How Trump's tariffs could affect the commodity and energy sector
Donald Trump, the U.S. president, imposed duties on Canada and Mexico of 25% each and China a 10% tax on Saturday. He said the measures were necessary to fight illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Canada and Mexico immediately pledged retaliatory actions, while China announced it would challenge Trump’s tariffs at the World Trade Organization as well as take other countermeasures. Trump's decision has caused volatility on the commodities markets. We still expect Canadian oil companies to ultimately bear the majority of the burden with a wider than normal discount of $3 to $4 per barrel on Canadian crude due to the limited export markets.
Big Oil is not rushing to "drill, baby drill" this year despite Trump's agenda
Wall Street believes that U.S. energy companies will keep spending under control in 2025, and focus on shareholder returns despite President Donald Trump's calls to "drill baby, drill". This week, Big Oil will report its fourth-quarter results. The outlook for the next year should reflect Trump's agenda to maximize oil and gas production and the expectations of investors. In recent years, the industry has been pushing to reduce costs and increase output by using more efficient technologies rather than drilling new wells. As the global oil market continues to decline…
S&P 500 reaches record high thanks to Netflix results and AI investment plan
Wall Street indexes rose Wednesday. The benchmark S&P 500 hit a record during the session as investors cheered the quarterly report from streaming video provider Netflix and technology shares rallied after President Donald Trump's announcement of a private sector artificial intelligence infrastructure plan. The S&P 500 index's 11 main industry sectors were led by the technology sector, which saw a big boost from AI chip leaders Nvidia and Microsoft. The day after Trump's announcement, investors piled up bets on the promise of AI. A $500 billion investment plan for private sector AI infrastructure from a venture that includes Oracle…
S&P 500 reaches record highs on Netflix results and AI investment plans
Wall Street's major indexes rose Wednesday. The benchmark S&P 500 hit a record high as investors cheered the quarterly report from streaming video provider Netflix and technology shares rallied following the announcement of an artificial intelligence infrastructure plan for the private sector. Data pointing to an economy in which inflation is cooling and President Donald Trump's less aggressive approach to tariffs than expected have boosted risk appetites. Netflix, the S&P 500’s largest percentage gainer, posted a 9.8% increase after reporting a record number for holiday quarter subscribers. This allowed the company to raise prices for many service plans.
Orsted plunges 17% following US impairments, Trump adds uncertainty
Orsted shares fell 17% Tuesday, after the company posted an impairment charge for delays in a U.S. off-shore project. The sector is now facing uncertainty following President Donald Trump's withdrawal of government support for wind energy. Orsted announced a fourth quarter impairment charge of 12.1 billion Danish crowns (1.69 billion dollars) due to factors such as Sunrise Wind which will be the largest U.S. off-shore wind project when completed. Mads Nipper, CEO of the company, told investors that Tuesday's results were "very disappointing". It has been unable to unlock the full potential of the U.S.
Orsted shares fall 17% after US project fails, Trump's anti wind power policy hits
Orsted, the largest offshore wind developer in the world, saw its shares plummet 17% on February 2nd after it warned late on Monday about higher costs and delays for a critical U.S. offshore development. On his first day as president, Donald Trump announced that the U.S. government would no longer support wind power because windmills were ugly, expensive, and harmful to wildlife. Orsted announced late Monday that it had taken an impairment charge in the amount of $1.69 billion Danish crowns (12.1 billion Danish crowns) for the fourth quarter. The company cited a delay and increased costs associated with its Sunrise Wind Project, which will be the largest U.S.
PJM wants a delay in the auction of capacity after an environmentalist's complaint
PJM Interconnection will delay its next annual auction of capacity by six months, while the largest U.S. Grid Operator addresses a complaint made by environmental groups. The biggest U.S. Grid Operator said this in a letter sent on Thursday. PJM’s latest auction, which resulted to payments to power plants within its system that were 833% more than the previous years, raised concerns about a spike in power bills. The Sierra Club, Earthjustice, and other environmental groups filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last month, alleging that PJM increased capacity prices in part by excluding certain power stations without justification.
Natgas producer BKV is valued at $1.56 billion in its NYSE debut
BKV shares rose by 3.1% on their New York Stock Exchange debut on Thursday. This gives the U.S. Natural Gas Producer a market cap of $1.56 Billion. Companies looking to list shares have a new window of opportunity as the long-awaited rate-cutting cycle of the U.S. Federal Reserve begins. Several companies are also speeding up their plans in order to avoid the uncertainty that will result from the November presidential elections. BKV shares opened at $18.55 on their debut, as opposed to the $18 price for the initial public offer. The company raised $270m by selling 15 million of its shares at $18 per share, which is below the range it originally advertised between $19 and $21.
Money losing natgas producer BKV revives US IPO
BKV Corp, a natural gas producer in the red, said it plans to raise $315 million via an initial public offer of shares. This comes nearly two years after BKV first filed to sell its shares publicly. BKV said it will offer between $19 to $21 per share. The company aims to achieve a valuation up to $1.77bn in its IPO. Companies waiting to list shares have a new window of opportunity due to the recent increase in natural gas prices in the United States from their more than 30-year low inflation adjusted. This company was one of the U.S. producers who were hard hit by low natural gas prices during the past two years.
EOG will increase activity in the Utica shale in Ohio, says company
Jeff Leitzell, chief operating officer of Houston-based EOG Resources, told the Barclays CEO Energy-Power Conference attendees in New York that the company expects to increase operations in the Utica Shale play in Ohio. Leitzell stated that EOG Resources had doubled its Utica activity year-on-year. The company now operates on 445,000 acres at an average cost of $600 per acre. Leitzell stated that "The Utica has a chance to be a fundamental play." If we have the success we expect, we will invest more money in Utica. EOG also develops its Dorado natural-gas play in the Eagle Ford, in southeast Texas.
