U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) decreased by 2.2 million barrels from the previous week. At 433.8 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are in the lower half of the average range for this time of year.

Total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 2.2 million barrels last week, and are in the upper half of the average range. Both finished gasoline inventories and blending components inventories decreased last week.

Distillate fuel inventories decreased by 3.8 million barrels last week and are in the lower half of the average range for this time of year. Propane/propylene inventories increased by 2.3 million barrels last week, and are in the lower half of the average range. Total commercial petroleum inventories decreased by 1.5 million barrels last week.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers' sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $627.4 billion at the end of March, up 0.3 percent from the revised February level. Total inventories were up 5.5 percent from the revised March 2017 level. The February 2018 to March 2018 percent change was revised from the advance estimate of up 0.5 percent to up 0.3 percent (±0.2 percent).

The March inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers' sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.26. The March 2017 ratio was 1.28.

"I am pleased to inform you that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the air and on his way back from North Korea with the 3 wonderful gentlemen that everyone is looking so forward to meeting. They seem to be in good health. Also, good meeting with Kim Jong Un. Date & Place set."

The value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities increased 3.1% to $8.4 billion in March, following a 2.8% decline in February. The rise was mainly the result of higher construction intentions for multi-family dwellings, particularly in Quebec and British Columbia, and, to a lesser extent, by the commercial component.

Municipalities issued $5.4 billion worth of residential building permits in March, up 2.3% from February. A notable increase in the multi-family component more than offset lower construction intentions for single-family dwellings. Although eight provinces reported declines in the residential sector in March, higher construction intentions in Quebec (+$373.8 million) and British Columbia (+$179.5 million) raised the national total.

The Producer Price Index for final demand rose 0.1 percent in April, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Final demand prices advanced 0.3 percent in March and 0.2 percent in February. On an unadjusted basis, the final demand index increased 2.6 percent for the 12 months ended in April.
In April, the index for final demand services advanced 0.1 percent, and prices for final demand goods were unchanged.
The index for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services edged up 0.1 percent in April after increasing 0.4 percent in March. For the 12 months ended in April, prices for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services advanced 2.5 percent.

• Would like to establish bilateral relations with China where top leaders can easily visit each other

• North Korea, if it takes the right path, can achieve economic development with its rich natural resources and hard-working people

In March 2018, the value and volume of retail trade continued to grow at a modest pace, both increasing by 2.9% compared with March 2017.

The 3 months to March (Quarter 1) shows a decrease of 0.3% in terms of value and volume; the second consecutive fall in the quarterly movement.

Month-on-month, the value of retail trade was estimated to have fallen by 0.2%, while the quantity sold dropped by 0.6%.

In March 2018, internet sales and small scale distribution saw a contraction when compared with March 2017 (respectively -0.3% and -1.3%), while large scale distribution saw a strong growth year-on-year (+7.0%).

EUR/USD

Resistance levels (open interest**, contracts)

$1.2022 (710)

$1.1972 (292)

$1.1937 (201)

Price at time of writing this review: $1.1834

Support levels (open interest**, contracts):

$1.1795 (3667)

$1.1768 (2787)

$1.1737 (2671)

Comments:

- Overall open interest on the CALL options and PUT options with the expiration date June, 8 is 145542 contracts (according to data from May, 8) with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,1500 (9650);

GBP/USD

Resistance levels (open interest**, contracts)

$1.3734 (1330)

$1.3679 (430)

$1.3637 (663)

Price at time of writing this review: $1.3514

Support levels (open interest**, contracts):

$1.3454 (626)

$1.3430 (1460)

$1.3402 (2284)

Comments:

- Overall open interest on the CALL options with the expiration date June, 8 is 35999 contracts, with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,3700 (2186);

- Overall open interest on the PUT options with the expiration date June, 8 is 39132 contracts, with the maximum number of contracts with strike price $1,3400 (2506);

- The ratio of PUT/CALL was 1.09 versus 1.07 from the previous trading day according to data from May, 8.

* - The Chicago Mercantile Exchange bulletin (CME) is used for the calculation.

** - Open interest takes into account the total number of option contracts that are open at the moment.

In March 2018, output was virtually stable in the manufacturing industry (+0.1%, after −0.5% in February). It slipped back in the whole industry (−0.4% after +1.1%), due to a strong decrease in mining and carrying, energy, water supply.

Output decreased sharply over the first quarter of 2018 in the manufacturing industry (−1.8%) as well as in the overall industry (−1.3%).

Output went down markedly in "other manufacturing" (−2.3%), in the manufacture of transport equipment (−3.8%) and in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (−1.5%). Conversely, it increased in mining and quarrying, energy, water supply (+1.2%). It rose slightly in the manufacture of food products and beverages (+0.3%) and in the manufacture of machinery and equipment goods (+0.2%)

• U.S. is committed to working with N.Korea to achieve peace on Korean peninsula

• Says Trump's decision on nuclear deal with powers a threat to international peace and security

• Iran has no obligation to honour its commitments under nuclear deal

• Biggest damage of Iran deal was legitimizing and sitting at negotiating table with America