as the winter continues strong demand across the energy complex will add to bullish sentiment there is a very real possibility that colderthanusual weather due to la niña weather patterns will drive demand higher pushing the market into a deficit sooner rather than later a shortage of nickel worsened in november according to data from the international nickel study group the global nickel market had a 3000metricton deficit in november 1400 tons larger than in the previous month the insg said in the 11 months through november the shortage of nickel totaled 167000 tons compared with a surplus of 92500 tons in the same period during 2020 nickel prices have soared this month as stocks have dwindled reports that indonesia a major producer is considering a tax on nickel exports have put additional upward pressure on prices threemonth nickel on the lme fell 07 to 23680 a ton but remains more than 14 higher for the month gold edged lower in early european trade on position adjustment ahead of the weekend the focus of gold traders is shifting to next weeks fomc meeting with russiaukraine tensions probably factored into the prices of precious metals phillip futures said rising us interest rates remain a potential headwind since this translates into a higher opportunity cost of holding nonyielding bullion the brokerage added copper prices have seen choppy trading this week with demand concerns presenting headwinds while falling inventories have offered support that rangebound trading is likely to continue with prices averaging 9690 a metric ton this year said analysts at bnp paribas weakness in chinas construction sector is likely to drag on copper demand in the first half of the year while rising mine supply should also add to headwinds the bank said threemonth copper on the lme was down 08 joining a rout in global markets that comes as investors slash their exposure risk assets on fears of slowing economic growth for the week the metal is on course to end with a modest 22 gain investors see new sparkle in europes tech scene europes tech scene has struggled to emerge from the shadows of giants in the us and asia but friendly local policies and a global overflow of investment capital are now giving the region a gusher of cash investments in european tech firms soared to 933 billion last year a record and a 142 increase over the year before according to cb insights the number of deals jumped as well to 7051 from 5746 the year before and 6051 the year before that singaporefrances totalenergies se said it is withdrawing from myanmar over shareholder pressure and a deteriorating humanrights situation since the countrys military seized power in a coup last year western energy companies have faced growing calls to divest or withhold revenue from the junta while governments including the us and france have come under pressure to sanction the sector myanmars oilandgas industry is the countrys single largest source of foreign revenue eurozone inflation seen falling in 2022 but more slowly than expected eurozone inflation climbed to a recordhigh level of 50 in december but should start decelerating from january however more persistent supplyside price pressures observed in energy food and nonenergy goods suggest a very gradual inflation moderation in 2022 barclays says for barclays the eurozone inflation outlook remains uncertain with risks skewed to the upside the surge in wholesale energy prices has so far mainly boosted inflation in counties with a relatively high share of variablerate utility tariffs in the overall consumer bill such as spain and belgium this leaves countries with a larger share of regulated and fixedrate utility tariffsincluding germany france and italyexposed to delayed and potentially sharp consumer price hikes siemens gamesa renewable energy sa lowered its guidance for the fiscal year late thursday after it swung to an operating loss in the first quarter on continued supplychain constraints in the three months to dec 30 the spanish energy company posted an adjusted loss before interest and taxes of 309 million euros 350 million from a profit of eur121 million a year earlier on revenue that fell to eur18 billion from eur23 billion according to preliminary figures siemens energy ag late thursday lowered its targets for fiscal 2022 after swinging to an operating loss in the first quarter and following a profit warning from its spanish renewables subsidiary according to preliminary results siemens energy made an adjusted loss before interest taxes and amortization of 57 million euros 645 million in the octoberdecember period compared with adjusted ebita of eur243 million in the same quarter the previous year according to a companycompiled consensus it had been expected to make a profit of eur91 million uk retail sales sank in december sharply missing analysts forecasts as the nation witnessed surging covid19 cases and tightened socialdistancing guidance retail sales volumes dropped 37 from a month earlier the office for national statistics said friday economists polled by the wall street journal had forecast a more modest decline of 06 rio tinto plc said thursday it was reviewing the legal basis and implications of a decision by serbias government to revoke licenses for the mining companys lithium project rio tinto is extremely concerned by the statement from the prime minister ana brnabic about cancelling the spatial plan and revoking licences related to the jadar project a company spokesman said palfinger ag late thursday issued a profit warning for its first quarter and first half of 2022 citing massive cost increases and supplychain issues the austriabased crane producer said it expects its earnings before interest and taxes in the januarymarch and januaryjune periods to come in far below levels from the previous year airbus se has canceled a plane order from stateowned carrier qatar as the two companies have been in dispute for months over surface degradation on a350 jets the european plane maker has canceled a contract for 50 of its a321 planes a company spokeswoman told dow jones newswires on friday confirming an earlier report by bloomberg investor ab on friday proposed a dividend increase after the value of its investments rose sharply during the fourth quarter generating total shareholder return of 21 compared with 2 for the same period the previous year total shareholder return for the year rose to 55 from 19 how a small town learned to stop worrying and love amazon darlington englandmany traders in this old market town hold amazoncom inc partially to blame for the closures of a raft of local shops in recent years uk consumer confidence drops to a near yearlow on inflation omicron worries british consumers turned more pessimistic in january as the spread of the covid19 omicron variant and high inflation weighed on households outlook of the economy and spending plans according to a survey by the research firm gfk gfks consumerconfidence barometer fell to minus 19 in january from minus 15 december the lowest level since february 2021 economists polled by the wall street journal expected the confidence index to retreat slightly to minus 16 the extra yield that chinese government bonds offer over us treasurys this week dropped below a percentage point for the first time in nearly three years as the central banks of the worlds two largest economies move in opposite directions the narrowing gap reflecting both a rally in chinese bonds and a us selloff reduces one longstanding argument in favor of foreign investors buying more chinese debt but analysts and investors say the longterm torrent of international money pouring into chinese fixedincome markets is likely to continue swoon in tech stocks puts startup valuations in harsh new light waning enthusiasm for tech stocks in the public markets is casting doubt on valuations in the private market where prices last year hit stratospheric levels the public arenas have begun to dial down their fervor for highgrowth tech stocks with investors in particular punishing companies that dont make moneystartups in tech and biotech blankcheck companies and others still finding their feet investors see new sparkle in europes tech scene europes tech scene has struggled to emerge from the shadows of giants in the us and asia but friendly local policies and a global overflow of investment capital are now giving the region a gusher of cash investments in european tech firms soared to 933 billion last year a record and a 142 increase over the year before according to cb insights the number of deals jumped as well to 7051 from 5746 the year before and 6051 the year before that