2025-06-23 20:39
June 23 (Reuters) - U.S. stock futures rose on Monday after President Donald Trump said a ceasefire has been agreed to between Israel and Iran. S&P 500 emini futures rose 0.3% and Nasdaq futures added 0.5%, suggesting traders expect Wall Street to climb when it opens on Tuesday. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/business/wall-street-futures-edge-higher-investors-await-irans-retaliatory-move-2025-06-23/
2025-06-23 19:41
June 23 (Reuters) - Venezuela's second-largest refinery, the 310,000-barrel-per-day Cardon plant operated by state company PDVSA, remained halted on Monday after a power blackout, three sources with knowledge of its operations said. Venezuela's aging refining network has frequent outages after years on insufficient investment, mismanagement and U.S. sanctions preventing the import of spare parts. In recent months, Cardon has been key to processing feedstock from some of the Orinoco Belt's heavy crude projects. Sign up here. The blackout began early in the morning and did not affect Cardon's neighboring refinery, the 645,000-bpd Amuay plant, one of the sources said. In the afternoon, power service to the facility was restored and workers began preparations for restarting some units, but the facility remained suspended, according to another source. "We have power back in the refinery, but there is no steam or air yet," the person said, referring to the supply of industrial services to the facility, which is required to restart operational units. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/venezuelas-second-largest-refinery-halted-due-power-blackout-sources-say-2025-06-23/
2025-06-23 19:40
June 23 (Reuters) - Agtech startup Halter has raised $100 million at a $1 billion valuation, making it one of New Zealand's rare unicorns as it ramps up U.S. expansion of its cattle management platform for dairy farmers. The Series D funding was led by tech investment firm Bond and was joined by venture capital firm NewView along with existing backers Bessemer Venture Partners, DCVC, Blackbird, Icehouse Ventures and Promus Ventures, Halter said on Monday. Sign up here. The dairy sector has emerged as a bright spot this year in an otherwise dour funding environment for agriculture tech startups as farmers rely more on automation to improve productivity. Auckland-based Halter is tapping into that demand with its system of smart collars, connectivity towers and a mobile app that lets ranchers virtually fence, move and monitor their cattle using sound and vibration cues - promising better grazing efficiency and lower environmental impact. Halter said it plans to use the new funds to expand in the U.S., where the company has been working with about 150 ranchers in 18 states. "Over half of US ranchers and farmers are over 55, and rural labor shortages are severe," CEO and founder Craig Piggott said. "Halter enables smaller teams to manage herds more efficiently, without constant physical presence." The U.S. farm industry has faced staffing crunches in recent months due to mass deportations ordered by the Trump administration, with industry groups warning about the impact on an industry that has long depended on immigrants. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/cow-tech-startup-becomes-new-zealands-latest-unicorn-100-million-fundraise-2025-06-23/
2025-06-23 19:27
NEW YORK, June 23 (Reuters) - Northern Trust (NTRS.O) , opens new tab is fully committed to remaining independent, the bank said on Monday, after a Wall Street Journal report said Bank of New York Mellon had approached the asset and wealth manager to express interest in a merger. "I can tell you that Northern Trust is fully committed to remaining independent and continuing to deliver long-term value to our stakeholders, as we have for the past 135 years," its spokesperson said in an email. Sign up here. The comments came after a Wall Street Journal report said Bank of New York Mellon Corp BK.N had approached Northern Trust recently to express interest in a merger with its smaller rival. https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/northern-trust-says-it-is-fully-committed-remaining-independent-2025-06-23/
2025-06-23 19:13
Trump urges 'everyone' to keep oil prices down US energy secretary supports Trump's call for more drilling Companies make drilling decisions in US, not government Oil prices jump nearly 6% to 5-month high, then fall 7.3% June 23 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump urged his administration on Monday to boost drilling rates and market players to keep oil prices down amid fears that the aftermath of the U.S. attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities could cause energy prices to spike. Trump addressed the U.S. Department of Energy in a post on his Truth Social platform encouraging it to "drill, baby, drill" and saying, "I mean now," despite no major oil disruptions after the bombings. Sign up here. In another post on the platform, Trump said in all caps: "Everyone, keep oil prices down, I'm watching! You're playing into the hands of the enemy, don't do it." U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright responded, "We're on it!" to the drilling message, in a post on X. It was not immediately clear what the DOE could do to boost drilling in the world's top oil and gas producer, where drilling decisions are made by private companies. Output already hit record highs during the previous administration of President Joe Biden. The DOE did not immediately respond to a question on Wright's comment. Global benchmark Brent oil prices oscillated on Monday, as oil and gas transit continued on tankers from the Middle East after U.S. air strikes against Iran. It jumped nearly 6% to a five-month high early in the session, then was down 7.3% in afternoon trading after Iran focused its retaliation on a U.S. airbase in Qatar but did not disrupt the oil flow in the region. Wright said during an interview on CNBC that he was not surprised that oil prices fell on Monday. "I would not expect much movement of oil upwards from the tensions that are going on," he said. "We're in such a good position today, this American energy dominance that President Trump ran on." If severe interruptions in oil supplies develop, such as the remote possibility that Iran restricts shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the United States could tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the world's largest emergency crude oil stash. Wright also has the power to conduct test sales or exchanges, limited to 5 million barrels, from the reserve, which currently holds about 403 million barrels. But the Trump administration has criticized Biden's use of the SPR after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Doug Burgum, Trump's interior secretary and head of a new National Energy Dominance Council that seeks to boost fossil fuel output, said on X that U.S. oil and gas production "weakens the leverage of authoritarian regimes like Iran who rely on energy coercion to lead." https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/trump-tells-everyone-keep-oil-prices-down-after-iran-attacks-2025-06-23/
2025-06-23 19:12
CAIRO, June 23 (Reuters) - The national security committee of Iran's parliament approved the general outline of a bill meant to fully suspend Tehran's cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on, citing committee spokesperson Ebrahim Rezaei. Rezaei said that according to the bill, installing surveillance cameras, allowing inspections, and submitting reports to the IAEA would be suspended as long as the security of nuclear facilities is not guaranteed. Parliament still has to approve the bill in a plenary. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iranian-parliament-committee-approves-general-plan-suspend-cooperation-with-iaea-2025-06-23/
