Mexico's headline inflation rate eased more than expected in December, fueling bets that the central bank will keep cutting its benchmark interest rate despite an uptick in the core consumer price index.

Mexico’s annual inflation eased last month to the lowest level since February 2021, keeping in play a fifth straight interest rate cut at the central bank’s next policy meeting.

Mexico’s annual inflation rate dropped to a nearly four-year low of 4.21%, representing a notable decline of 0.34% from 4.55% in November. The inflation rate below market expectations remains quite astounding as they had predicted a rate of 4.

Oil and gas major Shell said on Thursday it had started production at the offshore floating facility Whale located in the Gulf of Mexico.

Shell (NYSE:SHEL) said Thursday it began production at its Whale floating facility in the Gulf of Mexico, which is expected to reach peak output of 100K boe/day; Whale is operator and 60% owned by Shell,

Shell Plc began production at its ‘Whale’ floating facility in the Gulf of Mexico, which is expected to reach daily peak production of 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent.