2, the gathering of the men of Iraq 1, the movement of Irada 1, National 1.
The distribution of seats in Nineveh governorate: victory 7, Democratic Party 6, National 4, Nineveh our identity 3, Fatah 3, Resolution 3, National masses 2, Democratic approach 1, National Union 1, Tamdan 1, Qusay Abbas network, Babylon 1.
Distribution of seats in Diyala Governorate: Al Fateh 3, Resolution 3, National 3, Suron 2, Victory 1, Wisdom 1, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan 1.
Distribution of seats in the province of Najaf: Saron 4, Al Fath 3, Al Nasr 3, Hikma 1, Law 1
Distribution of seats in the province of Maysan: Surson 5, Fath 2, Hikma 1, Victory 1, Law 1.
Distribution of seats in Anbar province: Anbar Our identity 6, National 3, Resolution 2, passing 2, Victory 2.
Distribution of seats in the province of Kirkuk: the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan 6 seats, the Arab Alliance 3, Turkoman Front Kirkuk 3 seats. is ove
These leading lists of results constitute a total of 232 seats out of 329 seats in the new House of Representatives.
The rest of the seats were divided between lists and other entities, some of which were small and had one seat.
The commission said in a press conference at midnight on Saturday that the distribution of votes in Baghdad was as follows: 17 seats, 9 seats, 9 seats, 8 seats, 8 seats, 4 seats. Baghdad 4, Biyarek Al-Khair 2, Tamdun 1, Democratic Civil Alliance 1, Civil Party 1, Irada Movement 1, Competencies for Zero Change.
In Karbala, each of the Fatah and the Allawi Alliance won 3 seats each, followed by the victory coalition and the coalition of law with two seats for each of them, and then the stream of wisdom with one seat.
Dohuk: The Kurdistan Democratic Party won 10 seats, while the Kurdistan Islamic Union won one seat.
Al-Muthanna Province: Suron gets 2 seats, Conquest 2 seats, Victory 1, Wisdom 1, State Law 1
Erbil: KDP gets 8 seats, PUK 2 seat, new generation 2, Alliance for Democracy and Justice 1, change 1, Jemaah Islamiah 1.
Dhi Qar: Suron gets seats 6, conquest 5, law 3, victory 3, wisdom 2.
Distribution of Seats in Babil Province: Conquest Seats 4, Suron 4, Victory 3,, Wisdom 3, Law 3, Competencies for Change 1.
Distribution of seats in Wasit Governorate: 3 seats, Al Fateh 2, Al Nasr 2, Al Hikma 2, Law 1, Competencies 1.
Distribution of seats in the province of Salah al-Din: the castle of the national masses 3 seats, Fath 2, National 2, Victory 2, Alliance Resolution 2, Saladin our identity 1
Distribution of seats in Sulaymaniyah Governorate: National Union 8, Change 4, New Generation 2, JI 1, Kurdistan Democratic Party 1, Coalition for Democracy and Justice 1, Kurdistan Islamic Union 1.
Distribution of seats in the province of Diwaniya: Al-Fateh 3 seats, Suron 3, Victory 2, Law 1, Wisdom 1, Will 1.
Distribution of seats in the province of Basra: Fath 6, Surson 5, Victory 5, State Law 4, Wisdom 2, the gathering of the men of Iraq 1, the movement of Irada 1, National 1.
The distribution of seats in Nineveh governorate: victory 7, Democratic Party 6, National 4, Nineveh our identity 3, Fatah 3, Resolution 3, National masses 2, Democratic approach 1, National Union 1, Tamdan 1, Qusay Abbas network, Babylon 1.
Distribution of seats in Diyala Governorate: Al Fateh 3, Resolution 3, National 3, Suron 2, Victory 1, Wisdom 1, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan 1.
Distribution of seats in the province of Najaf: Saron 4, Al Fath 3, Al Nasr 3, Hikma 1, Law 1
Distribution of seats in the province of Maysan: Surson 5, Fath 2, Hikma 1, Victory 1, Law 1.
Distribution of seats in Anbar province: Anbar Our identity 6, National 3, Resolution 2, passing 2, Victory 2.
Distribution of seats in the province of Kirkuk: the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan 6 seats, the Arab Alliance 3, Turkoman Front Kirkuk 3 seats. is ove
Abadi calls for the formation of a "strong" government away from the quota and hopes that the parliament will not become "cells"
(Independent) ... The Prime Minister Haider Abadi on Friday, the political blocs to form a government "strong" away from the sectarian, national and party quotas, expressing his hope that the House of Representatives will not be a new session "Khannat."
"Our vision for the next stage is the need for cooperation among the political blocs that won the elections to form a government representing the country. This government must be a strong government that works to fight corruption and avoid sectarian, sectarian and partisan quotas," Abadi wrote on his website in Twitter. , And we want this approach to be a work method. "
He added that "there are those who want to form a Shiite bloc or a Sunni bloc, and we rejected this trend, because they want to continue their corruption and speak on behalf of the component or community."
"We must continue to fight corruption and establish this success in forming the next government, and I hope that the House of Representatives will not turn into Khannat," he said. (End) r
Post-election negotiations reveal a lack of trust among political partners
Baghdad - The winning lists in the Iraqi general elections, which took place on 12 of this month, formed their negotiating delegations in preparation for a difficult phase of meetings and lengthy meetings to agree on sharing the details of the new ministry, starting with the post of prime minister, Sensitive Circuits.
The composition of the negotiating delegations reflects a complete lack of trust among the political partners on the same list, each insisting on ensuring that he is represented at the negotiating table to obtain his full share of the cake of the new Government.
Each list consists of a number of political forces and parties, or personalities who have previously worked in parties that split from them later.
According to information revealed by well-informed Iraqi figures, each winning list has struggled to form a negotiating delegation with other lists, given the desire of all components of the same list to attend negotiations to guarantee their rights.
The names of the members of these delegations, which were seen by the "Arabs", revealed the insistence of some lists on the use of old faces that they used to rely on, while it was clear the size of the change brought about by the 2018 elections in Iraq, through the faces of intervention for the first time the hallways of negotiations of this kind.
Iraqi observers believe that although the majority of the Iraqi people have boycotted the elections, the parties find it their right to have a share of the state that will be rebuilt again under a quota system that includes not only the government and the major sovereign positions, but also the smallest administrative posts.
