DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ European markets head for higher open ahead of key inflation reports from the U.S. and Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

European markets are heading for a higher open Thursday as investors look ahead to key inflation reports in both the U.S. and Europe. Stateside, personal consumption expenditures price index data (the U.S. Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation) for January is due, and will be watched closely to see how it could affect the Fed's interest rate path. German, Spanish and French inflation data for February is also set to be released in Europe. It's a busy day for regional earnings, with AF-KLM, Veolia, Adecco Group, EDP, IAG, Ocado, ITV, Man Group, Schroders, Covestro and Anheuser-Busch InBev all reporting. U.S. stock futures fell overnight as Wall Street weighed the latest earnings results and looked ahead to the Federal Reserve's favored inflation gauge.

Persons: U.S . Federal Reserve's, It's Organizations: U.S, U.S . Federal, AF, KLM, Veolia, Adecco, ITV, Man, Anheuser, Busch InBev, Federal Locations: Europe, U.S ., Ocado, Asia, Pacific

☆ ADNOC German oil deal has bad timing, good logic
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Karen Kwok | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the state-owned Abu Dhabi oil giant he runs, is considering a bid for BASF-owned (BASFn.DE) Wintershall Dea, at a potential $11 billion valuation. The UAE firm is already in talks to buy chemical company Covestro (1COV.DE), Wintershall’s German compatriot, for $12 billion. Abu Dhabi's oil riches mean the UAE firm has the wherewithal to pay 5.5 billion euros for BASF’s Wintershall stake. Any deal could value Wintershall Dea at more than 10 billion euros ($11 billion), Bloomberg reported. BASF holds a 72.7% stake in Wintershall Dea.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Wintershall, Jaber, It’s, Austria’s, Abu, LetterOne, George Hay, Streisand Neto Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, BASF, The, Shell, Russian, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Abu, National Oil Company, Bloomberg, Wintershall Dea . Investment, Thomson Locations: Gastech, Chiba, Japan, Abu Dhabi, The UAE, Germany, Norway, UAE, Europe, United Kingdom, Abu, Russia, Wintershall Dea

☆ We have cut our full-year guidance, says Covestro CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWe have cut our full-year guidance, says Covestro CEOMarkus Steilemann, CEO of Covestro, discusses third-quarter earnings and the company's growth outlook for 2024.

Persons: Markus Steilemann

DUBAI, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates is refashioning state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in the image of an international oil major by stepping up its global expansion and finding new revenue streams to maximise earnings for the Gulf state. The state-owned company also told Reuters it was investing in energy trading, without giving further details. ADNOC has two trading arms, both set up in 2020: ADNOC Trading, which is focused on crude oil, and ADNOC Global Trading, a joint venture with Italy's Eni (ENI.MI) and OMV which is more focused on refined products. Other recent hires include Bart Cornelissen, who left Deloitte to become ADNOC's senior vice president for group strategy and portfolio last month, according to LinkedIn. Recent senior hires for ADNOC's trading arms include alumni of Gunvor, Litasco, Shell and TotalEnergies, the employment network showed.

Persons: ADNOC, Galp, Austria's, Mohammed bin Zayed, headcount, Michele Fiorentino, Baker Hughes, Musabbeh Al Kaabi, Al Kaabi, Bart Cornelissen, Michael Hafner, Hafner, Morgan Stanley, Neil Quilliam, Sultan al, Jaber, John Kerry, Abu, Maha El Dahan, Yousef Saba, Ron Bousso, David Clarke Organizations: United, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Reuters, BP, NewMed Energy, Italy's Eni, UAE, IOC, Aramco, LinkedIn, Mubadala Energy, Deloitte, Greenhill &, Deutsche Bank, UBS, HSBC, Shell, Eni, Gunvor, The, Chatham House, United Nations, Masdar, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Africa, Mozambique, ADNOC, Geneva, London, The UAE, Europe, Sultan, Dubai

The logo of German chemicals maker Covestro is pictured outside its headquarters in Leverkusen, Germany, July 26, 2019. The sign of change from Covestro's previous stance comes after two top-15 investors of the plastics and chemicals maker told Reuters last month that it should engage in formal takeover talks in the interest of its shareholders. The German group's shares were up 8.6% at 51.96 euros at 1445 GMT, their highest level in about 18 months. In August, ADNOC indicated to Covestro, which has not commented on the takeover approach, that it could raise its informal offer to 60 euros conditional on the German company entering formal talks, Reuters reported at the time. That non-binding offer would value Covestro, a maker of chemicals used in insulation, upholstery foams, coatings and transparent engineering plastics, at about 11.6 billion euros ($12.4 billion).

