Economy

Volatile oil market
Oil tankers have left Venezuela despite blockade

A dozen Venezuelan oil tankers have sailed out of the country's territorial waters in what Reuters reports is a "dark mode" in recent days, citing the website TankerTrackers.

The ships were reportedly loaded with crude oil and fuel. According to information provided to Reuters, four of them had been given the green light by Venezuelan authorities to leave the country in "dark mode". All of the identified ships are subject to US sanctions.

It is unclear whether the ships have violated the blockade imposed by the US, since Donald Trump has said that countries such as China will continue to receive oil from Venezuela despite the blockade.

According to The New York Times, there are 16 ships involved. Twelve of them have stopped sending signals and their positions are unknown. Four of them have, according to satellite images, been seen sailing about 40 kilometers from the coast under false names and are said to have left port without approval from the authorities.

Sources: Trump lies about talks with oil giants

Donald Trump is to meet with US oil giants later this week to discuss Venezuela's oil industry, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

This weekend, Trump said he had met with "all" US oil companies both before and after the capture of Nicolás Maduro - but none of the three largest companies Exxon Mobil, Conoco Phillips or Chevron have been contacted by the president, according to four industry executives.

- No one in any of these three companies has held talks about operating in Venezuela, either before or after (Maduro) was taken away, one of them said.
Crypto market
Crypto voices see Sweden: "We are standing still and sulking"
By Patrik Dahlin, Omni Ekonomi
Published January 5, 19:36

Swedish politicians, authorities and private players do not take the role of cryptocurrencies in global markets seriously. This is what Rebecka Ander from the crypto exchange service BTCX tells DI.

She believes that bitcoin is a geopolitical asset and that its importance will grow. She believes that Sweden will fall even further behind unless institutional investors embrace cryptocurrencies in the way that small savers have.

– While we stand there sulking, countries like the US, UK, China and Bhutan are building up their strategic reserves with bitcoin, which will give them a huge advantage in the future economy.

Ander is supported by crypto manager Virtunes CEO Christopher Kock and Emelie Moritz, CEO of crypto exchange Safello.

USA vs Venezuela  The kidnapping
Switzerland freezes Nicolás Maduro's assets

The Swiss government has frozen assets in the country belonging to Venezuela's ousted ex-president Nicolás Maduro and people with close ties to him. This is stated in a press release.

With this, Switzerland wants to prevent the money from being taken out but also ensure that it can be returned to the Venezuelan people.

However, it is not clear how much money is involved.

Saab sales
Canada eyes F-35 – to be matched against Gripen bid

The Canadian government will meet with senior representatives of Lockheed Martin to discuss plans to buy a large number of F-35 planes, the country's Industry Minister, Mélanie Joly, told Bloomberg.

Just over two years ago, Canada announced that the country would buy 88 F-35s, but since then only 16 have been acquired.

According to the news agency, the Canadian ambition is now to get the American company to match the offer that Saab presented regarding Jas Gripen earlier last winter.

- We have a very interesting offer from Saab, says the minister.

Saab has offered to produce the aircraft in Canada.