"We can conclude from the negotiations that all hopes of change may evaporate if Sadr and Abadi are forced to agree to the state and government's redistribution according to the quota system, which would keep the lid on corruption," said an Iraqi observer for the Arabs.
The observer considered that if things go this way, the results will result in the survival of Iraq failed state, which will support the point of view of the boycotters that confirm that the rescue can not be emitted from within the current political process.
Although the negotiating delegation for the Sawsan list, which includes a mix of religious, communist and liberal forces, and supported by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, included prominent Communist Party leader Jassim al-Hilfi, Sadr was keen to ensure his party's preference by nominating two of his closest associates The members of the negotiating delegation are Walid al-Kirmawi and Kazem al-Issawi, as well as Hassan al-Akoli, the leader of the Sadrist Party of the Sadrist movement.
Sadr's list won the most seats in Iraq, and negotiations on forming a government began quickly.
Sadr received at his headquarters in Najaf on Thursday, the leader of the wisdom movement, Ammar al-Hakim, to discuss the path of alliances. The two leaders announced that they began to communicate with other parties, to form the largest parliamentary bloc, which monopolizes, according to Iraqi law, the right to propose a candidate to form a government.
The negotiating delegation formed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to represent his victory coalition in the negotiations reflects a combination of a special kind dominated by the nature of military and security work
The Fatah list, which includes representatives of Iraqi armed factions subordinate to Iran, has formed a negotiating delegation that reflects its internal structure, but points to a complete lack of trust among its components.
The former Iraqi deputy in parliament, who has close ties with the commander of the Quds Force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Qassem Soleimani, paid Ahmad al-Asadi, the leader of the so-called Islamic Movement in Iraq, to the delegation. The leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq Qais Khazali, the winning candidate for the elections, Naim Aboudi, for the same task, while Hadi al-Amiri, his deputy in the leadership of the "Badr", Abdul Karim al-Ansari, to represent him in the negotiating delegation.
Although all the prominent leaders of the Supreme Islamic Council failed to reach parliament, including its leader Hamam Hamoudi, he insisted on nominating a member of the Fatah negotiating delegation, Abu Jihad al-Hashemi, to guarantee the rights of 3 seats to the council, "Quota" which requires the list to hold 25 percent of the number of seats won by women.
The negotiating delegation, formed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, to represent the victory coalition he leads in the negotiations, reflects a combination of a special kind, dominated by the nature of military and security work.
With the exception of General Ali al-'Aalak, three members of the "victory" negotiating team currently or previously occupy sensitive military and security positions. They are former defense minister Khalid al-Obeidi, intelligence chief Mustafa al-Kazimi and national security adviser Faleh al-Fayadh. The delegation, a veteran Iraqi economist Nofal al-Hassan, as the actual director of the Prime Minister's Office, and his own functional arm.
The coalition of state law formed a negotiating delegation dominated by Nuri al-Maliki's advisors, Hasan al-Sunaid and Sami al-Askari, while the strong political face was joined by Mohammed Shi'a al-Sudani, who is nominated by the Shiite community for the post of prime minister at the current session or the next.
The delegation of negotiations formed by Ammar al-Hakim to represent the stream of wisdom, to include new or young political faces, such as Salah al-Arabawi, Fadi al-Shammari and Ahmad al-Fatlawi.
These delegations will engage in negotiations that may last months, to agree on candidates for all executive executive positions, according to a formula based on the distribution of quotas on the communities and nationalities, according to the number of seats in parliament.
According to preliminary indicators and understandings, it is possible to talk about an alliance that includes Sadr, Hakim and Abadi, likely to be joined by Sunni and Kurdish parties, to form the parliamentary majority, with ambiguity about the candidate for the new prime minister. Four more years.
Kauaihn Iraq Articles:ddd
EU Moves to Block US Sanctions Against Iran
Saturday, May 19, 2018
The European Commission said in a statement it had launched the formal process to activate the Blocking Statute by updating the list of US sanctions on Iran falling within its scope
The Blocking Statute forbids EU companies from complying with the extraterritorial effects of US sanctions, allows companies to recover damages arising from such sanctions from the person causing them, and nullifies the effect in the EU of any foreign cou
T he European Commission said on Friday it had started the process of renewing a sanctions-blocking measure to protect European businesses in Iran, after the United States pulled out of the Iran nuclear accord and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.
The commission said in a statement it had “launched the formal process to activate the Blocking Statute by updating the list of US sanctions on Iran falling within its scope”, referring to an EU regulation from 1996.
According to the European Commission's Friday press release, the Blocking Statute forbids EU companies from complying with the extraterritorial effects of US sanctions, allows companies to recover damages arising from such sanctions from the person causing them, and nullifies the effect in the EU of any foreign court judgments based on them.
The aim is to have the measure in force before 6 August 2018, when the first batch of US sanctions take effect. It was developed when the United States tried to penalize foreign companies trading with Cuba in the 1990s, but has never been formally implemented.
EU officials say they are revamping the blocking statute to encompass US President Donald Trump’s May 8 decision to revive Iran-related sanctions, after the expiry of 90- and 180-day wind-down periods, including sanctions aimed at Iran’s lifeblood oil sector and transactions with its central bank.
The commission said the EU measure would come into force within two months, unless the European Parliament and EU governments formally reject it, but that it could also be activated sooner if there was strong political support.
Once Iran’s top trading partner and its second-biggest oil customer, the EU has sought to pour hundreds of billions of euros into the Islamic Republic since the bloc, along with the United Nations and United States, lifted blanket economic sanctions in 2016 that had hurt the Iranian economy.
Iran’s exports of mainly fuel and other energy products to the EU in 2016 jumped 344% to €5.5 billion compared with the previous year.
EU investment in Iran, mainly from Germany, France and Italy, has jumped to more than €20 billion since 2016, in projects ranging from aerospace to energy.
> Acting on 4 Fronts
Apart from having launched the formal process to activate the Blocking Statute, the European Commission said on Friday it acted on three other fronts as follows:
- It launched the formal process to remove obstacles for the European Investment Bank to decide under the EU budget guarantee to finance activities outside the European Union in Iran. This will allow EIB to support EU investment in Iran and could be useful in particular for small- and medium-sized enterprises. All relevant rules and procedures will apply to individual financial operations.