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Abu, ADNOC, Ludwig Burger, Urvi, Elisa Martinuzzi, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Reuters, Covestro, BASF, Bloomberg News, Thomson Locations: Leverkusen, Germany, Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, Bengaluru

The logo of German chemicals maker Covestro is pictured outside its headquarters in Leverkusen, Germany, July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsFRANKFURT, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Germany's Covestro (1COV.DE) should engage in formal takeover talks with Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) in the interest of its shareholders, two top-15 investors of the plastics and chemicals maker told Reuters. ADNOC, which is trying to diversify and develop its downstream and renewable energy operations, made a non-binding offer for Covestro of 55 euros per share in June, which was rejected, according to press reports. Rautenberg declined to comment on the price at which he would recommend Covestro accept an offer. Covestro this week appointed Christian Baier as chief financial officer, with Rautenberg noting his past dealmaking experience at private equity firm Permira.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, ADNOC, Arne Rautenberg, Covestro, Rautenberg, Christian Baier, Emma, Victoria Farr, Elisa Martinuzzi, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, Reuters, Union Investment, Thomson Locations: Leverkusen, Germany, Abu Dhabi

This would boost the oil giant's non-binding bid to about 11.6 billion euros ($12.63 billion), the people said. The indication of a raised offer is, however, not in writing, the people cautioned, adding that Covestro will take time to consider any next steps. ADNOC last raised its informal offer to 57 euros per share in July. Covestro shares jumped about 4.2% in a volume spike after Bloomberg News first reported that ADNOC was prepared to sweeten its offer. Earlier in August, Covestro reported a 21% fall in revenues to 3.7 billion euros in the second quarter.

Persons: Toru Hanai, ADNOC, Covestro, Austria's, Emma, Victoria Farr, Maha El Dahan, Yousef Saba, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: REUTERS, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, Reuters, Bloomberg News, Thomson Locations: Gastech, Chiba, Japan, FRANKFURT, DUBAI, Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, Maha, Dubai

☆ European markets open lower ahead of slew of earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON — European markets opened lower on Tuesday as investors look ahead to a busy week of earnings after logging a winning month in July. The Stoxx 600 opened down 0.1%, with all major bourses and the majority of sectors trading in negative territory. Stateside, U.S. futures traded near the flatline after wrapping up a winning earnings month. Back in Europe, earnings are due from Euroapi, Uniper, Daimler Truck, DHL Deutsche Post, Covestro, BP, HSBC, Travis Perkins and Diageo. Euro zone unemployment data will also be posted.

Persons: Dow, Travis Perkins Organizations: P Global, Nasdaq, Daimler Truck, DHL Deutsche Post, BP, HSBC, Diageo Locations: Asia, Pacific, Europe, Euroapi, Covestro

FRANKFURT/LONDON, July 26 (Reuters) - German industry is finding new ways to transport cargoes from coal to chemicals as increasingly frequent low water levels on the Rhine disrupt Europe's largest economy. At Kaub , the critical chokepoint for Rhine barges, water levels fell to their lowest this year earlier this week. ARTERY OF THE ECONOMYThe impact of low water levels is not limited to big business. But logistics firms are benefiting from rising demand for vessels adapted to lower river levels. "We expect, due to climate change, that the extremes on the river Rhine will happen more often," said Maickel Uijtewaal, general manager at Stolt-Nielsen (SNI.OL).

Persons: Uwe Arndt, Barbara Hoyer, majeure, Roberto Spranzi, Maickel Uijtewaal, Steffen Bauer, Christoph Steitz, Vera Eckert, Ludwig Burger, Patricia Weiss, Rene Wagner, Nette, Tom Kaeckenhoff, Matthias Inverardi, Vincent Flasseur, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Federal Waterways, Shipping Agency, Reuters Graphics, Cologne, BASF, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Kiel Institute, Deutsche Bank, Reuters, Stolt, Nielsen, HGK Shipping, Daniels, Midland Co, Chemicals, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, LONDON, Kaub, Europe, Reuters Graphics Germany, Ludwigshafen, HGK, Frankfurt, Berlin, Duesseldorf, London

☆ Germany's Covestro rejects takeover proposal from ADNOC -Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FRANKFURT, June 22 (Reuters) - German plastics and chemicals maker Covestro AG (1COV.DE) has rejected an initial takeover proposal from Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) saying the offer was too low, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday citing people familiar with the matter. The stock jumped as much as 3.7% after the report was published, after trading down earlier in the day. Two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday that ADNOC had approached Covestro with a takeover proposal worth more than 10 billion euros ($11.00 billion). It would probably only be a matter of price whether the existing shareholders would accept such a takeover offer," Arne Rautenberg, fund manager at Union Investment, told Reuters. Covestro, a maker of transparent polycarbonate plastics, as well as chemicals for insulation and upholstery foams, in April issued earnings guidance that reassured markets about its growth prospects.

