A pumpjack is shown outside Midland-Odessa area in the Permian basin in Texas, U.S., July 17, 2018. Image taken July 17, 2018.
Liz Hampton | Reuters
Crude oil futures rose on Wednesday, adding to a recent streak of gains after an OPEC+ committee meeting ended without recommending changes to production policy.
The West Texas Intermediate contract for May delivery gained 72 cents, or 0.85%, to $85.87 a barrel. The Brent contract for June delivery added 77 cents, or 0.87%, to $89.69.
Some members of OPEC and its allies led by Russia, called OPEC+, are voluntarily cutting 2.2 million barrels per day of production through at least the second quarter.
The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee concluded a meeting Wednesday without recommending changes to OPEC+ current production policy, according to two delegates. The committee can only make recommendations for OPEC+ to consider at a formal meeting.
Oil Prices, Energy News and Analysis
U.S. crude and the global benchmark have rallied about 20% and 16% this year as improving economic growth expectations should push the oil market into a 450,000 barrel per day deficit in the second and third quarters, according to Bank of America.
Crude oil gained this week on mounting geopolitical tensions. Ukraine continued its campaign of drone strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, hitting the country’s third-largest oil refinery.
And OPEC member Iran vowed to respond against Israel, accusing the country of bombing its consulate in Damascus and killing seven officials of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.
The escalating tensions between Israel and Iran have raised fears again of a wider war in the Middle East that could disrupt crude supplies.
Jeep’s first electric SUV in the US just got more affordable. On Thursday, Jeep launched a new Limited trim at the Chicago Auto Show. The new 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S Limited trim is $5,000 cheaper than the Launch Edition. And it also qualifies for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. Here’s what the new model includes.
Jeep promised a new Wagoneer S trim would be available this month, and it delivered. The new Limited model, with a starting price of $66,995, “further enhances” the electric SUV’s attractiveness.
The new Limited trim joins the Launch Edition in Jeep’s 2025 Wagoneer S lineup. The Wagoneer S Limited model is $5,000 cheaper than the Launch Edition, which starts at $71,995.
Like the initial model, the new Wagoneer S Limited still offers plenty of features and exclusive design elements. It has a black roof and mirror caps, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, 20″ aluminum wheels, and low-profile exterior badging.
Inside, the Limited trim maintains the “best-in-class” infotainment system from the Launch Edition, with 45″ of usable screen space. Buyers can choose from a new Hyrdo Blue exterior color and Arctic Grey interior design.
Other optional features include a segment-exlusive front passenger screen and a premium 920-watt McItosh sound system, The Propulsion Boost Package and Obsidian Appearance Package will be available later. The Propulsion upgrade is delivered over-the-air (OTA), providing up to 600 hp.
Jeep’s new model still includes its signature Selec-Terrain traction management system with five drive modes: Auto, Sport, Snow, Sand, and Eco.
With a 400V, 100 kWh battery pack, the Wagoneer S can charge from 20% to 80% in 23 minutes using a DC fast charger.
2025 Jeep Wagoneer S trim
Starting Price
Range
Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition
$71,995
+300 miles
Jeep Wagoneer S Limited
$66,995
+300 miles
2025 Jeep Wagoneer S price and range by trim
The 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S Limited is available to order now, starting at $66,995 (including a $1,795 destination fee). All Wagoneer S models qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit.
Nuclear energy is set for a “renaissance” that will be accelerated by backing from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
That’s according to Yuri Khodjamirian, chief information officer at Tema ETFs, who noted that the Trump administration is “very, very interested in backing this technology.’ However, he also warned investors that developing this energy source is “going to take time.”
New nuclear technology approvals take “10 years to get done,” Khodjamirian said, but added that the nuclear re-emergence will likely be accelerated under the new Trump administration.