The European Parliament and council will have a period of two months to object to these measures, once proposed, before they enter into force. This period can be shorter if both institutions signal their non-objection before the end of the period. The processes can be ended if political circumstances no longer justify the adoption of the measures.
- As confidence-building measures, the commission will continue and strengthen the ongoing sectoral cooperation with, and assistance to, Iran, including in the energy sector and with regard to small and medium-sized companies. As a first step, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Canete will travel to Tehran already this weekend. Financial assistance through the Development Cooperation or Partnership Instruments will also be mobilized.
- The commission is encouraging member states to explore the possibility of one-off bank transfers to the Central Bank of Iran. This approach could help Iranian authorities to receive their oil-related revenues, particularly in case of US sanctions that could target EU entities active in oil transactions with Iran.
> 9-Point Economic Plan
The European Union on Tuesday launched work on a nine-point economic plan to keep the Iran nuclear deal alive after the abrupt withdrawal of the United States.
Europe is scrambling to come up with ways to persuade Iran to stick with the landmark 2015 agreement despite US President Donald Trump ditching it a week ago, AFP reported.
Tehran has warned it is prepared to resume "industrial-scale" uranium enrichment "without any restrictions" unless Europe can provide solid guarantees that it can maintain the economic benefits it gained from the nuclear agreement despite Washington reimposing sanctions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, and his counterparts from Britain, France and Germany—the three European signatories to the pact—in Brussels on the last leg of a whirlwind diplomatic tour that also took in Russia and China, the two other signatory nations.
Mogherini said EU experts were aiming to come up with concrete proposals in the coming weeks on nine key issues, including ensuring Iran could sell its oil and gas products and have access to international finance.
"I believe it's a good start. We're not there; we're beginning the process," Zarif told reporters after the talks.
But he warned that Tehran expected to see progress towards the guarantees it wants "within the next few weeks".
Mogherini acknowledged the enormous challenge of finding a way around US sanctions punishing businesses trading with Iran, which apply all around the world.
"We know it's a difficult task but we are determined to do it and we have started to work to put in place measures that help ensure this happens," she told reporters.
"EU experts have already started work on measures to get around US sanctions on Iran."
Their efforts, according to European External Action Service, focus on nine key areas as follow:
- Maintaining and deepening economic relations with Iran;
- The continued sale of Iran's oil and gas condensate products, petrochemicals and related transfers;
- Effective banking transactions with Iran;
- Continued sea, land, air and rail transportation relations with Iran;
- The further provision of export credit and development of special purpose vehicles in financial banking, insurance and trade areas;
- The further development and implementation of memoranda of understanding and contracts between European companies and Iranian counterparts;
- Further investments in Iran;
- The protection of EU economic operators and ensuring legal certainty;
- Further development of a transparent, rules-based business environment in Iran.
DNO Contemplates New Bond Issue
Iraq, May 19, 2018
DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas company with operations in Iraqi Kurdistan, is contemplating the issuance of a new, five-year senior unsecured bond with a minimum size of USD 400 million through a private placement.
The coupon rate and the issue size will be determined during the accelerated book building commencing today.
The net proceeds from the contemplated bond issue will be used towards the refinancing of DNO’s existing DNO01 bond (ISIN NO 0010740392) and for general corporate purposes.
Existing DNO01 bondholders that participate in the contemplated new bond issue will be given the opportunity to offer part or all of their DNO01 bonds at 103.25 percent of par plus accrued interest at settlement of the contemplated new bond issue.
Pareto Securities AS is acting as lead manager and bookrunner with Danske Bank and SpareBank 1 Markets AS acting as co-managers and bookrunners.
iraq-businessnews
Total: $100 Oil Price Likely
Saturday, May 19, 2018
T he potential loss of 1 million barrels of Iranian crude from the world market and the ongoing decline of Venezuela's oil sector could push oil prices beyond $100 per barrel, Patrick Pouyanne, the chairman and CEO of French oil major Total, said on Thursday.
"I would not be surprised to see $100 per barrel in the coming months," Pouyanne said during an appearance at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), one of the world's biggest commodity exchanges, traded Thursday July Brent as high as $80.18 per barrel, the first time prompt Brent has been above $80 per barrel since November 2014.
Crude futures have backed off from intraday highs during early US trading hours, but remain higher day on day.
ICE July Brent was 63 cents higher at $79.91 per barrel. NYMEX June crude was 41 cents higher at $71.90 per barrel. Brent prices have not been above $100 per barrel since September 2014.
In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, the US Energy Information Administration forecasts Brent to average $70.68 per barrel this year and $65.98 per barrel in 2019.
Pouyanne said geopolitics—particularly President Donald Trump's decision last week to withdraw the US from the Iran nuclear deal and the severe decline in Venezuelan oil output—are driving prices higher.
But, he added, he does not believe the market is near balance and, largely due to pipeline bottlenecks in the US, not enough oil is coming onto the market.
Venezuela oil production fell to 1.42 million barrels per barrel in April, down 50,000 bpd from March and down 560,000 bpd from a year earlier, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday.
In addition, as much as 1 million barrels of Iranian crude could be affected, as US sanctions on Iran are set to resume.
Total said on Wednesday it had halted plans to help develop Iran's giant South Pars Gas Field as it seeks to clarify whether the investment can avoid falling foul of returning US sanctions on Tehran.
Pouyanne said on Thursday that it was "impossible" to do business with Iran without a waiver from US sanctions since Total cannot risk losing access to the US banking system.
"This is the only way to protect us from a unilateral decision," he said.
Iranian Billet Buyers Rush to Book Before US Sanctions Take Hold
May 19, 2018
Buying activity in the Iranian export market for steel billet was lively in the week ended May 16 with customers rushing to place new orders for July-shipment material, especially those in the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
They feared that purchases with later delivery dates might be hindered by the threatened reimposition of sanctions against the Middle Eastern country after the US unilaterally reneged on an international nuclear deal it had signed with Iran and five world powers, Metal Bulletin reported.
US President Donald Trump announced his country’s withdrawal from the deal on May 8.
Companies that have dealings with Iran were allowed 90-180 days to discontinue them. At the end of this period, the US intends to reimpose its sanctions on Iran.
