Gasoline refining margins jump in thin trading

Northwest European gasoline refining margins rose $2.29 to $39.60 a barrel on Friday to a four-year high in thin trading liquidity, supported by lower supplies and firm export demand.

• Finco and Shell sold a combined 6,000 metric tons of Eurobob E10 gasoline barges to Varo.

• Aramco sold 2,000 tons of Eurobob E5 gasoline barges to Exxon.

• will lower domestic retail prices for gasoline and diesel from Saturday, reflecting a fall in international oil prices as Iran-U.S. peace talks have eased concern about supply disruption through the Strait of Hormuz.

• Gasoline stocks held independently in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp refining and storage hub fell 7.4% to 940,000 metric tons on high exports and strong inland demand, data from Dutch consultancy Insights Global showed.

• Americans are revving up for the Fourth of July holiday, undeterred by gasoline prices that remain elevated and well above historical levels.