{"id":59989,"date":"2026-03-20T07:38:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T11:38:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/energy-markets-braced-for-spr-influx-as-bbva-launches-e1b-buyback\/59989\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T07:38:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T11:38:24","slug":"energy-markets-braced-for-spr-influx-as-bbva-launches-e1b-buyback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/energy-markets-braced-for-spr-influx-as-bbva-launches-e1b-buyback\/59989\/","title":{"rendered":"Energy Markets Braced for SPR Influx as BBVA Launches \u20ac1B Buyback"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>US Energy Secretary Chris Wright<\/strong> confirms that oil from the <strong>Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)<\/strong> will begin arriving at ports within <strong>three to four days<\/strong>, part of a massive <strong>172-million-barrel<\/strong> release.<\/li>\n<li><strong>BBVA (<a href=\"\/stock\/BBVA\">BBVA<\/a>)<\/strong> has launched a <strong>\u20ac1 billion<\/strong> share buyback program, marking the second tranche of its record-breaking <strong>\u20ac3.96 billion<\/strong> capital return initiative.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Serbia<\/strong> is slashing excise duties on crude oil by <strong>20%<\/strong> to mitigate the impact of global price spikes on its domestic economy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>UK manufacturing sentiment<\/strong> showed a marginal improvement in February, with output volume expectations rising to <strong>-3<\/strong> from <strong>-12<\/strong>, despite total orders remaining weak.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>Swiss Government<\/strong> is tightening oversight on trade, announcing that all existing export licenses will henceforth be reviewed by an <strong>interdepartmental expert group<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Energy Markets and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve<\/h2>\n<p>US Energy Secretary <strong>Chris Wright<\/strong> announced on Friday that the first shipments of oil from the <strong>Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)<\/strong> are expected to reach domestic ports within <strong>72 to 96 hours<\/strong>. This move is part of a coordinated <strong>400-million-barrel<\/strong> release by <strong>International Energy Agency (IEA)<\/strong> member nations intended to stabilize global markets. Wright noted that while oil is currently needed more urgently in <strong>Asia<\/strong>, the US is committed to its role in the coordinated release to counter supply disruptions.<\/p>\n<p>The Secretary also addressed the potential reintegration of <strong>Iranian oil<\/strong> into global markets. According to Wright, if sanctions were lifted, the market could absorb unsanctioned Iranian supply within <strong>30 to 45 days<\/strong>. In the interim, the administration is focusing on domestic infrastructure, including a new <strong>SoftBank Group (<a href=\"\/stock\/SFTBY\">SFTBY<\/a>)<\/strong> power plant that will be powered by <strong>natural gas<\/strong>, signaling a continued reliance on fossil fuels for grid stability.<\/p>\n<h2>Financial Sector: BBVA\u2019s Massive Capital Return<\/h2>\n<p>In the banking sector, <strong>BBVA (<a href=\"\/stock\/BBVA\">BBVA<\/a>)<\/strong> confirmed it will carry out a second share buyback program with a maximum amount of <strong>\u20ac1 billion<\/strong>. This follows the successful completion of a <strong>\u20ac1.5 billion<\/strong> first tranche earlier this month. The program is a core component of the bank&#39;s strategy to return excess capital to shareholders, with the ultimate goal of distributing <strong>\u20ac3.96 billion<\/strong> by the end of 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The buyback comes as major central banks, including the <strong>Federal Reserve<\/strong> and the <strong>European Central Bank (ECB)<\/strong>, keep their policy options open. While the <strong>Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)<\/strong> has moved forward with rate hikes, other major institutions are weighing the inflationary pressures of war against the risks of a broader economic slowdown.<\/p>\n<h2>Geopolitical Tensions and Trade Controls<\/h2>\n<p>Geopolitical stability remains a primary concern for markets following the <strong>Fordo bombing<\/strong> last June. The <strong>White House<\/strong> is reportedly preparing a response that may include deploying troops into the region to establish a presence capable of neutralizing <strong>drone threats<\/strong>. This potential escalation has already prompted regional shifts, with <strong>President Vucic<\/strong> announcing that <strong>Serbia<\/strong> will cut excise duties on crude oil to protect consumers from the resulting price volatility.<\/p>\n<p>In Europe, the <strong>Swiss Government<\/strong> is adopting a more rigorous stance on international trade. An <strong>interdepartmental expert group<\/strong> has been tasked with the regular review of all existing export licenses. This move follows increased scrutiny of &quot;dual-use&quot; goods and reflects a broader trend of European nations tightening trade controls amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<h2>UK Manufacturing and Economic Indicators<\/h2>\n<p>The latest <strong>CBI Industrial Trends Survey<\/strong> for February suggests that the downturn in <strong>UK manufacturing<\/strong> may be bottoming out. While the <strong>Total Orders<\/strong> balance remained weak at <strong>-27<\/strong>, the <strong>Output Volume Expectations<\/strong> balance improved significantly to <strong>-3<\/strong>. However, price pressures remain a concern for the <strong>Bank of England<\/strong>, as <strong>Output Price Expectations<\/strong> stayed elevated at <strong>+12<\/strong>, albeit down from the <strong>+26<\/strong> recorded in January.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways US Energy Secretary Chris Wright confirms that oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) will begin arriving at 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