The US move has stirred up concerns among buyers of Iranian semi-finished steel products that the purchase of material from the country will be disrupted after July due to difficulties with banking transactions.
When the nuclear deal was first agreed in 2015, one result was that Iran was able to access the SWIFT telecommunications network that makes international banking transactions possible. Removal of this access would have significant effects on Iran’s ability to trade across borders.
“There are already almost no banks willing to work with Iran,” a trading source told Metal Bulletin.
Nevertheless, (P)GCC-based customers continued to book Iranian material this week. Several cargoes of Iran-origin billet were reported sold within the range of $490-503 per ton FOB.
Recent export billet offers from Iranian mills were heard at prices ranging from $500-510 per ton FOB.
In East and Southeast Asia, however, no billet bookings from Iran were heard done this week. South Korean customers were also refraining from deals with Iran. But some Indonesian and Thai buyers voiced their intention to continue buying from Iran because they do not have any links to the US.
Indonesian customers are currently only willing to accept the prices asked for Iranian material because products from other origins are too expensive.
Metal Bulletin’s weekly price assessment for Iranian billet exports was $490-503 per ton FOB on May 16, up from $495-505 per ton FOB a week earlier.
And the assessment for Iranian steel slab exports was $520-530 per ton FOB on May 16, against $535-540 per ton FOB a week earlier.
A 50,000-tonn cargo of Iranian slab was heard sold to Thailand within the range of $520-525 per ton FOB, but this information could not be confirmed at the time of publication.
Iran’s largest slab supplier, Mobarakeh Steel Company, has opened a slab tender expected to be closed on Friday. Recent offers from the mill were heard at $530 per ton FOB.
Market participants, however, did not expect transaction prices to exceed $520 per ton FOB because the material “has been overpriced recently and is softening now”.
Iranian Merchants' Forex Purchase Orders Double
May 19, 2018
Purchase orders by merchants from the start of the current Iranian year (March 21) until May 16 has doubled compared with the corresponding period of last year, the vice president for administrative and recruitment affairs said.
According to Jamshid Ansari, purchase orders during the period have been worth $9.8 billion, marking a twofold increase from the previous year.
"Besides the rise in purchase orders, the government has also paid special attention to essential goods for public consumption and this year more than $1.7 billion have been allocated for such goods," Ansari was also quoted as saying by IBENA.
After the unification of the US dollar's exchange rate on April 9, the government has capped the amount for essential goods allocation with subsidized rates at 30 trillion rials ($714 million).
The list of essential goods includes medicine, corn, oilseeds, cattle and poultry vaccines, livestock and pesticides.
Paper, raw material for paper and milk powder are other goods that will receive the greenback at the rate of 42,000 rials.
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“I’m very good at making money, but I’m no good at saving money,” she says. Read the full story
7 signs you could end up a millionaire
Here's how to know if you're on the right track to reach seven figures.
OIL/COMMODITIES/ENERGY
Gold Dips on Stronger Bond YieldsInvesting.com
© Reuters. Gold dipped on Friday. Read the full story
Gold prices fall as dollar hits fresh peak; rebound seen
Gold prices edged down to near their lowest levels this year, pressured by a firm U.S. dollar amid surging U.S. Treasury yields.
Oil Prices Firm Amid Bullish Factors, Holding Solid Weekly Gain
Investing.com
© Reuters. Oil prices head for weekly gains with U.S. shale production on tap Read the full story
Oil prices steady; Brent on pace for sixth week of gains as Iran sanctions loom
Brent was boosted by strong demand, looming sanctions on Iran, plummeting Venezuelan production and Nigerian disruption.
What is the perfect price for oil?
CNN Money
Producer and consumers may disagree. But analysts say the oil price was near perfect earlier this year. Read the full story
BANKS/BANKING/CREDIT
Wells Fargo employees changed customer information on documents: reportFox News
Employees in a unit of the bank are said to have changed personal information, like birth dates, as they were faced with regulatory deadlines. Read the full story
Deutsche Bank's cost-cutting is so savage that it's even stopped buying fruit for its staff
Business Insider
Deutsche Bank has reportedly stopped buying fresh fruit for staff as part of a drive to cut costs. A memo reported by the Financial Times says a decision was made by Deutsche's "cost catalyst steering committee" to remove the perceived unnecessary cost. The bank, which appointed a new CEO in April, is cutting back aggressively in numerous areas of its business after several hard years. Deutsche Bank's latest cost-cutting measure is to reportedly stop buying fresh fruit for staff. According to Read the full story
Philly Fed Index Rises Higher Than Expected in May
Investing.com
© Reuters. The Philly Fed Index rose in May. Read the full story
The Era of Low Mortgage Rates Is Over
The Wall Street Journal
Mortgage rates this week jumped to their highest level since 2011, signaling a shift from a period of ultra-cheap loans to a higher-rate environment that could slow home price appreciation and squeeze first-time buyers. Read the full story
EU considers Iran central bank transfers to beat U.S. sanctions
Reuters
The European Commission is proposing that EU governments make direct money transfers to Iran's central bank to avoid U.S. penalties, an EU official said, in what would be the most forthright challenge to Washington's newly reimposed sanctions. Read the full story
TREASURIES/BONDS/STOCKS
Bonds are way oversold at this point, market watcher says. Here’s what that means
CNBC
CNBC
As bond yields take off racing again, prices now look very oversold, says Larry McDonald, editor of the Bear Traps Report. Read the full story
Fed is ‘one decision away’ from hammering Treasurys, says bond fund manager
MarketWatch
Investors in U.S. government could face some serious pain if the Federal Reserve makes moves to steepen the so-called yield curve. Read the full story
Top 5 Things to Know in the Market on Friday
Investing.com
© Reuters. 5 key factors for the markets on Friday Read the full story
Day Ahead: Top 3 Things to Watch
Investing.com
© Reuters. What to watch out for in tomorrow's session Read the full story
Pope has previously criticized ‘absolute power’ of finance
Warren Buffett once called them “financial weapons of mass destruction.” Now Pope Francis, of all people, is taking aim at derivatives.
http://www.afr.com/markets/
US yields fall back after climbing to fresh seven-year peak
The yield on U.S. 10-year sovereign debt fell back Friday morning but remained within touching distance of seven-year highs.
