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. ALTEN: Alten has announced that its net profit for the fiscal year is EUR 277 million. COFACE: Coface has announced a proposed dividend of EUR 1,40 per share and forecasts growth at the same 2.7% rate as in 2024. GTT: GTT expects to have a consolidated EBITDA of between 490 mln and 540 mln euro for 2025. Imerys has published an EBITDA adjusted for 2024 of EUR 675 millions and proposed a EUR 1.45 dividend.
Stock prices of US natgas producers soar as gas futures soar
Gas futures prices have risen by 27% in the last seven days, reaching a two-year high. The extreme cold of recent days has pushed U.S. Gas Futures up to $4.42 per million British Thermal Units (mmBtu) at midday on Wednesday. This puts the front-month just a few cents away from the closing high of $2.258, which was reached on January 16 of this year. The increase in gas futures has helped Devon Energy's stock, which announced earnings on February 18th, to reach a three-month high at $38.58 by midday Wednesday.
Vopak's profits are unlikely to change much by 2025 as one-offs have a negative impact on the 4th quarter results
Dutch tank storage company Vopak said that it expects to see little difference in its earnings by 2025, despite the fact that strong demand for energy-storage infrastructure is boosting its results. Analysts cited a missed quarterly core profit and a cautious outlook as the reason for the 7% drop in shares of this company that operates terminals and stores fuels and chemicals around world. Vopak reported a negative impact in the fourth quarter of…
Vopak's earnings exceeded its guidance range
The Dutch tank storage company Vopak announced Wednesday that its core earnings for 2024 were above the previously-guided range, due to strong demand across its various business units. The proportional earnings before taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), which is the measure of profit before all other costs, rose by 9%, to reach 1.17 billion euro ($1.22 billion), with its top-end annual guidance at 950 millions euros. The company that operates terminals and stores worldwide said they expected their core profit to be between 1…
EQT's profit for the fourth quarter beats estimates due to higher natural gas prices and sales
EQT's fourth-quarter profit exceeded analysts' estimates on Tuesday as the natural gas company benefited from increased prices and sales. The natural gas price rose during the first quarter of this year, reaching a peak that has not been seen in two years. This was due to an increase in gas flow to export plants for liquefied gas. Prices were also boosted by the forecast of more cold weather for January, which will increase heating demand. EQT realized an average price of $3.01 per 1…
Constellation skips first earnings call since spinoff
Constellation Energy, the U.S.'s largest nuclear power company, missed its quarterly investor call for the first since it went public three years ago. Constellation didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. Analysts were surprised by the lack of a phone call. Constellation, based in Maryland, held a conference call with its management last month. It announced that it was planning to acquire private natural gas and geothermal provider Calpine for $16.4 billion. This is one of the largest deals ever made by the U.S. energy industry.
TSX futures flat amid US tariffs uncertainty
The futures linked to Canada's major stock index were tepid on Friday as investors awaited further details about U.S. tariffs. At 6.44 a.m., March futures for the S&P/TSX Index were down 0.03%. ET (1144 GMT). U.S. president Donald Trump has directed his economic team in order to develop plans for reciprocal duties on countries that tax U.S. imported goods, increasing the risk of a trade war between American allies and enemies. This directive was…
Energy Transfer signs Natural Gas Supply Agreement with CloudBurst
Energy Transfer, a U.S. pipeline company, entered into an agreement on Monday with CloudBurst Data Centers of Denver to supply natural gas for the development of Central Texas. Data centers, driven by the rising demand for power from AI and the slow grid improvements, are sourcing energy directly from producers, or establishing their own supply, which will likely lead to a significant increase in natural gas consumption. Energy Transfer will supply up to 450…
European shares rise on the back of energy stocks; US tariffs are in sight
European shares rose slightly Monday, as energy stocks gained support. Markets also weighed the fears of a trade war after President Donald Trump warned that he would impose tariffs for all steel and aluminum imports to the United States. As of 8:10 GMT, the pan-European STOXX 600 Index was up by 0.3%. On Friday, the benchmark posted its seventh consecutive weekly gain. Trump said over the weekend that he will announce new tariffs of 25% on all imports of steel and aluminum on Monday and other reciprocal tariffs Tuesday or Wednesday.