Sources say that Sinochem, a Chinese company, plans to withdraw from its US shale joint venture with Exxon.
Sinochem, a Chinese state-backed oil company, plans to sell its 40% stake, worth upwards of $ 2 billion, in a U.S. joint venture with Exxon Mobil, according to people familiar with the situation. Sources claim that Sinochem hired Barclays investment bankers to help it with the sale of its Wolfcamp joint-venture stake. Source: Exxon has the first right of refusal to sell the joint venture, which is majority owned and operated by the company. Sources cautioned, however, that the sale discussions are still in their early stages and a deal is not guaranteed with Exxon, or any other interested parties. This could include rival Asian oil companies.
US utilities to benefit from data center demand in the second half
After striking several supply agreements during the second quarter of 2018, U.S. Electric utilities were bullish about the demand for data centers that are driving the artificial intelligence boom. This reinforced market expectations regarding sales growth throughout the year. Several top utilities, such as American Electric Power, NextEra Energy and others, have signed contracts during the recent quarter, while other companies have expressed interest in technology. Timothy Winter, Gabelli Funds portfolio manager said: "We began to see some clarity regarding data center opportunities.
London's FTSE 100 continues to recover on the back of financials and corporate earnings
London stock markets rose broadly for the second consecutive session on Wednesday. Gains in financial stocks, and positive corporate earnings helped the indexes recover most of their losses earlier this week. The blue-chip FTSE 100 ended the day 1.8% higher, its highest showing in over four months. Meanwhile, the mid-cap FTSE 250 closed 1% up. Gains were made as the global appetite for risk improved following the Bank of Japan's unexpected reluctance to raise rates. This led to a steep fall in the Japanese yen, which caused the market turmoil on Monday. HSBC Bank, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays are amongst the biggest contributors to the FTSE 100.
Brent Shoots Past $80 a Barrel
Oil markets climbed for a sixth day on Tuesday, boosted by a tighter supply and firm demand outlook, but power shortages in China which hit factory output tempered the rally.Brent crude futures gained 67 cents, or 0.8%, to $80.20 a barrel at 1016 GMT, after reaching their highest level since October 2018 at $80.75. Brent gained 1.8% on Monday.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 79 cents, or 1%, to $76.24 a barrel, after hitting a session high of $76.67, its highest since early July. It jumped 2% the previous day.Hurricanes Ida and Nicholas, which swept through the U.S.
Baker Hughes Plots Low Carbon Future
Baker Hughes is pivoting to customers preparing for the transition to a low-carbon future, bolstering its footprint beyond oil and gas oilfield services, its chief executive said on Tuesday.The company will continue to downsize its oilfield services and equipment portfolio, CEO Lorenzo Simonelli said at the Barclays CEO Energy-Power conference, putting more emphasis on the energy transition and technology needed for renewables. It has already been shedding some oilfield assets, such as its rod lift and specialty polymers businesses.The strategic shift comes as more customers commit to lower carbon operations…
Oil Industry Veterans to Launch Hydrogen Investment Fund
Two energy industry veterans plan to launch an investment fund focused on hydrogen this year as more and more governments include the niche fuel in their global warming battle plans.Hydrogen has long-been touted as a potential clean fuel as it only emits water vapour but it has failed to gain traction, mainly because of historically high production, transportation and storage costs.But with the European Union for one now looking to promote so-called green hydrogen to help reach net zero emissions, the sector is expected to attract hundreds of billions of dollars in investment in the coming decades.The new fund…
Oil Extends Slump as Prospect of Second Viral Wave in U.S. Ends Rally
Oil prices fell on Friday, extending heavy overnight losses as a surge in U.S. coronavirus cases this week raised the prospect of a second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak hitting demand in the world's biggest consumer of crude and fuel.West Texas Intermediate was down 65 cents, or nearly 2%, at $35.69 a barrel by 0358 GMT, after slumping more than 8% on Thursday. Brent crude was down 58 cents, or 1.5%, at $37.97 a barrel, having dropped nearly 8% the previous session.A rally that raised oil off April lows has come to a shuddering halt this week as the market faced the reality that the coronavirus pandemic may be far from over…
Work from Home: Energy Traders Swap Shouts for Babies, Barking Dogs
SINGAPORE, March 24 -- From banks of screens and giant phones in the office, energy traders worldwide are adapting to a laptop in the bedroom -- and it's going surprisingly well.Working from home has become the new norm in the oil trading hubs of Singapore, London and New York as governments encourage physical distancing to curb the spread of coronavirus.While some energy companies have long had facilities in place to allow off-site access to trading platforms and other technology, others are rapidly installing key equipment and communication systems for the bulk of their trading teams."Working from home…
Oil Market Shrugs Off Libya Crisis
Oil prices fell more than 1% on Tuesday on expectations that a well-supplied market would be able to absorb disruptions that have cut Libya's crude production to a trickle.Brent crude was down 97 cents at $64.23 a barrel by 1258 GMT, having risen to its highest in more than a week on Monday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down 75 cents at $57.79."Market participants appear to fret less about supply disruptions in the Middle East, or at least the risk of disruptions, thanks to the impressive growth we have seen in U.S. output over recent years…
New Offshore Wind Launch Academy in UK
Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, the UK's flagship technology innovation and research center for offshore wind, wave and tidal energy, has launched a new industry-backed national technology accelerator program.The program is designed to support innovative SMEs to commercialize new technologies that will enhance the UK’s offshore wind supply chain, enabling greater UK content, whilst supporting cost reduction.The Launch Academy initiative will focus on near-to-market solutions and is supported by eight industrial and business support specialists including Red Rock Power…
