- The U.S. DoE said that last weeks crude oil supplies were up 2.6 million barrels to 327.0 million barrels. Unleaded gasoline supplies were up 2.2 million barrels and heating oil supplies were unchanged.
- The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is at 691.2 million barrels, nine million barrels short of the White House's 700 million goal.
- The ISM's index of U.S. service sector activity dropped from 63.1 to 61.7 in April - still a sign of growth.
- Transport costs between Richards Bay, which has the world's largest coal export terminal, and Rotterdam dropped 7.2 percent last week to $18.62 (R114) a ton.
- The Treasury, faced with large budget deficits, said in a surprise move on Wednesday it is considering regular sales of 30-year bonds, which were suspended in 2001. A decision is expected on August 3rd.
In Vietnam, the coffee crop is said to be too dry.
- In Brazil, wet weather has delayed the coffee harvest, but it is expected to begin soon.
- Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian is offering to more than double his General Motors stake to 8.8 percent in a move that raised investor confidence
- The European Central Bank kept its interest rate unchanged at 2.0%, as expected. The rate has not moved for almost two years.
- An index of services in the Euro zone slipped from 53.0 to 52.8 in April and retail sales volume in March was up 1.4% from a year ago.
- Australia's Reserve Bank kept its official interest rate unchanged at 5.50%
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