Nine Entertainment is the top gainer among Australian shares.
Australian shares rose Friday on the back of gains in energy and mining stocks, as well as strong commodity prices. Nine Entertainment was the biggest gainer, after Domain Holdings Australia, which owns 60%, received a purchase offer. As of 0026 GMT, the S&P/ASX 200 was up by 0.1% to 8,333.1. The benchmark index has lost 2.6% in the first week. Iron ore prices rose overnight, causing miners to gain as much as 1.5 percent. BHP Group and Rio Tinto gained between 0.2% and 1,6% on Friday. The strong oil price has led to a 1.5% increase in energy stocks.
Australia's Santos posts 16% drop in annual profit on lower prices, slashes dividend
Santos, an Australian oil and natural gas company, reported a lower-than expected annual profit and declared a smaller payout on Wednesday. The lower realized prices and decreasing production were to blame. The oil and gas market remained volatile throughout the year. Supply chain disruptions caused by geopolitical concerns and a slowdown in demand from China, the United States' largest trading partner, hurt sales and production. The average realized oil price for the year fell by 3%, to $84.76 a barrel. Prices for LNG also dropped 3%, to $12.31 a million British thermal units.
Sources: Woodside Australia is in talks with three partners about Louisiana LNG.
Multiple sources have confirmed that Woodside Energy is in talks with several potential investors to buy stakes in the Louisiana liquefied gas plant. These include Tokyo Gas, Japan’s JERA, and Saudi Aramco’s MidOcean Energy. This sale of stakes is a test of market expectations for LNG following Donald Trump's return to the U.S. Presidency. Trump said that trade partners should purchase more U.S. Energy and has issued several executive order in his first week in office to boost domestic oil and natural gas production.
Prices of EUROPE GAS close lower due to easing supply concerns
On Monday, the benchmark Dutch wholesale gas prices for the first month fell as a result of easing fears about supply. This was at a time when European leaders were meeting to discuss strategies on any possible peace agreement between Ukraine & Russia. The benchmark front-month contract for the Dutch TTF hub was almost 6% lower, closing at 47.72 Euros per megawatt-hour (MWh), compared to the level it closed on January 20. Meanwhile, the April contract was 5.6% lower, closing at 48.05 Euros/MWh. Other contracts also fell. The British month-ahead contract closed at 118.04 cents per therm, 4.80 pence less.
Trump announces that the US will increase its military sales to India and eventually provide F-35 Jets
Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that the United States would increase its military sales to India beginning in 2025. It will also eventually provide F-35 jet fighters. "We will increase military sales to India many billions dollars." Trump told reporters that we're also clearing the path to eventually provide India with F-35 stealth aircraft. Trump didn't provide a timetable, but it usually takes years to complete foreign military sales. This is especially true for cutting-edge technologies like the stealthy F-35.
Inpex, a Japanese company, targets FID in 2027 for Indonesia's Abadi Liquefied natural gas project
Inpex Corp., Japan's largest oil and gas exploration company, announced on Thursday that it plans to make its final investment decision on the Abadi project for liquefied gas in Indonesia by 2027, as part of efforts to increase LNG supply. The company has a three-year plan that will run through 2027. It plans to invest 11.8 trillion yen (11,7 billion dollars) in areas of growth, including the flagship Ichthys project in Australia. "Natural Gas and LNG have relatively low greenhouse gas emission intensity compared to fossil fuels…
Origin Energy's profit exceeds expectations on the back of strong LNG earnings
Origin Energy, an Australian power company, beat analysts' expectations on Thursday. This was due to higher LNG sales and gains from LNG trading. These factors offset a sharp drop at the energy markets division. Origin Energy, along with AGL Energy and Energy Australia as one of Australia's "Big Three" retailers of electricity, will spend A$1.5 billion to A$1.7 billion between fiscal 2025 and the majority of that money will go towards building storage batteries. Frank Calabria, Chief Executive Officer of Origin said: "Origin delivered a solid first-half performance...
Japan's JERA is seeing increased competition for US LNG from Asia and Europe
JERA, Japan's largest power generator, expects the competition for U.S. LNG to grow as Asia and Europe increase their demand. There are many buyers. Asian and European buyers really want U.S. Energy. There are many competitors," JERA Asia's CEO Izumi Ka told the India Energy Week Conference on the sidelines. After the Trump administration lifted the moratorium in January on new LNG export permits, companies in the U.S. are moving forward with plans to expand or create new export capacity. Trump's decision may pave the path for an additional 100 million metric tonnes per year (tpy), of LNG, by 2031.
Australia adopts tax incentives for critical minerals
Australia's Parliament has passed laws to give production tax breaks on critical minerals and renewable hydrogen, in an effort to boost energy transition plans, as the country aims for net zero emissions and reduce its dependence on China by 2050. The centre-left Labor Government said that the law passed on Tuesday will provide tax incentives of up to 10% for the processing and refining cost for 31 essential minerals for the fiscal years ending in June 2028 until 2040. A tax incentive of A$2 (1.26 USD) per kilogram of renewable hydrogen will be provided.
ChampionX executive: New U.S. tariffs on metals will increase oilfield equipment prices.
A company official told reporters on Tuesday that ChampionX anticipates the new U.S. tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum will increase equipment costs for oilfield services firms. U.S. president Donald Trump increased tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum on Monday, to a flat rate of 25% "without any exceptions or exclusions". He hopes this will help struggling industries in the United States. However, it also risks igniting a multifront trade war. Steve Davoren's Regional Business Development Director…
Macquarie, Australia's Macquarie Bank, has'very little exposure' in Trump's war on green energy
Macquarie Group, the top Australian investment bank, downplayed on Tuesday its exposure to U.S. green power sector that has been disrupted by executive orders issued by President Donald Trump. It posted a flat profit for the third quarter. The bank that makes a third its profit in Americas said it has reviewed its U.S. investments and found minimal exposure since Trump signed executive orders banning or freezing government benefits for sustainable energies. Macquarie's CEO Shemara Wikamanayake said on a conference call with analysts that the U.S. had very few investments.
Taiwan buys Alaskan Natural Gas to avoid US Tariffs
The economy ministry announced on Monday that Taiwan was "quite interested in" natural gas from Alaska, and would continue to evaluate the feasibility of purchasing it. This is as the government tries to reduce the trade surplus and avoid tariffs with the United States. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said on Friday that he planned to announce reciprocal duties on many countries by this week. This is a major step in his offensive to reshape international trade relationships to ways he believes are in America's favor. Taiwan has a large surplus in trade with the United States.
Taiwan sends officials to the US to discuss possible Trump Tariffs
Kuo Jyh Huei, the Economy Minister, said that Taiwan sent officials to Washington, D.C., to discuss potential U.S. Tariffs by President Donald Trump. The government has also made preparations in case they are imposed. The possibility exists that Trump, who accused Taiwan of stealing American semiconductor business during his campaign last year, will actually follow through with his threats to impose tariffs on imported chip imports. Trump announced on Friday that he will announce reciprocal tariffs against many countries by Monday or on Tuesday.
Potentia Energy purchases major Australian renewable energy assets
Potentia Energy is a joint venture of Italy's Enel and Japan's INPEX Corp. It announced Thursday that it will buy control stakes in renewable energy projects worth 1 gigawatt in Australia. This investment comes from investors in private equity funds and superannuation funds. Potentia stated that the acquisition included 700 megawatts in wind and solar assets and 430 Megawatts in late-stage projects, consisting of South Australian and Queensland Battery Energy storage system. The company also said that a wind farm in West Australia is included in this portfolio.
Australian shares are led higher by banks and retailers.
Australian shares followed Wall Street's rise on Thursday. Financial stocks and consumer discretionary companies led the charge, after investor concerns about a global war of trade began to fade. As of 2350 GMT, the S&P/ASX 200 Index rose by 0.9% to 8,490.7. The benchmark closed Wednesday 0.5% higher. Overnight the Dow Jones Industrial Average in the U.S. rose 0.71%. The S&P 500 increased by 0.39%. Nasdaq gained 0.19%. Investors ignored the comments of President Donald Trump, who said that the U.S. wanted to develop the economically-destroyed Gaza Strip.
China's tariff retaliation is aimed at its modest US energy imports
China is the largest energy importer in the world, but its purchases of US crude oil, LNG and coal are relatively modest. This reduces the impact of Beijing’s Tuesday move to impose retaliatory duties on the imports of U.S. natural gas, LNG, and crude oil. China's Finance Ministry announced that, on February 10, it will impose tariffs of up to 15% on the imports of U.S. crude oil, LNG, and coal, and 10% on some autos and farm equipment. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration revealed that Chinese imports of U.S.
Waaree, a manufacturer of Indian solar modules, is confident in US demand despite Trump's policy concerns. CEO Waaree
Amit Paithankar, CEO of Waaree Energies, said that the company is confident about U.S. demand, and it is well-positioned to handle possible import tariffs under Donald Trump thanks to its Texas operations. Last week, Trump ordered that spending on climate and infrastructure laws, tax credits for clean industries and new offshore wind leasing be halted. In the last nine months, nearly one fifth of Waaree’s revenue came from the United States. This is a major market for Indian manufacturers of solar modules. Waaree stock has been impacted by concerns about Trump's clean-energy stance.
Australia's Origin Energy lowers its APLNG production for 2025
Origin Energy announced on Friday that it expects Australia Pacific LNG to produce less in 2025. However, the company reported a sequential increase of 11% in its second-quarter revenues from its stake in this project due to higher gas prices. The power producer expects production in 2025 from APLNG, Origin's joint-venture with U.S. oil major ConocoPhillips (and Sinopec) -- to be between 670-690 Petajoules. This is 2%-3 % lower than its previous guidance. Origin's forecast was impacted by the lower performance of some Queensland projects and weaker performance in non-operated asset due to unplanned maintenance.
Trump's policies and European demand will tighten the global LNG market by 2025.
The global market for liquefied gas could be tighter this year, as the rising demand in Europe intensifies competition between Asia and North America and offsets new North American supplies at a moment when President Donald Trump’s energy policies and tariffs are also being closely watched. Energy Aspects, a consultancy, said that Europe's LNG consumption is expected to increase by over 14 million metric tones to 101 million tones in 2025 as it replenishes storage facilities for gas and replaces lost supplies after the Russia-Ukraine transit agreement expired at the end last year.
Tariffs on copper and aluminium by Trump could increase costs for U.S. customers
Analysts and industry participants stated on Tuesday that President Donald Trump's promise to impose tariffs on U.S. imports of copper and aluminum would lead to higher prices for local consumers due a lack of production at home and the time required to renew the industry. Trump told Republican lawmakers that he will impose tariffs on steel and aluminium, metals needed for the production of U.S. Military hardware. Trump was elected president of the United States in November, promising to reduce…
