2026-01-09 19:42

Jan 9 (Reuters) - Ukraine's ambassador to the United States was quoted as saying on Friday that Ukrainian nationals were among members of the crew of the Russian-flagged tanker Bella-1, seized this week by U.S. forces. Olha Stefanishyna, quoted by the Interfax Ukraine news agency, said Ukrainian diplomats were in contact with U.S. authorities to ensure consular access to the crew members. Sign up here. "The embassy has the situation under control and is using all necessary means to maintain contact with the Ukrainian citizens," Stefanishyna was quoted as saying. The Bella-1, recently renamed the Marinera and registered as a Russian vessel, was seized in the North Atlantic this week. The U.S. has seized five ships in recent weeks as part of efforts to curb Venezuelan oil exports. The Olina was seized in the Caribbean on Friday. The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the United States had released two Russian crew members from the Marinera, expressed gratitude to Washington for the decision and pledged to ensure the return home of crew members. Russia's Transport Ministry said on Wednesday it had lost contact with the Marinera after U.S. naval forces boarded it near Iceland. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ukrainian-nationals-aboard-seized-tanker-bella-1-ambassador-says-2026-01-09/

2026-01-09 18:34

Argentina repays US for currency swap line used late 2025 $20 billion deal announced days before key election Bessent signals ongoing support for Trump ally Milei BUENOS AIRES, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Argentina has repaid the United States for a currency swap framework it provided to the South American country last year to stabilize its economy, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Argentina's central bank said on Friday. "I am pleased to announce that, reflecting its strengthened financial position, Argentina has both quickly and fully repaid its limited draw on the swap facility with the United States, such that the Exchange Stabilization Fund currently does not hold any pesos," Bessent said in a post on X. Sign up here. "We look forward to continuing our enthusiastic support of President Milei and Argentina," he added. In a separate post, Argentina's central bank added that it had settled the swap line in December, two months after it was announced. DEAL SIGNED JUST AHEAD OF ELECTION According to local newspaper La Nacion, $2.5 billion of a possible $20 billion had been used in that time. A source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters the agreement remained in force under the agreed terms. The agreement was signed days ahead of a midterm election amid concerns about Argentina's struggling economy. The swap line provided a safety net of dollars that the central bank could use to help prop up the value of the peso and prevent a devaluation ahead of the vote. The funds were used in October to pay back debt to the International Monetary Fund and to return foreign currency that had been used to support the exchange rate in the days leading up to the election. Libertarian President Javier Milei, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, succeeded in extending his influence in the country's legislatures. Washington had signaled it would condition its financial support of Argentina on the outcome of the election. But the swap line drew backlash in the U.S., with critics calling the move a bailout and arguing it disadvantaged U.S. agricultural exports against competition from Argentina for the Chinese market. Bessent said in late October there would be no taxpayer losses and that Washington was looking to use its economic power to shore up a friendly government. Argentine Economy Minister Luis Caputo thanked Bessent and Trump for their "swift response to blatant attacks whose sole purpose was to destabilize our government at a time when our most committed people are focused on long-term change." Milei's administration had blasted congressional opposition to his policy agenda, protests and a corruption scandal that emerged in the runup to the election as political attacks. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/argentina-has-repaid-us-currency-swap-deal-2026-01-09/