CRYPTO'S / DIGITAL CURRENCY
Crypto investor names his favorite — and least favorite — digital currencies
CNBC
CNBC
Cryptocurrency investor Ran Neu-Ner, founder of Onchain Capital and host of CNBC Africa's "Crypto Trader," offered tips to "Fast Money" traders on Thursday. Read the full story
Cryptocurrency Market Needs Fixes To Attract Institutional Investors
Investing.com
Stock Markets May 18, 2018 12:48 GMT Investing.com - Institutional investors see great opportunities in the cryptocurrency market but are reluctant to invest because of key trading risk issues, according to a research firm report. Tabb Group says institutional players, such as hedge funds and pension funds, are holding back because of a lack of regulatory clarity, universal, reliable data and adequate market infrastructure. Tabb expects some of this to change soon because specialty firms are Read the full story
A floating Pacific island is in the works with its own government, cryptocurrency and 300 houses
The Floating Island Project is a pilot program in partnership with the government of French Polynesia, which will see 300 homes built on an island that runs under its own governance, using a cryptocurrency called Varyon.
Bitcoin Hits One-Month Low As $10K Sell-Off Resumes
CoinDesk
Bitcoin's drop to one-month lows has bolstered the already bearish technical setup. Read the full story
Term Sheet -- Friday, May 18
FORTUNE
SECURITY TOKENS One of the major topics of discussion in cryptocurrency at the moment is around the emergency of security tokens. Security tokens are are backed by real assets such as equity, LP shares, or commodities. They are also subject to federal security regulations. Blockchain Capital conducted one of the first security token offerings last year when it raised capital for its third fund. A new NYC-based venture capital platform announced a tokenized venture fund this week. J.P. Morgan’s Read the full story
CURRENCIES
Dollar and oil pause ascent, bonds and gold lick woundsReuters
Calm returned to world markets on Friday after a rollercoaster week that has seen oil break $80 a barrel, government borrowing costs jump and emerging markets battered by a pumped-up dollar. Read the full story
Forex- U.S. Dollar Struggles For Direction
Investing.com
© Reuters. The dollar remained near a five-month high on Friday. Read the full story
Forex - Dollar Hovering Near 5-Month Highs as Treasury Yields Support
Investing.com
© Reuters. Dollar hovering near 5-month highs as Treasury yields support Read the full story
Euro headed for fifth successive weekly decline as Italy concerns persist
The euro headed for its fifth successive weekly decline versus the dollar, in what would be a first for the currency since 2015.
More pain could be in the works for the Indian rupee and Indonesian rupiah
CNBC
Emerging market currencies are likely to feel the pressure amid the broader move higher in U.S. bond yields, a Deutsche Bank economist said. Read the full story
INSURANCE / HEALTH
How antidepressant withdrawal 'can trap people'
CNN
CNN
Psychiatrist Dr Allen Frances argues when people face "mild, transient depression," antidepressants shouldn't become "a way of treating the aches and pains of everyday life." Read the full story
Being Socially Isolated for Long Periods of Time Reshapes Brain Chemistry
Inverse
Mice that experience chronic isolation show elevated levels of certain brain chemicals. These chemicals are associated with increased anxiety and aggressive responses to threats. Scientists found that when they blocked these chemicals, the signs of stress from isolation didn't occur. Read the full story
Obamacare Premiums Will Be Way Higher Next Year. They Didn't Have To Be.
HuffPost
If you buy your own health insurance, gird yourself for another round of big ... Read the full story
Kiss Your Extra Pounds Goodbye, Because This Workout Is Gonna Get Rid of Them For Good
POPSUGAR
Belly fat might be the most stubborn fat of all. How can you beat it? There are a lot of reasons you may have a few more pounds around your middle than you'd like, but the key to beating it is consistent, smart training and nutrition. We reached out to Sarah Chadwell, NASM, CPT, and natural bikini c ... Read the full story
There’s even more evidence to suggest you shouldn’t only be counting calories to prevent weight gain and disease
Business Insider
A healthy diet is based on more than just energy balance. Shutterstock/j.chizhe New research has concluded that some calories are more harmful than others. This reinforces the idea that what you're eating is just as important, if not more important than, how much of it you're eating. The study found that drinking sugar-sweetened drinks increases your risk factor of obesity-related diseases compared to eating the caloric equivalent of starch. The researchers also found that aspartame (an Read the full story
The U.S. Has Approved the 1st Drug Developed to Prevent Chronic Migraines
TIME
Aimovig is the first in a new class of long-acting drugs for preventing migraines Read the full story
USA/CANADA
U.S. Jobless Claims Rise By 11,000 in Latest Week
Investing.com
Investing.com
© Reuters. U.S. jobless claims rise to 222,000 vs. 215,000 forecast Read the full story
Economy is surging in US, markets are robust: CalPERS CIO
Fox News
CalPERS CIO Ted Eliopoulos on the state of the markets and economy, the launch of two new private-equity funds and CalPERS' overall investing strategy. Read the full story
Canadian Annual Inflation 2.2% in April
Investing.com
Canada CPI advances 2.2%, missing forecasts for annual inflation to remain steady at 2.3% Read the full story
EMERGING MARKETS
Hedge Fund Narrows Emerging-Market Bets, Focuses On Brazil
Investor's Business Daily
Investor's Business Daily
Beggars can't be choosers. But if you're the world's richest hedge fund right now, you need to be as picky as possible. Bridgewater Associates, the $160 billion hedge fund firm run by billionaire Ray Dalio, refined its bets on emerging markets in the first quarter, pulling cash out of three broad-based exchanged traded funds and... Read the full story
Exclusive: Korea's Mirae puts towers up for sale as Sao Paulo market heats up
Reuters
Mirae Asset Global Investments Co Ltd has put two office towers in Sao Paulo worth around 1 billion reais ($272 million) up for sale, three people familiar with the matter said, as South America's largest real estate market kicks into gear. Read the full story
Venezuela’s Maduro seeks fresh mandate amid unprecedented social and economic crises
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is poised to win re-election on Sunday, despite widespread anger over the country's crushing economic crisis.
