Business
OPEC+ Likely To Keep Output Cuts Despite Strong Oil Market Conditions

(CTN News) – Oil prices have fallen to their lowest point in over a year due to market turmoil recently, yet Opec+ is predicted to extend its output cuts.
23 countries have cut oil production, causing global financial markets to panic. It’s a “wait and see” approach from government and regulators.
The US and Swiss banking crises led to Brent’s 15-month low. Since January, 7 percent has been lost.
International benchmark crude traded at $79.89 on Friday following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to a note last month, macro-driven factors will prevent Opec+ from intervening in crude’s price slump.
Non-fundamental drivers could have unintended consequences. Despite deteriorating balances, analysts say the group will continue backing the market.
Annual oil price
As Chinese oil demand grows in 2023, Opec further raises its forecast for zero-Covid regulations.
This year’s crude demand estimate remained at 2.3 million barrels per day.
Oil policy is unlikely to change, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights.
China’s jet fuel demand and Western gasoline demand will push [oil] prices higher in the second half of 2023.
In Opec, Haitham Al Ghais says one segment is growing “promisingly” while the other is declining.
At the CeraWeek energy conference in Houston, Mr Al Ghais said, “We are concerned more about the slowdown in Europe and the US relating to the financial situation and inflation.”
In response to the Ukraine war, central banks raised interest rates aggressively last year to control inflation.
As a result of recent financial market turmoil, the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points last month.
Recently, the European Central Bank raised interest rates by 0.5 percentage points without adjusting its monetary policy plans.
Even though the group is seeing “strong” demand in Asia and steady fuel consumption west of Suez, Opec+ may be reluctant to suggest further production cuts because it fears the market will perceive it as an indication of weak demand.
As of now, Opec+ oil fundamentals remain unchanged.
Global oil demand is expected to rise “sharply” this year due to pent-up Chinese demand and an increase in air traffic.
The agency said oil demand growth will “accelerate” to 2.6 million bpd in the fourth quarter.
US crude stockpiles and Russian production against sanctions led Goldman Sachs to lower its oil price forecast for 2023.
In the second half of next year, Brent is expected to trade at $97 a barrel, up from $94 now.
The OPEC previous projection was $100.
UBS forecasts positive long-term oil prices despite near-term volatility.
In the coming quarters, prices are likely to rise as Chinese crude imports and demand rise.
Last week, UBS strategist Giovanni Staunovo said fundamentals support a tightening of the oil market.
In the March 20-24 week, the US saw a large drop in refined product inventories due to China’s recovery.
The Russian production cut is not evident in Russian crude and refined product exports, which are both up from February.”
A month ago, Goldman Sachs revised its first quarter and 2023 full-year GDP growth forecasts for China from 2.7% to 6.0%. Growth last year was about 3%.
Oil prices could rise by around one per cent in 2023 as China’s economy reopens, the investment bank predicted in January.
According to Carole Nakhle, chief executive at Crystol Energy, “oil markets are most likely getting pressure from the economic outlook, so much so that whether banks collapse will lead to a full-blown crisis is still unknown”.
As the situation unfolds, Opec+ might delay output changes until more clarity is gained,” she said.
Global economic growth is expected to be 2.9% this year, up from 2.7% previously, but the IMF warns that inflation and the Ukraine war will continue to weigh on the global economy.
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Business
PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.
This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.
Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.
Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.
The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.
Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.
Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.
The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.
Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.
Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.
Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.
Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.
Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”
Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.
The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.
Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.
The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.
Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”
Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.
The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.
Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.
The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:
SOURCE: CNBC
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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
Business
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.
This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.
For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.
This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.
Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”
This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.
This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.
Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.
Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.
Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.
This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.
It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.
Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”
This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.
We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.
Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.
SOURCE: THBL
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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
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Business
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.
According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
SOURCE | AP
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