2026-01-09 18:34

Reliance imported 63,000 bpd from Venezuela under US licenses in first four months of 2025 Indian refiner open to buying Venezuelan crude if sales to non-US buyers are permitted Reliance's Gujarat refineries can process heavy Venezuelan crude NEW DELHI/HOUSTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - India's Reliance Industries (RELI.NS) , opens new tab is seeking U.S. approval to resume purchases of Venezuelan crude, two sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, as the private refiner looks to secure supplies amid Western pressure on India to cut Russian oil imports. Reliance's representatives are in discussions with the U.S. State and Treasury departments to obtain the authorization, the sources said, as Washington and Caracas progress in negotiations to ship 50 million barrels of oil in the aftermath of the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro. Sign up here. The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters email requesting comment on the authorization request. The Indian conglomerate had received licenses from Washington in past years to import crude from U.S.-sanctioned Venezuela for its refining complex, the world's largest. Venezuela's oil company PDVSA delivered Reliance four crude cargoes, or some 63,000 barrels per day, in the first four months of 2025 under those authorizations, according to PDVSA's internal records. The U.S. suspended most licenses to PDVSA's business partners between March and April and threatened Venezuela's oil buyers with tariffs as it increased pressure on Maduro. Reliance's last cargo of Venezuelan oil arrived in India in May 2025. Reliance said on Thursday that it would consider resuming purchases of Venezuelan crude if sales to non-U.S. buyers are permitted under U.S. regulations. A U.S. Treasury spokesperson said the department would not comment on specific licenses or requests, adding it is "fully committed to supporting President Donald Trump's efforts on behalf of the people of Venezuela." Chevron (CVX.N) , opens new tab, Vitol, Trafigura and other oil companies are vying for licenses and control over Venezuelan oil exports. Trump is meeting with oil executives at the White House later on Friday. The South American producer has millions of barrels of crude stuck in onshore tanks and vessels. U.S. officials have said they would control Venezuelan oil exports indefinitely, and that some oil would flow to non-U.S. buyers. Trump said China, the largest buyer of Venezuelan oil, will not be deprived of barrels. Reliance is willing to buy Venezuelan oil from U.S. companies and others with drilling rights in Venezuela if crude is offered at attractive rates, said one of the sources. Venezuelan oil supplies could help replace some Russian supplies to India. Reliance was the biggest Indian buyer of Russian oil but has said it would not receive any cargo of Russian crude this month as India is under pressure from Trump to stop importing Russian barrels. Reliance's two refineries in western Gujarat state, with a combined capacity of about 1.4 million bpd of crude oil, allow it to process cheaper and heavier crudes such as Venezuela's Merey. Reliance and PDVSA have a long-standing relationship, and India was the third-most important market for Venezuela's crude before the U.S. imposed sanctions on oil trade, taking some 400,000 bpd. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/indias-reliance-talks-us-permit-buy-venezuelan-oil-sources-say-2026-01-09/

2026-01-09 14:26

LONDON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Sterling steadied against the dollar on Friday after falling to the lowest level this year and was set for weekly declines as traders awaited key data to gauge the state of the UK economy. Investors are waiting for clearer indications about the economy, with gross domestic product data due on Thursday and jobs data the week after, which could give more clues to the Bank of England monetary policy trajectory. Sign up here. Sterling was last flat at 1.3436, after falling to its lowest since December 31, and it was set for its second consecutive weekly decline. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation and accountants KPMG report is also expected next week. "We remain mindful of immediate sterling downside risks should the upcoming KPMG/REC report on jobs, now slated for release into the start of next week, indicate a continued labour market deceleration, in particular as regards wage pressures," said Jeremy Stretch, Chief International Strategist at CIBC Capital Markets. Money markets are pricing an 88% chance of the BoE holding its rates at 3.75% when it meets on February 5, after December's 0.25% cut. Sterling was one of the best performing currencies last year, rising almost 8% against the dollar. The euro also steadied against sterling at 86.68 pence , but it is still set for its fourth consecutive weekly decline against sterling. It had dropped as low as 86.44 pence on Tuesday, its lowest since mid-September. A reduction in UK fiscal and political risks has supported the British currency since finance minister Rachel Reeves presented the budget in November. It received some support earlier this week from hints of Britain pursuing a closer relationship with Europe. Britain should seek closer alignment with the European single market on an "issue-by-issue" basis when it is in the national interest, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/sterling-set-weekly-decline-traders-await-key-uk-economic-data-2026-01-09/