Why Venezuela's crisis could send oil prices above $100 a barrel
Yahoo Finance
The economic and political crisis that has gripped Venezuela has played a big part in the rise of oil prices to recent highs and there's no sign of relief on the way. Read the full story
MIDDLE EAST
During wait for Iraqi election results, political blocs scramble for influence
Israel vilified at UN for Gaza killings, but backed by USNew York Post
GENEVA — Israel was sharply criticized at a UN human rights body Friday for its killings of protesters in Gaza and treatment of the Palestinians, but Washington came to its defense. The special session of the Human Rights Council was convened after the bloodiest day for Palestinians in years last Monday, when 60 were killed by Israeli gunfire during demonstrations that Israel said included attempts to breach its frontier fence. “Nobody has been made safer by the horrific events of the past week, Read the full story
The EU is trying to fight Trump on Iran sanctions, but European businesses are already fleeing
VICE
"We have the duty to protect European companies." Read the full story
Europe sticks its thumb in Trump's eye
CNN
At a time when Donald Trump would seem to need every friend he can get, he is finding very few indeed, David A. Andelman says. Read the full story
AFRICA
Expected LNG surplus evaporates, scramble for new projects looms: RussellFurtherAfrica
Liquefied natural gas (LNG)producers around the globe are once again considering new investments as expectations of a glut in supply wither away inthe face of strong, China-led demand growth in Asia. Read the full story
RioZim evaluating bids for investors in Zimbabwe power plant
FurtherAfrica
Zimbabwean miner RioZim Ltd. is evaluating proposals from six companies to participate in its $1.2 billion power project, as the nation enjoys a return of foreign-investor attention under President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Read the full story
Zimbabwe lithium projects face funding hurdle
Source
VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe has a small window of up to 24 months to start producing battery grade lithium and ride the wave of high prices, miners said on Thursday, but the country’s high political risk made financing projects difficult. Since the fall of Robert Mugabe after a de facto military coup last November,... Read the full story
Zimbabwe: Continental Bank Pledges U.S.$50 Million Loan for Companies
AllAfrica
The African Development Bank (AfDB) says it is ready to extend up to US$50 million in loans this year to Zimbabwe's private sector amid ongoing negotiations with the government to settle its US$600 million arrears to the lender before it can resume accessing fresh capital. Though Zimbabwe's external debt soared 3% to US$11,6 billion last year, AfDB has not withdrawn funding to the country's private sector, extending US$25 million to the Central Africa Building Society (Cabs) earlier this year. Read the full story
Zimbabwe: Vendors Union Slates 'Selfish Opposition'
AllAfrica
The National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (Navuz) yesterday savaged opposition political parties, branding them hypocrites of the highest order fighting Government for personal benefit. Navuz president Mr Stan Zvorwadza, a known Government critic, yesterday said opposition parties were bitter that they were left out of the new Government after Operation Restore Legacy. He said their bitterness was driven by a self-enrichment mentality and not a desire to work for the people. Addressing stakeholders Read the full story
South Africa: Without Govt Support, Farmers Need More Land to Be Competitive - Experts
AllAfrica
With insufficient government funding to support the agriculture sector, farmers have no choice but to acquire bigger farms to be competitive in the market, experts say. This makes it increasingly difficult for smaller farmers to be profitable and participate in the sector. A panel of experts were discussing the economy of scale in the agriculture sector at a Nation in Conversation event at the Nampo Harvest Day in Bothaville. "In 1998, roughly 60% of farms were at the scale of around 800ha. As Read the full story
South Africa: Free Higher Education an Opportunity for Change and Empowerment - Pandor
AllAfrica
Fully subsidised bursaries for students from poor and working-class backgrounds present an opportunity for all South African universities and colleges to be at the forefront of change and empowerment, Higher Education and Training Minister Naledi Pandor said on Thursday as she introduced her department's budget to Parliament. "Our universities and TVET (technical vocational education and training) colleges can ensure we overcome the legacy of the past and create a much more equal, empowered and Read the full story
South Africa: Listeriosis Cases On the Decline
AllAfrica
While the number of listeriosis cases has declined since the source was discovered, production at implicated factories is still on pause as an extensive revision of production processes and safety procedures is conducted. In March Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced that the source of the outbreak of listeriosis was traced to an Enterprise facility in Limpopo and that production at the factory had been halted and a nationwide recall of its food products rolled out. According to the Read the full story
In Congo outbreak, Ebola vaccine faces reality tests
Reuters
An experimental Ebola vaccine to be deployed in an outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo has conquered some major scientific hurdles in giving high protection, but it now faces extreme real-world tests including heat, humidity, language barriers and lack of roads. Read the full story
ASIA
A ‘double whammy’ is staring Asian markets in the face this yearCNBC
As oil proves resilient around 2014 highs, experts warn that a sustained uptick in energy prices could upset the fundamental growth story that has supported market sentiment in Asia. Read the full story
As U.S. Investors Get Access to China A Shares, Beware of Differences
Barron's
Focus on Funds The MSCI will add 233 China mainland-listed shares to its MSCI Emerging Markets index in June. Though the A shares will amount to a smaller-than-1% weighting in the broader index, it still marks a big move: U.S. investors will now have access to a previously restricted market with a wider array of stocks than the Chinese stocks traded in the U.S. or in Hong Kong that fill most of their portfolios. But it comes with its own risks. If all the A-shares stocks were eventually included Read the full story
All signs point to an impending economic slowdown in China
South China Morning Post
Retail, property and fixed-asset investment growth have slowed down this year, while worsening trade ties with the US could weigh down the economy further Read the full story
China says it hasn't offered Trump a $200 billion trade surplus cut
A ministry spokesman said that the claims were not true while speaking at a daily news briefing about the ongoing trade talks between the world's two largest economies, according to Reuters.
Asia is now home to more billionaires than North America
The number of billionaires in Asia grew by almost a third last year, Wealth-X's new study found.
EUROPE
Macedonia, Greece Close to Ending Decades-Old Dispute Over Name
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
Greece and its neighbor, Macedonia, are close to resolving a decades-old dispute that has prevented the small Balkan country from joining the European Union, creating a rare bright spot in a region where hopes of joining the bloc remain largely on hold. Read the full story
Italy anti-system parties to boost spending, seek review of EU rules
Reuters
Italy's two anti-establishment parties on Friday promised to ramp up spending in a program for a new coalition government, putting them on a collision course with the European Union despite watering down some of their most radical proposals. Read the full story
League, 5-Star publish government pact, put Italy on collision course with EU
Reuters
The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and far-right League on Friday published their joint government program, promising a major spending spree that will likely put Italy on a collision course with the European Union. Read the full story
Clock ticking on post-Brexit flights - EU official
Reuters
There is still a possibility that flights will not be able to take place the day after Britain's planned departure from the European Union next year, an EU official said on Friday. Read the full story
CBI, ISX and Kauaihn Chatter:
CBI Update:
Closed on Saturday
ISX Update:
Closed on Saturday
5-19-2018 Newshound Guru Walkingstick Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's bloc wins Iraq election.
