US diesel refining margin (diesel crack spread) has surged above $100/bbl, a record level amid tightening global fuel production. The diesel crack hovered around $100/bbl on Tuesday, slightly below a prior peak above $102/bbl; it first closed above $100/bbl on Monday. Before this year the metric had never exceeded $89/bbl; the previous record was set in October 2022 during a diesel shortage ahead of winter. A combination of factors has created a near "perfect storm" pushing diesel prices higher

Aug 18 — The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued new sanctions related to the International Criminal Court and updated the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, adding ICC president Tomoko Akane (Japan) and Senegalese ICC prosecutor-team member Abdoulaye Seye. OFAC also issued General License No.12, authorising a phased wind‑down of certain transactions involving persons blocked on Aug. 18. The ICC said the measures undermine the rule of law, will not prevent staff from performing duties, and pledged to defend its personnel. Dutch foreign minister Berendsen said the Netherlands opposes the sanctions.

US Redbook weekly chain-store sales YoY 7.6% in week to Aug 15, down from 8.3% in the prior week.