Trump terminates Biden-era methane rules putting Africa’s $101.75 billion oil and gas market in focus
Published . Updated .
US President Donald Trump has terminated Biden-era methane regulations in a move that could make it cheaper for American companies to produce oil and gas, increasing competition for African exporters seeking to sell natural gas to international buyers
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- UNG United States Natural Gas Fund-7.0% 30d
United States Natural Gas Fund: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “gas” (natural gas) in this story.
- XLE Energy Select Sector SPDR+6.5% 30d
Energy Select Sector SPDR: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “gas” (natural gas) in this story.
- USO United States Oil Fund+4.8% 30d
United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- BWET Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF+54.8% 19d
Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF: it tracks tanker freight rates. Linked by “oil” (tanker shipping) in this story.
- AFK VanEck Africa Index ETF-13.5% 6d
VanEck Africa Index ETF holds stocks listed in Africa, which this story is about (“africa”).
- EQT Eqt+5.8% 30d
Eqt (crude petroleum and natural gas): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “gas” (natural gas) in this story.
- LNG Cheniere Energy+11.9% 30d
Cheniere Energy (natural gas distribution): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “gas” (natural gas) in this story.
- WMB The Williams Companies
The Williams Companies (natural gas transmission): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “gas” (natural gas) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNGNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XLE | -0.12% | +1.60% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| USO | -2.37% | +3.62% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| BWETNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| AFKNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| EQTNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| LNGNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| WMBNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
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Trump terminates Biden-era methane rules putting Africa’s $101.75 billion oil and gas market in focus Business Insider Africa
Source: Business Insider Africa
The price since 28 Oct 2026: United States Oil Fund (USO) versus the S&P 500
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | three days earlier | +3.62% | final price |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | five days earlier | -2.37% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | three days earlier | +1.60% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | five days earlier | -0.12% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Eqt (EQT) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 27 Aug 2026. That is 62 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Eqt (EQT), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 17 Aug 2026. That is 72 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Eqt (EQT) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 14 Aug 2026. That is 75 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Sen. Alan Armstrong sold Williams Companies (WMB) (jointly held), worth $250,001 - $500,000 on 8 Sep 2026. That is 50 days before publication. Filed 22 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Sen. Alan Armstrong bought Williams Companies (WMB) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 20 Aug 2026. That is 69 days before publication. Filed 17 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Sen. Alan Armstrong bought Williams Companies (WMB) (jointly held), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 19 Aug 2026. That is 70 days before publication. Filed 17 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) (jointly held), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 31 Aug 2026. That is 58 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), worth $250,001 - $500,000 on 31 Jul 2026. That is 89 days before publication. Filed 22 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Chevron (CVX) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 35 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar bought Chevron (CVX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 2 Sep 2026. That is 56 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Chevron (CVX), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 26 Aug 2026. That is 63 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Companies in energy around United States Oil Fund (USO)
Companies tied to this story
- USO United States Oil Fund
In “Trump terminates Biden-era methane rules putting Africa’s $101.75 billion oil and gas market in focus,” United States Oil Fund (USO) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- XLE Select Sector Spdr Tr
Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 28 Oct 2026 story “Trump terminates Biden-era methane rules putting Africa’s $101.75 billion oil and gas market in focus.” Reason on file: Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- UNG United States Natural Gas Fund
United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 28 Oct 2026 story “Trump terminates Biden-era methane rules putting Africa’s $101.75 billion oil and gas market in focus.” Reason on file: United States Natural Gas Fund: it follows natural-gas prices. Linked by “gas” (natural gas) in this story
- BWET Amplify Commodity Trust
For “Trump terminates Biden-era methane rules putting Africa’s $101.75 billion oil and gas market in focus,” Amplify Commodity Trust (BWET) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF: it tracks tanker freight rates. Linked by “oil” (tanker shipping) in this story
- AFK Vaneck Etf Trust
In “Trump terminates Biden-era methane rules putting Africa’s $101.75 billion oil and gas market in focus,” Vaneck Etf Trust (AFK) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: VanEck Africa Index ETF holds stocks listed in Africa, which this story is about (“africa”)
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings
For “Trump terminates Biden-era methane rules putting Africa’s $101.75 billion oil and gas market in focus,” ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- CVX Chevron
For “Trump terminates Biden-era methane rules putting Africa’s $101.75 billion oil and gas market in focus,” Chevron (CVX) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- EQT Eqt
For “Trump terminates Biden-era methane rules putting Africa’s $101.75 billion oil and gas market in focus,” Eqt (EQT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Eqt (crude petroleum and natural gas): gas producers and exporters earn more when gas prices rise. Linked by “gas” (natural gas) in this story
United States Oil Fund (USO) and the energy link
The 28 Oct 2026 story “Trump terminates Biden-era methane rules putting Africa’s $101.75 billion oil and gas market in focus” names United States Oil Fund (USO) because of Energy.
The link for United States Oil Fund (USO) is this: United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
A second company, Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE), is listed for a different reason: Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
Dates in the story, and the United States Oil Fund (USO) price range
UNG traded between 9.31 and 11.43 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 9.63. USO traded between 141.82 and 169.96 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 163.62. XLE traded between 61.05 and 69.86 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 68.23.
The energy score for United States Oil Fund (USO)
46 out of 100
“Trump terminates Biden-era methane rules putting Africa’s $101.75 billion oil and gas market in focus” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 8 linked companies.