UAE stock markets slide after a two-day suspension following the Iran attack
The stock markets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi reopened on Wednesday after a two-day suspension following Iran's unprecedented?wave of?missiles and drone attacks against the Gulf nation. Capital Markets Authority of the UAE closed ADX and DFM March 2 and 3 in order to prevent a meltdown. This was an unusual step, as it did not coincide with a holiday or mourning period. The combined market cap of both exchanges is approximately $1.1 trillion. Investors waited for clarity on the extent of the damage caused by the weekend strikes in both emirates…
China shares steady as energy and defence shares surge, offsetting airline losses; HK drops
China's benchmark equity indexes were not significantly changed Monday in the aftermath of a conflict with Iran. Increases in gold, energy and defence stocks offset declines in airline and tourism shares. The expectation that Beijing would step in and stabilize markets before a parliamentary session later this week boosted sentiment on the mainland. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell over 2%. The U.S. The?U.S. China's CSI300 Index, the blue-chip index of China, and the Shanghai Composite Index oscillated between small gains and losses in early trading.
Cheniere increases buyback plan above $10 billion due to strong LNG demand
Cheniere Energy reported that its fourth-quarter profits more than doubled due to a?strong demand for liquefied gas (LNG). The company also raised its share repurchase goal from $10 billion until?2030. The largest LNG producer in the United States, the shares of this company are up 1.2% at $223. In premarket trading, shares of the largest?LNG producer in the?U.S. were up about 1.2% to $223. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. was the largest LNG exporter in the world last year.
Indonesia imprisons two former officials and the former head of Pertamina in a major corruption case
A court in Indonesia found guilty a former chief executive, two ex-officials and a subsidiary of the state energy company Pertamina on Thursday of a major case of corruption involving its subsidiaries. Prosecutors claim that this corruption caused state losses of $17 billion. The case, involving alleged illegal leasing and importing of crude oil among other offenses, is the largest launched by the administration of President Prabowo, who has pledged to eradicate corruption. Nine defendants are involved, and six others have yet to be sentenced.
Indonesian court delivers verdicts in corruption cases linked to Pertamina, the state energy company
On Thursday, an Indonesian court will deliver its verdict on nine people who are accused of illegally importing crude oil, leasing a fuel terminal and other actions which caused the state to lose 285 trillion Rupiah (US$17 billion). The defendants include former chief executives of Pertamina Patra Niaga, Pertamina International Shipping and Pertamina International Shipping - subsidiaries of the state energy firm Pertamina - and a beneficial owner of a fuel station operator.
Vopak turns strong profits into $2 Billion in investor returns
Vopak, a tank storage company, announced on Wednesday that it will return 1.7 billion Euros ($2.0 billion) in dividends to shareholders over the course of the next five-year period. Profits surged by 61% on the back a strong cash flow last year. The company's shares rose by?around 10% after the announcement of earnings in early Amsterdam trading. The Dutch company that provides storage and handling services to the energy and manufacturing markets said it would distribute dividends and share purchases?throughout 2030.
French and Benelux stocks: Factors to watch
Here are some company news and stories that could impact the markets in France and Benelux or even individual stocks. Credit insurer Coface announced a?full year net income?of 222 millions euros ($261.16?million). They are proposing a dividend per share of 1.25 euro for 2025. GTT, a specialist in LNG containment systems, reported a full-year EBITDA totaling 542 million euro. The company proposed a record dividend per share of 8.94 euro. The company forecasts that its EBITDA in 2026 will be between 490 and 530 millions euros.
EQT Corp beats quarterly profit estimates on higher natgas prices, sales volumes
EQT Corp, a U.S. energy company, beat Wall Street 'estimates' for its fourth-quarter adjusted profits?on Tuesday. It benefited from higher natural gas prices and increased sales volumes. This sent the shares of EQT Corp up more than 1% during extended trading. The demand for liquefied gas (LNG), driven by data centers that are power-hungry, has pushed U.S. gas companies to increase their production. U.S. Natural Gas Futures rose by more than 11% in the third quarter of 2012, driven by increased demand and increased pipeline volumes.
Expand Energy exceeds its fourth-quarter profit expectations and plans to reduce debt by $1 billion in 2026
?U.S. Expand Energy, a natural gas producer, beat Wall Street's estimates for the fourth quarter profit on Tuesday. It aims to improve its balance sheet by reducing debts of at least $1 billion in 2026. The company was able to benefit from the higher prices, as U.S. Natural Gas Futures jumped over 11% sequentially during the fourth quarter. This broke a downward trend that began in the second quarter. Natural gas prices averaged $3.37/Mcf, up from $2.91/Mcf one year earlier.
Spain's gas consumption is expected to fall this year, as the blackout-related boost fades
Spain's gas consumption?will fall by around 7 percent?this coming year?as a result of a softer response to the major blackout that occurred on April 28. The power grid operator has increased the use of stable sources such as gas plants for electricity generation, which cost more but can better control voltage. Arturo Gonzalo, the CEO of 2025, said that this increased the?gas consumption for electricity generation last year by about a third. The overall gas?demand rose 7.4%, including exports into countries such as France, to reach 372 terawatt-hours.
