BHP and Rio Tinto discuss energy transition; bet on minimal Trump impact: Russell
BHP Group, Rio Tinto and other mining giants have delivered similar results and outlooks this week for commodities. They chose to focus on the benefits of the energy transformation and minimise short-term risk. BHP, world's largest mining company, announced on Tuesday that its underlying profit attributable for the six-month period ending December 2024 had dropped by 23% to $5.08 billion. Rio, the largest iron ore mining company in the world, announced underlying earnings for 2024 of $10.87 Billion, down from $11.76 Billion a year earlier.
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.
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.
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 2024 due to technical problems…
S. Africa's Sibanye signs a chrome pact to Glencore amid a slump in platinum prices
Sibanye Stillwater, a miner with a diverse portfolio of operations, announced on Wednesday that it had signed a deal to manage chrome for Glencore's Merafe Venture South Africa in order to offset the effects of a prolonged platinum metal price slump. Chrome is a platinum by-product, and South African miner Sibanye has reported increased incomes from the metal that's used in steelmaking despite the sharply reduced prices of the primary minerals. Platinum group metals, used to reduce automotive emissions…
Prices near four-week-low on US-Russian talks and weaker demand
Dutch and British wholesale prices of gas held near four-week lows, as the market awaited the outcome of talks between the U.S.A. and Russia on how to end conflict in Ukraine. Strong renewables output also curbed demand. According to LSEG, the benchmark front-month contract for the Dutch TTF Hub was down 0.07 euros at 47.65 Euro per Megawatt Hour (MWh), which is $14.60/mmBtu by 0913 GMT. The contract traded earlier at 47.15 Euros/MWh, the lowest level since 20 January. The Dutch April contract is down by 0.29 euros at 47.44 Euro/MWh.
Shell's scenarios predict significant LNG growth within the next few years
Shell published scenarios on Wednesday that showed a rapid rise in global demand for liquefied gas. Gas will probably have a gradual increase, and oil could peak at the start of the next decade. The British energy company created three scenarios to model energy security on a long-term basis, but said that these do not reflect their strategy or business plans. Surge is the most optimistic outlook for economic growth. It assumes that artificial intelligence will be used widely to boost productivity and increase energy demand.
Shell's scenarios predict significant LNG growth within the next few years
Shell published scenarios on Wednesday that showed a rapid rise in global demand for liquefied gas. Gas will probably have a gradual increase, and oil could peak at the start of the next decade. The British energy company created three scenarios to model energy security on a long-term basis, but said that these do not reflect their strategy or business plans. Surge is the most optimistic outlook for economic growth. It assumes that artificial intelligence will be used widely to boost productivity and increase energy demand.
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. Carrefour SA, a French grocer, has proposed that it take its Brazilian subsidiary Atacadao SA CRFB3.SA (also known as Carrefour Brasil) private, by offering 5.3 billion reais in cash or shares, for the one third stake that it does not currently own. In its monthly outlook, the central Bank said that the French economy will return to growth during the first quarter due to a rebound in service sector activity. European Equities speed guide...................
EIA: US natgas production and demand will reach record highs by 2025
The U.S. Energy Information Administration released its Short-Term Energy Outlook Tuesday, predicting that both the U.S. Natural Gas output and demand would reach record highs by 2025. EIA's projected dry gas production is expected to rise from 103.1 billion cubic feet per day in 2024, to 104.6 bcfd by 2025, and then 107.3 bcfd by 2026. This compares to a record-breaking 103.6 bcfd for 2023. The agency projected that domestic gas consumption will rise from 90.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2024, to 90.7 in 2025 and then ease back to 90.2-bcfd by 2026.
EIA: US power consumption will reach new highs by 2025 and 26.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration stated in its Tuesday Short Term Energy Outlook that the U.S. will reach record levels of power consumption in 2025 and in 2026. EIA projects that the demand for electricity will increase to 4,179 billion Kilowatt Hours (kWh) by 2025, and to 4,239 billion in 2026. This is an increase from a previous record of 4,082 billion in 2024. EIA predicts that by 2025, residential customers will consume 1,524 billion kWh of electricity. Commercial customers will consume 1,458 trillion kWh and industrial customers 1,054 trillion kWh.
