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US Factory New Orders Hold Steady in February, Ex-Transportation Orders Higher

New orders for US factory goods were roughly flat in February, compared with expectations for a 0.2% decrease in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET following a flat reading in the previous month.Excluding a 5.3% drop in transportation orders, new orders would have been up 1.2% after a 0.5% gain in January, well above the expectations for a 0.4% gain.Durable goods new orders were revised up to a 1.3% decline from the advance estimate of a 1.4% decline and follows a 0.4% decrease in January.Nondurable goods new orders increased by 1.5% after a 0.5% increase in the previous month.Factory unfilled orders were up 0.1%, as were factory inventories.Factory shipments rose by 1.4% and when combined with already-published advance estimates for retail and wholesale sales, shows business sales on pace for a 1.7% gain in the month.

Market Chatter: Zelenskyy Says Druzhba Oil Pipeline Repairs Completion Expected in Spring

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the country has made significant progress in restoring the Druzhba oil pipeline, with repairs expected to be completed in spring, Reuters reported Friday, citing remarks released by his office.Ukraine will complete that as agreed and aim to finish the work by spring, Zelenskyy said, adding that much of the work has already been completed, but repairs to destroyed storage tanks have taken longer, the report said.Ukraine has been accused by Hungary and Slovakia of trying to delay pipeline repairs, a claim Kyiv has denied.Both countries have lost access to deliveries of Russian oil through the pipeline since late January, when the pipeline became a target of a Russian drone strike in western Ukraine, the report said. Hungary and Slovakia have had a close political and energy relationship with Russia since the latter's invasion of Ukraine.Hungary has opposed a 90-billion-euro ($103 billion) European Union loan to Ukraine until pipeline flows are resumed, the report added.has reached out to Ukraine's Energy Ministry for a comment.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

Commodities14d ago

Middle East Conflict Derails Solar Supply Chains, Revives Cost Pressures, Wood Mackenzie Says

The Middle East conflict is disrupting solar project execution and delaying the development of alternative manufacturing hubs, tightening global supply chains, and reintroducing cost pressures, Wood Mackenzie strategists said in a note on Friday.Yana Hryshko, senior research analyst and Head of Global Solar Supply Chain at Wood Mackenzie, said that the near-term impact is being felt across projects under construction in the region, where about 110 gigawatts of solar capacity is under execution or advanced stages of development.Developers and engineering, procurement, and construction contractors are delaying shipments, adjusting delivery schedules, and reassessing procurement timelines as uncertainty grows around logistics and transport routes.Rising risks along key maritime corridors have driven up freight rates and insurance costs, pushing regional project capital expenditure higher by an estimated 1-3%, while commissioning timelines in some cases are being delayed by several months.Hryshko said the disruption is spilling into global markets. Shipping costs from China to Europe have climbed since the onset of the conflict, rising by about 18% on routes to Rotterdam and about 10% to Southern Europe.Developers are absorbing these increases, reversing expectations of continued cost declines across the solar sector.Though the short-term effects are significant, Wood Mackenzie analysts say the longer-term implications could be more profound.The Middle East had been emerging as a potential solar manufacturing hub, supported by low-cost energy, favorable industrial policies, and proximity to key markets.Wood Mackenzie announced that manufacturing capacity across modules, cells, and upstream segments exceeded 30 GW, with ambitions to supply both domestic and export demand.However, the ongoing conflict is delaying project timelines, deferring investment decisions, and shifting focus toward operational resilience.The slowdown extends beyond module assembly to critical supporting components such as solar glass, aluminum frames, and mounting structures, which are essential for building competitive local supply chains.Wood Mackenzie projected that global supply chain diversification is likely to stall as a result. Instead of accelerating the development of alternative manufacturing bases, the disruption is reinforcing reliance on established supply chains, particularly in China, where scale and cost advantages remain unmatched.Similarly, vulnerabilities in upstream supply are becoming more apparent in the US. Though US module assembly capacity is projected to reach 50-60 GW by 2026, domestic solar cell production remains limited, leaving manufacturers dependent on imports.Wood Mackenzie said a significant portion of this supply comes from regions now exposed to elevated geopolitical risk, including Oman and Ethiopia.The consultancy projected that the US could lose 20-25% of its external cell supply if disruptions materialize, potentially driving cell prices higher by $0.2 to $ 0.4 per watt and affecting project economics and expansion plans.

Commodities14d ago

Financial News · Live Terminal

US Factory New Orders Hold Steady in February, Ex-Transportation Orders Higher

Market Chatter: Zelenskyy Says Druzhba Oil Pipeline Repairs Completion Expected in Spring

Middle East Conflict Derails Solar Supply Chains, Revives Cost Pressures, Wood Mackenzie Says

US Factory New Orders Hold Steady in February, Ex-Transportation Orders Higher

Market Chatter: Zelenskyy Says Druzhba Oil Pipeline Repairs Completion Expected in Spring

Middle East Conflict Derails Solar Supply Chains, Revives Cost Pressures, Wood Mackenzie Says

Research Alert: CFRA Keeps Strong Buy Recommendation On Shares Of Amazon.com, Inc.

Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index Falls Sharply in Preliminary April Survey

University of Michigan One-Year US Inflation Expectations Jump to 4.8% from 3.8%, Five-Year 3.4% Vs. 3.2%

Canada's Labor Market Shows A Lack of Dynamism, Central Bank to Stay on The Sidelines, Says TD

April Preliminary University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment 47.6 Vs. Expected 51.5, Prior 53.3

February Factory New Orders Excluding Transportation Rise 1.2% Vs. Expected 0.4% Gain, Prior 0.5% Increase

February Factory New Orders Flat Vs. Expected 0.2% Decrease, Prior Flat Reading

Wages "Seemingly Popped" In March and Bank of Canada Will Keep An Eye On That, says BMO

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European Commission Seeks Public Feedback on Energy Regulator Cooperation Agency

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Hassett Says Strait of Hormuz Can Open Up Within Two Months, Bloomberg Reports

TSX Up More Than 210 Pts; Comes After Index Lost Near 140 Pts on Thursday, For Its First Loss In Seven Sessions