The accelerating demise of diesel, long used by carmakers to boost fuel-efficiency, is undermining their plans to meet looming European Union CO2 goals, and avoid big annual fines. SEE MORE US February ethylene contracts have settled for a majority of participants at a decline of 2.75 cents/lb from the prior month amid lower spot prices and lower production costs, market sources said on late on Thursday and on Friday. SEE MORE As winter weather continues to suppress European market activity, muriate of potash (MOP) pricing elsewhere in the world has registered a slight uptick, with granular MOP trading at or above $300/tonne CFR (cost & freight) in both Brazil and Southeast Asia. SEE MORE Spot propylene prices in northeast Asia have fallen by 3.1% over three consecutive weeks, weighed down by poor sentiment, and may remain under pressure in the near term amid weakness in China’s domestic market. SEE MORE China stepped up its push to curb financial risk, cutting its budget deficit target for the first time since 2012 and setting a growth goal of around 6.5 percent that omitted last year’s aim for a faster pace if possible. SEE MORE