Kurdistan Said Close to Resuming Monthly Payout to Oil Companies

The government of Iraqi Kurdistan is close to resuming regular monthly payments to international oil companies as the rally in crude prices replenishes the region’s depleted treasury, according to people familiar with the matter. It’s almost seven weeks since Genel Energy Plc, Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd and DNO ASA received their last payment from the Kurdistan Regional Government, which was for oil sold in September.

Don’t expect stock market disturbance

We’re halfway through the inaugural ceremonies as I try to say something coherent about what lies ahead for the market. As I confess almost every week, many of us who are conservatives called it wrong at the beginning of the Barack Obama administration.