Goldman Sees Oil Lower for Longer After Getting a Bump From Cuts

Oil prices boosted by global output reductions will be capped because of new supply before long, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The cuts by OPEC members and nations outside the group, as well as strong demand growth, will probably help curb inventories by next summer, analysts including Damien Courvalin said in a note dated Dec. 16. While the bank raised its oil-price forecasts for the second quarter of 2017, it decreased its crude estimates for 2018 on concern that new production will enter the market. Brent crude, the benchmark for more than half of the world’s oil, has surged since the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed Nov. 30 to trim output for the first time in eight years.

Tillerson’s Foreign Prowess Said Aided by Exxon Intelligence Arm

Even before Donald Trump tapped him to be the top U.S. diplomat, Rex Tillerson already had his own State Department. Behind the walls of Exxon Mobil Corp.’s secluded corporate headquarters in suburban Dallas, a little-known intelligence unit works to keep top executives informed on economic, social and political situations around the world so they never walk into a foreign negotiation unprepared.

Deutsche Bank Said Last Lender to Stop Angola Dollar Clearing

Deutsche Bank AG stopped providing dollar clearing in Angola, leaving one of Africa’s biggest oil-producing nations without a lender to supply the service, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. The company ceased dollar clearing for Angola in mid-November, said two of the people, who asked not to be identified because they’re not authorized to speak to the media.

RigNet Inc’s Stock Caught Fire on Friday

Offshore service stocks jumped on Friday without any news to drive the rally, with RigNet joining the likes of Seadrill Partners and others in a double-digit rally. It is a bit of a head-scratcher given that oil only rose 1.3% to roughly $51.50 per barrel, which is quite tame for crude these days — and still left it half a percentage point in the red for the week.