20121207 1120 Global Markets & Energy Related News.

GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia shares edge higher, focus on U.S. jobs
TOKYO, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Asian shares ticked up to a 16-month high following modest overnight gains in global equities as investors watched progress in U.S. budget talks and awaited U.S. nonfarm payrolls data later in the day.
"The main board is expected to rise on Friday, but gains will be limited in the absence of game-changing events since the last session as we await U.S. employment data," Cho Byung-hyun, an analyst at Tong Yang Securities, said of Seoul shares.

FOREX-Downbeat ECB knocks wind out of euro bulls
SYDNEY, Dec 7 (Reuters) - The euro languished at one-week lows against the greenback, having suffered a major setback after the European Central Bank painted a bleak outlook for the euro zone and discussed cutting interest rates.
"The main trigger for the sharply negative euro reaction was the mention of a 'wide' discussion over rate cuts, while Mr. Draghi also said the ECB was 'operationally ready' for negative rates," said BNP Paribas strategist Vassili Serebriakov.

ECB discusses rate cut, depicts bleak 2013
FRANKFURT, Dec 6 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank pondered an interest rate cut on Thursday and predicted the euro zone economy would shrink again in 2013, leaving the door open rrowing costs early next year.
ECB President Mario Draghi said the policymaking Governing Council held a wide discussion on interest rates before opting  to leave them on hold. The euro fell against the dollar and the yen in response.

 US seen extending Iran sanction waivers to India,others-sources
WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - The United States is likely to announce on Friday that it will give at least seven economies including India, South Korea and Turkey another six-month reprieve from financial sanctions against Iran, two U.S. government sources said.
As Washington works with the economies to rein in Tehran's nuclear ambitions, the State Department will likely extend the waivers, known as "exceptions," because they reduced their purchases of Iran's crude.

Argentina's LNG imports seen at record in 2013
BUENOS AIRES, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Argentina will buy as many as 83 cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2013, rising to a record on expectations for brisker economic growth, a source at state energy company Enarsa said on Thursday.
The South American country originally planned to import 80 cargoes this year, but slower economic growth and increased supplies of piped natural gas from Bolivia reduced the original forecast to 56 cargoes.

Indonesia 2013 LNG exports to drop 13.8 pct
JAKARTA, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Indonesia's liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports are expected to drop 13.8 percent in 2013 to 274 cargoes as its production declines and it sets aside more gas for domestic use, a source at its new interim oil and gas regulator (SKMigas) said.
Indonesia, the world's third-largest LNG exporter, is increasing the use of natural gas at home to avoid costly imports and to feed rising demand. Supplies have also declined from its ageing fields.

Oil falls on euro zone concerns, dollar strength
NEW YORK, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Thursday after the head of the European Central Bank said the euro zone's economic outlook faces "downside risk" and a recovery may not happen until later in 2013.
"Oil prices dropped on economic uncertainty in both Washington and Europe, with the ECB comments indicating it could take a year to start recovery there," said Gene McGillian of Tradition Energy in Connecticut.