2026-01-09 14:05

NEW YORK, Jan 9 (Reuters) - U.S. job growth slowed more than expected in December amid business caution about hiring because of import tariffs and rising artificial intelligence investment, but the unemployment rate dipped to 4.4%, supporting expectations the Federal Reserve would leave interest rates unchanged this month. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 50,000 jobs last month after rising by a downwardly revised 56,000 in November, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Friday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 60,000 jobs added after a previously reported 64,000 increase in November. Sign up here. MARKET REACTION: STOCKS: U.S. stock futures rose further after the jobs data. BONDS: U.S. Treasury yields briefly extended their rise, before paring them. The yield on benchmark 10-year notes was last flat at 4.177% FOREX: The dollar index trimmed gains after the data, and last up 0.1% at 98.984. COMMENTS: ADAM SARHAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, 50 PARK INVESTMENTS, NEW YORK: "U.S. payrolls came in less than expected in December and the participation rate also fell and the overall labor force is contracting. So part of the reason for the drop in unemployment could be the unemployed people leaving the workforce... they just gave up, they stopped looking for jobs." "So the three-months non-farm payrolls is now negative 22,000 and that's a concern. The good news there is that it gives the Fed the ability to cut rates, so that could be potentially bullish." "To me, we now know that the jobs report is getting weaker and this was the fourth quarter, this was a busy holiday season. So the question then becomes, what does this mean for earnings. So the market is going to be looking forward to what's going to happen with interest rates and earnings." LINDSAY ROSNER, HEAD OF MULTI SECTOR FIXED INCOME, GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT, NEW YORK: (from an email) "Goodbye, January! The Fed will likely hold course for now with the labor market showing tentative signs of stabilizing. The unemployment rate improved suggesting November's jump was down to one-off DOGE-deferred resignations and data distortions rather than a sign of systemic weakness. We expect the Fed to remain on hold for now, but still pencil in two cuts for the rest of 2026." PETER CARDILLO, CHIEF MARKET ECONOMIST, SPARTAN CAPITAL SECURITIES, NEW YORK: "50,000 jobs is less than consensus, but more than I was looking for." "It's an employment report that's not too hot, not too cold, doesn't really change the prospects of the labor market in a big way." "I'm a little disappointed with the hourly wage growth coming in at 0.3%. I thought it would be a little bit lower." "Bottom line, I think it's a report that will satisfy the markets. I don't see this news putting too much upward pressure on yields from these levels, and it should mean that the Fed will continue to eye the labor market before cutting rates in the first quarter." "The average (monthly payroll growth) is probably going to be closer to maybe 30,000 in the quarter, and that should give ample room for the Fed to cut. I'm not sure they'll cut in January. That might be put off. But in the first quarter, I think we're looking at a rate cut." TODD SCHOENBERGER, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, CROSSCHECK MANAGEMENT, WASHINGTON: "The December jobs report provides the exclamation point to what was a full year of uncertainty and job insecurity. Unfortunately, the crumbling labor market is likely going to invite the recession narrative into Wall Street conversations." "In a twisted way, though, today's data should provide clear evidence to support another rate cut when the Committee meets in a few weeks. The knee-jerk bullish reaction in stocks will be the right reaction as traders will view Fed policy decisions as being the octane to support higher highs in the markets." JERRY TEMPELMAN, VICE PRESIDENT OF FIXED INCOME RESEARCH, MUTUAL OF AMERICA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, NEW YORK: "Today's jobs report provides one of the most insightful looks at the labor market economists have had in three months due to data disruptions stemming from the prolonged government shutdown. We're keeping an eye on elevated unemployment – which hit a four-year high in November's jobs report – and how it might affect the Federal Reserve's meeting at the end of the month. A soft labor market backdrop validated interest rate reductions in late 2025, but is not causing concerns that would substantiate further cuts this month." BRIAN JACOBSEN, CHIEF ECONOMIST, ANNEX WEALTH MANAGEMENT, MENOMONEE FALLS, WISCONSIN: "It's nice to see that it's not just health care that's adding jobs. Seeing the manufacturing workweek dip a bit is a red flag. That tends to be a leading indicator." "Aggregate weekly hours fell, which is also a little disconcerting. Productivity is output per hour, so productivity can rise due to stronger output or lower hours. It would be nice if both were trending higher to thread the needle of faster growth with lower inflation." "December may have marked a turning point for the labor market where it starts to get some traction, but that assessment is still very tentative." https://www.reuters.com/business/view-us-job-growth-slows-december-backs-fed-rate-pause-this-month-2026-01-09/

2026-01-09 13:33

OTTAWA, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Canada's economy gained a net 8,200 jobs in December, entirely in full-time work, and the jobless rate rose to 6.8% as more people looked for work, Statistics Canada data showed on Friday. Employment in the goods producing sector grew by a net 8,000 jobs, largely in construction. The services sector was up by a net 100 positions, led by health care and social assistance, as well as other services. Sign up here. Dec 2025 Nov 2025 Jobs gain/loss +8,200 +53,600 full-time +50,200 -9,400 part-time -42,000 +63,000 Unemployment rate 6.8% 6.5% Participation 65.4% 65.1% Labor force 22.694 mln 22.613 mln Dec 2025 Dec 2024 % change Avg hourly wage C$38.02 C$36.68 +3.7 NOTE: Analysts surveyed by Reuters had forecast 5,000 fewer jobs in December, and for the unemployment rate to rise to 6.6%. Hourly wage figures are for permanent employees. Keywords: CANADA ECONOMY/EMPLOYMENT https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/canada-gains-net-8200-jobs-december-jobless-rate-rises-68-2026-01-09/