Speaking to CNBC’s Silvia Amaro on Tuesday’s “Squawk Box Europe,” Khodjamirian said his investment fund has its eyes on firms with a history of developing nuclear technology, such as U.S.-based BWX Technologies, which builds nuclear reactors for military carriers and submarines.
Khodjamirian said Tema is being “very selective in a new technology called small scale modular reactors.”
Small scale modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors with the ability to provide around one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
SMRs take up less physical space compared to conventional reactors and produce a large amount of low-carbon electricity.
“There’s a lot of excitement there, and equally, a lot of loss-making companies that have unproven technologies, and we’re going for companies that have projects that are approved,” Khodjamirian said.
The nuclear energy renaissance is partly driven by a wave of people that are “realizing that it’s a stable, clean source of energy,” the chief investment officer said, adding that he believes that “there is a need for extra investment” in nuclear, alongside green energy sources that are variable in their electricity production.
“Renewables are good. They can be put up to speed quickly, but they require battery storage,” he said.
Wright is a known nuclear energy supporter, having previously served on the board of advanced reactor company Oklo, as well as having held the position of chief executive at Liberty Energy. The energy firm has since appointed a new CEO following Wright’s confirmation as U.S. secretary of energy.
Khodjamirian is also closely monitoring artificial intelligence volatility, after the emergence of China’s Open AI model DeepSeek sparked concerns over how much money big tech companies will invest in AI.
European nations have voiced security concerns over DeepSeek.
Italy was the first country to block DeepSeek on data protection concerns. France‘s privacy watchdog has expressed concerns and South Korea’s industry ministry has temporarily restricted employee access to the Chinese startup’s AI model.
Taiwan, meanwhile, banned state departments from using the Beijing-based chatbot, wary of potential security threats from Beijing.
The international pushback shows that “no one really knows exactly how to defend digital borders,” according to Khodjamirian.
Global concern will “limit the growth of this model, because it’s coming out of China, but it’s clearly showing you that the West needs to be aware that there’s a lot of technical development,” he said.
“[But] I do think it redraws some of the lines, and it’ll be interesting to see how the U.S. in particular reacts,” he added.
We are finally getting a look at Volkswagen’s answer to BYD and other low-cost Chinese electric cars. Volkswagen previewed its cheapest EV for the first time on Wednesday. It will kick off a new series of entry-level electric vehicles, with starting prices at €20,000, or just over $20,000.
Volkswagen teases its cheapest EV for the first time
At a meeting at its Wolfsburg plant on Wednesday, Volkswagen gave employees a sneak peek at the new model. The auto giant confirmed it will be a part of a new small electric car lineup.
Volkswagen said the new entry-level EV, with a base price of €20,000 ($20,000), “will be attractive for a wide variety” of buyers.
The first model in the new series will be the production version of the ID.2all, which was unveiled in March 2022. Volkswagen said the first ID.2 models will arrive at dealerships in 2026 with a base price of less than €25,000 ($26,000).
CEO Thomas Shafer said at the meeting, “With the conclusion of negotiations in December, we set the largest future plan in Volkswagen’s history in motion.”
The ID.2 and new entry-level EV (likely the ID.1) will be key to Volkswagen’s plans to catch up with EV leaders like BYD and Tesla.
Based on the MEB Entry Platform, the ID.2 is expected to have a range of up to 279 miles (450 km). Volkswagen also teased an SUV version, which will follow in its upcoming entry-level EV lineup.
Volkswagen will introduce the show car for its new entry-level EV. The company plans to reveal the production model in 2027.
Volkswagen is preparing its Wolfsburg plant for the upcoming entry-level models. Shafer stressed that the plant would “remain the heart of the Volkswagen brand in the electric age.” It will also produce the next-gen electric Golf on Volkswagen’s new SSP platform alongside the new T-Roc EV.
For those in the US, don’t get too excited. The new entry-level EV likely won’t make the trip overseas. Shafer described the model as ” an affordable, high-quality, and profitable electric Volkswagen from Europe for Europe.”
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