... beginning of August, the global fuel and energy sector demonstrates stability and moderate growth. Oil prices remain at a high level: the North Sea Brent mark is holding around $73 per barrel (the highest since late June) amid ongoing geopolitical risks and high seasonal demand. The European gas market feels relative calm due to record injection rates of fuel into underground storage facilities ahead of winter. Concurrently, regulators and market participants are taking steps to maintain balance: as of August 1, the OPEC+ alliance has begun a planned increase in oil production to prevent supply ...

... restrictions (sanctions) restrained price increases. Investors are awaiting the publication of earnings reports from leading issuers for the first half of 2025, and hopes for improved performance in the banking and consumer sectors add to the optimism. The high interest rate domestically has a dual impact. Expensive loans restrict business activity and consumer demand, but at the same time stimulate inflows into high-yield instruments and enhance the appeal of stocks from companies with stable profits. Analysts expect ...

... contribute to a general rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as the cost of vehicles is an important component in the CPI calculation. 3. Decline in Consumer Demand and Its Consequences The rising key interest rate also puts pressure on consumer demand. High rates render auto loans less accessible, decreasing the number of purchases made on credit. This could affect not only automakers but also banks, for whom auto loans constitute a significant portion of their portfolios. 4. Impact on Related Industries ...

... observed at the long end of the curve: 10-year bonds slightly decreased in price (yield increased) as market participants adjusted their expectations regarding future rates. On the other hand, short-term bonds remain in demand due to the transfer of high base rates and a stable cash flow of investments into government bonds. Outlook and Strategies Thus, the April PMI data confirm the cautious nature of the recovery in the Russian economy. Investors assess the combination of stability in the services sector ...

... maintain its interest rate without changes during its meeting on July 30. Loose monetary conditions, along with resolution of trade disputes, could support fuel demand in the second half of the year. Gas Market: Storage Filling Accelerates, Prices Remain High In the gas market, Europe remains in focus. EU countries are ramping up natural gas injections into underground storage facilities at accelerated rates in preparation for the winter season. By the end of July, European UGS facilities were over 70% filled (up from ~59% a month earlier), corresponding to more than 70 billion cubic meters of reserves. The active injection in June reached record levels ...