5-18-2018 Newshound Guru Kaperoni We all would like to see change sooner than later. The fact is Iraq does nothing fast. At best this fall we could see Article VIII, but I do not expect a significant increase in the exchange rate for several months. Investors are not chomping at the bit to come to Iraq, yet... Remember if Iraq were to raise the value of their currency it is not a random act. It is a reaction to inflationary pressure created by large sums of capital flowing through the Capital Account.
5-18-2018 Newshound Guru MilitiaMan Article: "The Central Bank prevents the entry of an Iraqi bank from the auction of currency after a US decision" Quotes: "The Central Bank of Iraq decided to stop the Islamic Bank of Iraq after the decision of the US Treasury Board." "As the country's nominal bank and its chairman [Aaras Habib Abdul Karim] are listed on the [US Assets Control Bureau] list and based on international agreements [OFAC]" Kinda Boxed em in...Wait or should I say out? ...Once on the OFAC list it has lasting repercussions that are not easy to undo. We all know where Iraq was in time past and yes On the OFAC list, to be no longer.. It took time, security and stability to do that...imo. Yes a very good thing and all part of the squeeze play we see now...imo.
5-18-2018 Newshound Guru MilitiaMan Article: "The Central Bank prevents the entry of an Iraqi bank from the auction of currency after a US decision" Quotes: "The Central Bank of Iraq decided to stop the Islamic Bank of Iraq after the decision of the US Treasury Board." "As the country's nominal bank and its chairman [Aaras Habib Abdul Karim] are listed on the [US Assets Control Bureau] list and based on international agreements [OFAC]" Kinda Boxed em in...Wait or should I say out? ...Once on the OFAC list it has lasting repercussions that are not easy to undo. We all know where Iraq was in time past and yes On the OFAC list, to be no longer.. It took time, security and stability to do that...imo. Yes a very good thing and all part of the squeeze play we see now...imo.
5-18-2018 Newshound Guru Aggiedad77 "The Central Bank prevents the entry of an Iraqi bank from the auction of currency after a US decision" Quote: "The Central Bank of Iraq decided to stop the Islamic Bank of Iraq after the decision of the US Treasury Board." Great strength in cooperation here...at least a cooperative effort from the looks of things...and it shows how the CBI is not taking kindly to how some of these banks are funding questionable operations...under the watchful eye of the UST...good work...IMO.
5-18-2018 Newshound Guru Mnt Goat Article: "IS IRAN IS LOSING ITS INFLUENCE IN IRAQ AFTER MUQTADA AL-SADR'S ELECTION?" Folks is this not exactly what we have been waiting for. Iran’s shrinking influence in Iraq... ...If you know about Sadr’s influence and what he wants for Iraq I would not hesitate to say the elections when VERY WELL for us. We did not get al-Abadi out of the gates, but I believe he may be the nominee put forwards after all the political juggling is completed this week.
5-18-2018 Intel Guru Bruce We do have the ATM machines turned on. We have the lower denomination in there. We had proof today that the military, Kurdistan and other people in Iraq had been paid throughout the country were getting paid with the new rate. ...We still do not know the new rate. We know where the new rate is...We know it is over $4. ...we know the lower denominations are available and the people are using them, and the prices are changing and things are happening. ...we seem to be on the precipice of something major happening...I know certain banks that are lead banks such as HSBC and Wells Fargo are on high red alert to begin. ...We are in the midst of it going down. ...Our turn is coming, and I would bet our turn is coming very shortly. [post 2 of 2]
5-18-2018 Intel Guru Bruce I want to bring you some information that we call Intel that is very excited. We will start with Iraq. We found on Tuesday ...al-Sadr had sort of a majority coalition with him for the vote that took place on Saturday....Yet we also knew that Abadi still was very interested in continuing as Prime Minster of Iraq, but he needed some support ceded from al-Sadr. The deal was al-Sadr was going to do that if Abadi had the RV rate out so that everybody could see it and it was done. He had basically until today [Thursday] according to their agreement to do that. The good news is he did it. The good news is that they will go about setting up their government over the next couple of weeks...and we got this directly from Fallujah today and it was one of our contacts over there...We understand that it was a done deal and that did occur. Abadi will continue as Prime Minister. [post 1 of 2....stay tuned]
5-18-2018 Intel Guru RayRen98 Election results are expected sometime today [Thursday]. Varying reports of election percentages are being labeled as false. Abadi reportedly is NOT in the lead. Payments to the Kurds are reportedly in significant amounts. The Central bank of Iraq signs a MOU with VISA International. Abadi alliance and Sadr alliance are expected to join together. Parliament is holding a special meeting on Saturday to discuss their disfavor with the election results. Hmmmmmm?
5-18-2018 Newshound Guru Mnt Goat Article: "IS IRAN IS LOSING ITS INFLUENCE IN IRAQ AFTER MUQTADA AL-SADR'S ELECTION?" Folks is this not exactly what we have been waiting for. Iran’s shrinking influence in Iraq... ...If you know about Sadr’s influence and what he wants for Iraq I would not hesitate to say the elections when VERY WELL for us. We did not get al-Abadi out of the gates, but I believe he may be the nominee put forwards after all the political juggling is completed this week.