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. The European Union leaders decided on Monday that they would do more to strengthen their defences and capabilities against Russia and other potential threats. They will increase their spending and close gaps in their military capability. EUROPEAN UNION/UNITED NATIONS: After a meeting on Monday with other EU leaders, German Chancellor…
Sources say that US energy company Talos is set to name Shell CEO Goodfellow its next CEO
Two people with knowledge of the matter confirmed on Sunday that Talos Energy is preparing to appoint veteran Shell executive Paul Goodfellow, as its new CEO. Sources said that the appointment of Goodfellow who is currently the chief internal auditor for Shell is expected to be made this week. They requested anonymity as the matter was confidential. Goodfellow succeeds Tim Duncan, the long-time founder and CEO of Talos. Duncan abruptly left the firm in August after 12 years of service.
Moldova Gaz: Moldova sends first 3 mcm gas to Transdniestria
The company Moldovagaz said that it shipped the first 3 million cubic meters of natural gas to the Russian-backed separatist Transdniestria on Saturday. These were the first deliveries after the Russian gas transit via Ukraine was halted. The pro-Moscow enclave in which Russia has sent troops to support the breakaway administration has been without power and heat since New Year's Day. This is because Ukraine refused to renew the transit agreement for Russian gas after almost three years of conflict between Kyiv & Moscow.
Moldova will ship the first 3 mcm gas to breakaway regions on Saturday, says company
A Moldovan official in the industry said that the country will be sending 3 million cubic meters (mcms) of gas on Saturday to its separatist Transdniestria. This is the first fuel delivery to the region since the end of December, when the gas transit through Ukraine ceased. The morning delivery is to be made to the Transdniestrian Gas System, which already has a gas shortage to maintain pressure. Vadim Ceban, CEO of Moldovagaz, said that the contract…
Germany builds LNG import terminals
Germany is increasing its natural gas imports to replace Russian supplies. This drive has been intensified due to the recent suspension of Russian gas flows via Ukraine, and U.S. president Donald Trump's targeting Europe with LNG exports. Here are some details about the terminals that will be developed to house floating storage regasification (FSRU) units for seaborne LNG. The plans also include facilities for importing and producing ammonia, green hydrogen and other gases under the decarbonisation strategy.
European gasoline glut affects global margins
As a result, gasoline stocks in Europe reached a record-high as exports fell due to increased refinery runs in Nigeria and the United States. This led to the profit margins for European and U.S. refineries to fall to a 15 month low in January. Gasoline profit margins usually fall in the winter due to lower seasonal demand. However, the magnitude of the drop is a major blow for refiners who are now facing low margins on petrochemicals. Diesel provides some relief to overall margins.
The demand for US natgas is expected to reach a record high on Tuesday
The U.S. demand for natural gas is expected to hit a record on Tuesday as the extreme cold that has affected much of America puts pressure on power grids, and certain oil and gas operations. Last week, the February natural gas contract reached its highest price since December 30, 2022. The cold weather that accompanied the weekend had the potential to reduce output due to the freezing of gas wells and pipelines. However, it also increased the use of fuel for heating homes and businesses. Prices rose in several hubs on the spot market with the U.S.
Finland: Russia's Baltic oil exports have fallen 10% following EU sanctions
The Finnish Border Guard reported that the Russian oil exports via the Baltic Sea dropped by 10% in the final four months of 2024 as the EU sanctions on Russian oil and gas were implemented. Baltic Sea nations have been put on high alert following disruptions in power cables, gas pipelines, and telecom links since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine 2022. Some of these disruptions are linked to tanker activities. Finland's Coast Guard is also monitoring the shadow fleet used by Russia to export oil through the Gulf of Finland.
After holiday weekend, US demand for natgas is expected to reach record levels
The U.S. demand for natural gas is expected to hit a record next week, as the extreme cold that has gripped the U.S. this winter will put pressure on power grids again the day following the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. This week, gas futures reached two-year highs ahead of the freezing weather. Meanwhile, spot prices in several major hubs around the country have risen to their highest level since January 2024's Martin Luther King holiday weekend. The week before last, gas demand reached its current record high. Next-day prices also soared.
The US sanctions against Russia have caused a spike in global diesel prices
Analysts and LSEG data indicate that global diesel prices and refinery margins increased following the latest round U.S. sanctions against Russia's oil market on the expectation of tightening supplies. On Jan. 10, the United States imposed their toughest sanctions yet against Russian producers and tanks to reduce the revenue of the No. 2 oil exporter in world. The United States used the revenue of Russia's No. 2 oil exporter to fund its war in Ukraine.
Sources say that Trump will end the need to renew some LNG export permits
According to two sources familiar with the plan, Donald Trump, the U.S. president-elect will eliminate the requirement that some LNG producers renew their export permits. Sources said that Trump would likely include this change in his executive order on LNG, which he will issue during his first day of office. Trump, who will take office on Monday has stated that he will issue an executive order on LNG on his first day in office. This would allow…