Czechia Offers Limited Oil to Slovakia After Ukraine Pipeline Attack
The Czech Republic is offering small volumes of oil to Slovakia through an eastward flow of the Druzhba pipeline after westward flows from Ukraine were stopped after an attack on the pipeline last month, Czech Economy Minister Karel Havlicek said on Tuesday.The Czechs stopped using Russian supplies via Druzhba last year after expanding an alternative route, and have mentioned reversing the flow of the Czech section of the pipeline to Slovakia as a theoretical possibility.Havlicek told Reuters a "certain small amount" could be delivered to Slovakia right
French and Benelux stocks: Factors to watch
Here are some company news and stories that could have a significant impact on markets in France and Benelux or individual stocks. Aeroports de Paris, the French airport operator, reported a 7.8 million passenger increase in January for Paris, while group traffic reached 29.5 millions passengers, an increase of 5.0 percent. EIFFAGE: French concessions and construction company Eiffage will strengthen its presence in Germany by acquiring the assets of Claus Heinemann Elektroanlagen. The transaction is expected to be completed during the first quarter 2026.
Caturus signs a 20-year LNG Supply Deal with Saudi Aramco
U.S. Gas Producer 'Caturus' said on Friday that its unit, Commonwealth LNG, had signed a twenty-year agreement with Saudi Aramco to supply 1,000,000 tonne per year of lNG from?its proposed Louisiana Export Project. The U.S. is working hard to surpass Qatar and Australia as the largest LNG exporter in the world. Since President Donald Trump lifted the pause on export permits last summer, commercial activity in the LNG sector has risen. Caturus CEO David Lawler said, "This agreement highlights the strong demand for U.S.
TC Energy exceeds profit expectations as natural gas and power demand increases
Canadian 'pipeline operator TC Energy' beat analysts' expectations for the fourth quarter?profit % on Friday. This was helped by record natural-gas flows across its North American networks as soaring demand for power from data centers boosted volume. Major pipeline operators are doubling down on expectations of rising natural gas demand as LNG export facilities expand, and cryptocurrency miners and artificial-intelligence ?systems ramp up electricity use.
In January, US LNG imports accounted for almost half of Spain’s gas supply.
Data released on Tuesday showed that liquefied natural gases from the United States accounted for 44.4% of Spain's total imports of gas in January. This is a significant increase from last year. As Europe tries to reduce its energy imports from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. is now the dominant LNG supplier. Tariffs and the President Donald Trump's move to take over Greenland have raised concern among some officials regarding the?growing dependence on U.S. Energy.
As Pipeline Projects Grow, Williams Predicts Higher 2026 Profit
U.S. pipeline operator Williams Companies on Tuesday forecast 2026 profit above analysts' expectations as new pipeline and offshore projects drive growth and natural gas demand continues to rise.Williams, which also increased its annual dividend by 5% to $2.10 per share for 2026, saw its shares rise 2.8% in morning trade.Rising electricity use from crypto-mining, households, businesses and an AI-driven boom in data centers is set to boost natural gas demand this year…
What can oil prices tell you about the market? Not a lot: Bousso
The global oil market is experiencing a series of price spikes due to geopolitical tensions and the opaque stockpiling. Western sanctions and tightening Western sanction are also causing traders to be in the dark. Prices may not accurately reflect the physical fundamentals of commodities due to the growing influence of unpredictable external forces on this world's most liquid and largest commodity market. In fact, it appears that the global oil markets are struggling to find a balance between supply and demand.
Commonwealth LNG signs 20-year supply agreement with Mercuria in response to US LNG export growth
Commonwealth LNG announced on Tuesday that it had signed a sale-and-purchase agreement for 20 years to supply Mercuria 1 million metric tonnes of liquefied gas per year. The deal stipulates that Mercuria would provide Commonwealth with the equivalent amount of natural gas (estimated at 133 millions cubic feet per day) and Commonwealth will convert it to LNG, which Mercuria can then purchase. Commonwealth, a company owned by energy asset management firm Kimmeridge and majority-owned by Commonwealth…
The US LNG production was cut in January by the winter freeze; imports from Trinidad filled the gap.
LSEG's preliminary data shows that exports of liquefied gas from the U.S. in January fell to 11.3 million metric tons, down from December’s record of 11.5 MT. A winter freeze in late-January shut some plants while lowering output at others. On January 26, gas flows into U.S. liquefied natural gas plants reached a record low. Freeport LNG, the country's third largest LNG exporter, was partially offline during the freezing. Kinder Morgan's Elba Island plant in Georgia…
Moroccan Energy Ministry Pauses Gas Pipeline Project
Morocco's energy ministry said on Monday it has paused a tender launched last month for a gas pipeline project, without giving details on the reasons for the suspension.The tender sought bids to build a pipeline linking a future gas terminal at the Nador West Med port on the Mediterranean to an existing pipeline that allows Morocco to import LNG through Spanish terminals and supply two power plants.It also covered a section that would connect the…