Equinor Q4 profit beats forecast, raises 2030 oil output target
Equinor reported slightly higher profits than expected for the final quarter in 2024. It also increased its oil and natural gas production forecast, and scaled back plans to expand renewable energy capacity. Equinor's poll of 24 analysts predicted that the Norwegian oil and gas company would earn $7.90 billion in adjusted earnings for October-December, down from $8.56 million a year ago. Equinor released a statement that said "the expected (oil-and-gas) production in 2030 is around 2.2 millions barrels of oil equal per day.
EUROPE GAS Prices fall on profit-taking and mixed temperatures outlook
Dutch and British wholesale prices of gas fell on Tuesday morning due to profit-taking. Prices had reached a new 15-month-high on Monday, amid mixed weather forecasts for this week. According to LSEG, the benchmark front-month contract for the Dutch TTF Hub was lower by 0.65 euros at 53.10 Euro per Megawatt-hour (MWh) or $16.10/mmBtu at 0925 GMT. On Monday, the contract reached its highest intra-day level of 54.61 euro/MWh. This is its highest level since November 2023. Engie EnergyScan analysts said that prices fell on Tuesday due to profit-taking, but the market is still strong.
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 Olaf Scholz stated that Europe was strong enough to pursue their own interests in the trade negotiations with the United States.
Siemens Energy reports preliminary quarter revenue of approximately $9.4 billion
Siemens Energy, world's largest manufacturer of offshore wind turbines reported a preliminary revenue for the first quarter of 8,94 billion euros (9.37 billion dollars), an increase of 18.4% on a comparative basis, and slightly higher than consensus estimates. The preliminary order figures for the firm were 13.67 billion euro, which is 10.2% lower on a comparative basis. This figure was above estimates. Siemens Energy's midterm outlook was raised in November of last year after it announced a record order book as well as a smaller fourth-quarter loss.
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.
Spot prices plunge on rising wind supply, lower demand
The European power price dropped by a quarter on Thursday, due to a combination of increased wind production and reduced demand as compared to the previous week. As of 1006 GMT, the German baseload for Friday had fallen by 24.6% to 83 euros per Megawatt Hour (MWh). French baseload power for the day ahead was down 35.1% to 78 euros. Riccardo Paraviero, LSEG analyst, says that wind power supply continues to increase in Germany and throughout the region. This indicates a negative outlook for Friday.
Rio Tinto shares fall on merger failure reports; banks weigh down on Australia's shares
The Australian share market fell Friday due to the fall in banking stocks, and Rio Tinto's decline on news of failed merger talks with Glencore. The S&P/ASX 200 ended the week 0.2% lower, at 8,310.4. The benchmark closed the week with a 0.2% gain. After reports that failed merger talks had taken place between the No. The world's No. 2 miner, Glencore, is one of the largest miners in coal and base metals. The financial sector led the declines in Friday's market, with a 1% drop to record their worst week since four. The "big four" banks dropped between 1.2% and 1.8%.
Oil Dips on Larger US Crude Draw, Russia Sanctions
Oil prices fell back slightly on Thursday, a day after settling at multi-month highs on U.S. President Joe Biden's latest sanctions targeting Russia and a larger than forecast fall in U.S. crude stocks.Brent crude futures were down 12 cents, or 0.15%, to $81.91 per barrel at 1415 GMT, after rising 2.6% in the previous session to their highest since July 26.U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 18 cents, or 0.22%, to $79.86 a barrel, after gaining 3.3% on Wednesday…
EIA predicts that oil prices will be pressured by oversupply between 2025 and 2026
The U.S. Energy Information Administration's Short-Term Energy Outlook, released on Tuesday, said that oil prices would be pressured in 2025 and in 2026 due to the global production growth exceeding demand. Analysts expect a glut of oil this year after the demand growth in the two largest consumers, the U.S.A. and China, slowed dramatically in 2024. The EIA expects Brent crude prices to drop 8%, to an average of $74 per barrel by 2025. Prices will then continue to decline to $66 per barrel by 2026. The EIA has slightly increased its estimate for the record U.S.
