- Oil prices fell along with energy firms as investors considered news that the Biden administration is considering releasing a large amount of crude from US stockpiles to combat inflation.
- In premarket trade, shares of major US energy firms fell, while index futures climbed marginally, treasuries retained gains, and the dollar nudged higher. Russian markets rose on Thursday as the country partially removed its short-selling prohibition on domestic stocks.
- Reports that the US is developing a plan to release about a million barrels of oil per day halted a rally in crude ahead of an opec+ supply conference later this week, where the cartel is anticipated to maintain its moderate output increase strategy in May. Following unexpectedly strong data from Germany and Spain on Wednesday, French inflation advanced more than expected to hit a new high.
- According to a Ukrainian negotiator, officials from Ukraine and Russia will restart negotiations by video conference on Friday, though there was no immediate confirmation from Moscow.
- ECB's de Guindos: I still expect the economy will continue to grow in 2022.
- According to Italy's Draghi, Putin told him that a meeting with Zelenskiy was premature.
- ECB's Visco: No rate hikes before the end of the APP net purchases
- ECB’s Lane: PEPP reinvestments can be adjusted flexibly across time, asset classes, and jurisdictions at any time.
- Russian Foreign Ministry: We will not refuse a meeting between Foreign Minister Lavrov and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Kuleba, but talks need to be significant - RIA