VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Malaysia has trimmed its growth forecast mainly due to plunging oil prices. A miscalculated assumption has messed up the 2016 budget, which has the government groping for damage-control measures. One of the key outcomes were increasing the household spending of the country, which can give the sluggish economy a much-needed boost.

The average gasoline price fell to seven year low and is hovering at $1.91 per gallon in the US. If crude oil price continues to move upwards, then the gas price fall may rebound in the near future. According to AAA, the average may not go above $3 a gallon in 2016. Gasoline price fell 14 cents during the past two weeks.

South American nation Venezuela is suffering from gasoline smuggling to neighboring nations. Gasoline is heavily subsidized in Venezuela. The cheaper gasoline smuggling has become a major revenue source in the crisis-hit Venezuelan economy. Venezuela's President has deployed soldiers in large number to keep constant vigil on its borders. Venezuela is losing foreign exchange revenue in US dollars because of smuggling of gasoline.

Speculation over production cut and held the oil price to around $30 a barrel, but uncertainty still lingers. Meanwhile, U.S inventories are reported to reach its highest level of crude stockpile.

US oil explorers are expected to report a combined loss of about $14 billion for the year 2015, as a result of the sharpest oil price slump in a generation. Bankruptcies and disappointing debt exchanges have led the oil explorers to cut thousands of staffs, trim dividends, and abandon drilling projects to preserve capital and resist insolvency.

The United States could reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from power production sector within the next 15 years by raising their investment in renewable resources like solar and wind, according to study findings.

Russian ruble is decreasing and hits all-time record low against dollar last week. Starting this week, the currency started its way to recover and reach 10- day high.

Aramco is the largest known oil producer in the world with a daily production of 10.25 MMbpd. KSA authority has increased feedstock prices to narrow down its budgetary deficits and also increases daily production rate to cope with the soaring demands. Now it is in efforts for Aramco’s listing for IPOs. If listed, Aramco will be the world’s first corporate entity with asset value of more than $1 trillion.

Royal Dutch Shell is slashing the headcount as part of the cost cutting exercise. Anglo-Dutch company has decided to cut down 10,000 jobs in the wake of continuous drop in oil prices. The global energy major aims at reduction of costs by $3 billion in 2016 and it already reduced operating costs by $4 billion in 2015. Shell is also banking on synergy advantages from the BG Group Plc merger, which is expected to be completed in few weeks.

The cutting down of the global crude oil in the world has not really influenced the Chinese consumers' retail fuel prices. The price remains the same as long as the price does not touch %40 per barrel.

Saudi Arabia has ruled out allegations that Iran has been targeted in the oil price war. Saudi Arabian foreign minister said that it's demand-supply situation that determines price in the global oil market. The low price is also hitting US shale oil, which involves high cost of production.

Vietnam warned China against drilling an oil rig in borderline waters in the South China Sea. Vietnam's anxiety over the rig develops subsequent to a recent flight testing carried out by China on a fake island in Spratly archipelago.

An unusual drop in US crude oil, below the already low $28 a barrel, created quite a stir in the market. It seems the oil prices are at a continuous plummeting spree. The current situation seems pretty bleak with supply exceeding demand to a great extent, especially after major oil exporter Iran came back into the scene.

Japan gave the go signal for the 2012 clean energy projects that could produce up to 85,550 megawatts of renewable power, the bulk of which is from solar energy.

Audi and Mercedes Benz, world famous German automakers have joined to express their interest for hydrogen fuel powered cell cars. Remaining one step ahead of Mercedes, Audi has already introduced its H-tron Quattro at the North American International Auto show, held at Detroit. Industry insiders assume, Mercedes, the lavish German carmaker will introduce its first hydrogen fuel cell car at the 2017 Frankfurt Auto Show.