5-18-2018 Intel Guru Bruce We do have the ATM machines turned on. We have the lower denomination in there. We had proof today that the military, Kurdistan and other people in Iraq had been paid throughout the country were getting paid with the new rate. ...We still do not know the new rate. We know where the new rate is...We know it is over $4. ...we know the lower denominations are available and the people are using them, and the prices are changing and things are happening. ...we seem to be on the precipice of something major happening...I know certain banks that are lead banks such as HSBC and Wells Fargo are on high red alert to begin. ...We are in the midst of it going down. ...Our turn is coming, and I would bet our turn is coming very shortly. [post 2 of 2]
5-18-2018 Intel Guru Bruce I want to bring you some information that we call Intel that is very excited. We will start with Iraq. We found on Tuesday ...al-Sadr had sort of a majority coalition with him for the vote that took place on Saturday....Yet we also knew that Abadi still was very interested in continuing as Prime Minster of Iraq, but he needed some support ceded from al-Sadr. The deal was al-Sadr was going to do that if Abadi had the RV rate out so that everybody could see it and it was done. He had basically until today [Thursday] according to their agreement to do that. The good news is he did it. The good news is that they will go about setting up their government over the next couple of weeks...and we got this directly from Fallujah today and it was one of our contacts over there...We understand that it was a done deal and that did occur. Abadi will continue as Prime Minister. [post 1 of 2....stay tuned]
5-18-2018 Intel Guru RayRen98 Election results are expected sometime today [Thursday]. Varying reports of election percentages are being labeled as false. Abadi reportedly is NOT in the lead. Payments to the Kurds are reportedly in significant amounts. The Central bank of Iraq signs a MOU with VISA International. Abadi alliance and Sadr alliance are expected to join together. Parliament is holding a special meeting on Saturday to discuss their disfavor with the election results. Hmmmmmm?
5-18-2018 Newshound Guru Kaperoni The CBI stated a year or so ago, once they start it could take 2 years to delete the zeros. What that means is that the dinar will appreciate gradually (float) as stated in the IMF Article IV Consultation. My view is that once the conditions are met, They accept Article VIII, and move to a float, it could take another 2 years to raise the value of the dinar to a value where the zeros are gone. Not saying it will take that long but it is a directly related to investment. This is why the IMF stated the Balassa-Samuelson effect in the 2012 Article IV. The truth is, if investors are lined up to participate in Iraq, it should happen fairly quickly. But it is up to Iraq to create the right environment for the value to rise. At that point all we can do is hope that investors come to Iraq, begin the substantial rebuilding and investment phase creating inflationary pressure on the CBI to raise the value. [post 2 of 2]
Elmer:
Not in today
Artmeister:
Not in today
Catnip:
***************
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ARTICLE 1 (from PM Abadi's website)
At time this report was submitted, no new articles have been posted since May 17; all have already been shared.
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ARTICLE 2
Tweets posted on Government of Iraq twitter account:
Government of IraqVerified account @IraqiGovt 5-18-2018, around 11 am Eastern
The @IraqiGovt is working with global financial institutions, Iraqi private sector and other partners to make Iraq one of the most attractive destinations for investors in the region #InvestIraq
Government of IraqVerified account @IraqiGovt 5-18-2018, around 8 am Eastern
The @IraqiGovt is restoring, protecting & promoting Iraq’s museums so people can visit and enjoy their uniquely rich collections to preserve Iraq’s common heritage and shared history #InternationalMuseumDay- Government of IraqVerified account @IraqiGovt 5-18-2018, around 7 am EasternThe @IraqiGovt is working with @WorldBank to encourage local, regional and international investment to support reconstruction, improved public services and the creation of jobs
ARTICLE 3-A
The Commission attributes the delay of the announcement of results to the audit of the names of winners, quotas and minorities
2018/5/19 0:10
[Ayna-Baghdad]
The Electoral Commission on Friday delayed the announcement of the final results of the legislative elections of the Iraqi Council of Representatives to scrutinize the names of the winners, quotas and minorities.
"The postponement came for the purpose of a final check on the names of the winners and the quota," UNHCR spokesman Karim al-Tamimi told a news briefing.
He pointed out that "the final audit of the names of candidates and winners and quotas for women and minorities is taking place during the few remaining times to announce the results."
"We will announce the names of the winners tonight and the affected parties should appeal to the judiciary," he said.
On the attendance of the delegates of the emergency session of the House of Representatives on Saturday, Tamimi said, "We are still discussing the matter in the Commission and we have not decided anything yet."
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ARTICLE 3-B
See how a candidate commented on the delayed election results
2018/5/19 1:27
[Ayna-Baghdad]
The deputy of the civil democratic coalition Fayek Sheikh Ali sarcastically criticized the delay of the Commission to announce the final results of the elections to late in the day.
"It is too late, every hour, the date of the announcement has changed, the final results of the Iraqi legislative elections 2018," he said on a video clip.
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ARTICLE 4
Death of the Secretary of the Central Council of the National Union
2018/5/19 0:58
[Ayna-Baghdad]
Adel Murad, secretary of the Central Council of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), died on Friday in a hospital in the German city of Cologne.
The Central Council of the National Union, today, paid tribute to the Secretary of the Council Adel Murad, offering condolences to his family, all his comrades and friends, cadres and supporters of the National Union, and the masses of the people of Kurdistan.
Adel Mourad joined the Kurdistan Students' Union in the 1960s and became a secretary of the Union. He was one of the fighters with the nation's president Mam Jalal, one of the founders of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.
Adel Murad was born on December 11, 1949, in the city of Khanaqin. He holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Baghdad.
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ARTICLE 5
Best Suhoor in Ramadan
2018/5/17 23:48
[Ayna-Baghdad]
The Suhoor meal is necessary to take advantage of the nutrients that will cause the fasting person to feel full and support his activity for as long as possible during fasting, and to compensate for the body fluids in appropriate quantities, so as to contribute to reduce the feeling of thirst, in addition to the need to be a suhour meal healthy and integrated with the rest of the meals During the day.
Here are some examples of what can be taken during the suhoor meal in terms of saturation and fluid compensation suitable for people who wish to eat saturated and healthy suhur. As for the evaluation of Suhour meal in terms of nutritional adequacy, it needs to know the full contents of the daily diet to evaluate in light of that, People who follow special diets need to assess whether these diets are compatible with their diets.
Examples include: two cups of water, a vegetable salad cup, a cup of lentil soup, a boiled egg, a half cup of low-fat milk, three dates, a small loaf of whole wheat bread, 2/3 cup of boiled beans, A cup of skimmed milk with four strawberries, a small banana, a small spoon of honey, and a cup of water.
As well as two cups of oatmeal soup with vegetables, skimmed chicken breast, and half a cup of low-fat milk will contribute to the whirlpool health of fasting.
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