Persons: ADNOC, Covestro, Arne Rautenberg, Gursimran Kaur, Victoria Farr, Jason Neely, Conor Humphries Organizations: Covestro, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, Bloomberg, Reuters, Union Investment, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Abu Dhabi, Bengaluru, Emma, Frankfurt

[1/2] A general view of ADNOC headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates May 29, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File PhotoJune 20 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has approached German plastics and chemicals maker Covestro AG (1COV.DE) with a takeover proposal worth more than 10 billion euros ($10.9 billion), two people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The OMV deal would indirectly also increase ADNOC's holding in both European petrochemicals maker Borealis and Abu Dhabi-listed petrochemicals company Borouge (BOROUGE.AD). SABIC (2020.SE), also of Saudi Arabia, in the same year purchased a stake of almost 25% in Swiss chemicals maker Clariant (CLN.S). Thanks to a 2007 deal to buy GE's plastics unit, SABIC competes with Covestro in polycarbonate plastics.

Persons: Christopher Pike, Abu Dhabi's, ADNOC, Sultan, Jaber, Lanxess, SABIC, Ludwig Burger, Patricia Weiss, Christoph Steitz, Hadeel Al, Greg Roumeliotis, Louise Heavens, Sharon Singleton, Elisa Martinuzzi, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: United, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Covestro, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Abu Dhabi, United Arab, Covestro, Europe, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia, Swiss, Frankfurt, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Dubai

[1/2] A general view of ADNOC headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates May 29, 2019. ADNOC and Covestro declined to comment. The OMV deal would indirectly also increase ADNOC's holding in both European petrochemicals maker Borealis and Abu Dhabi-listed petrochemicals company Borouge (BOROUGE.AD). SABIC (2020.SE), also of Saudi Arabia, in the same year purchased a stake of almost 25% in Swiss chemicals maker Clariant (CLN.S). Thanks to a 2007 deal to buy GE's plastics unit, SABIC competes with Covestro in polycarbonate plastics.

☆ Covestro CEO: Solid financials and debt levels under control
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCovestro CEO: Solid financials and debt levels under controlMarkus Steilemann, CEO at Covestro, says the company can keep and maintain a strong balance sheet despite negative cashflow in the first quarter.

☆ China’s reopening has gotten Wall Street excited. Here’s how the pros are playing it
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Over the past week, a host of Wall Street banks have turned increasingly bullish on the world's second-largest economy and have upgraded their outlook on Chinese stocks. Morgan Stanley expects China's GDP to grow by an "above-consensus" 5.4% in 2023, on the back of a "fast-tracked" reopening and more proactive policy easing. Meanwhile, UBS says Chinese stocks look increasingly attractive. How to play the reopening Against this backdrop, analysts have named a slew of both Chinese and global stocks they think will benefit most from China's reopening. Bank of America's domestic reopening beneficiaries include consumer stocks such as alcoholic beverage makers Kweichow Moutai and Tsingtao Brew , airline stocks including China Southern Airlines , as well as online travel platform Trip.com .

☆ Unilever CFO Struggles With Forecasting Accuracy Amid High Inflation
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Mark Maurer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Unilever on Thursday said its expected net inflation from materials is €4.5 billion—equivalent to $4.5 billion—for 2022, up from €1.3 billion the previous year. Materials inflation generally ranged from €100 million to €300 million during the years before 2021, Mr. Pitkethly said. “Our forecasting accuracy has been a lot worse over the last year or so since this period of inflation hit,” he said. Graeme Pitkethly, chief financial officer at Unilever. Further hiking prices in the fourth quarter is a “distinct possibility,” Mr. Pitkethly said, adding he doesn’t expect the increases to deter consumer demand.

☆ BASF says European operations need to be cut to size 'permanently'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FRANKFURT, Oct 26 (Reuters) - BASF (BASFn.DE) said costs at sites in its European home market need to be brought to a "permanently" lower level because of a triple burden of sluggish growth, high energy costs and over-regulation. In the first nine months of 2022, natural gas costs at BASF's European sites were about 2.2 billion euros ($2.19 billion) higher than in the year-earlier period, the company added. The move defies heightened concerns in the German government over economic dependence on China as a trade partner that it sees as under increasingly authoritarian rule. BASF has warned that Europe's planned shift to shipped liquefied natural gas (LNG), away from Russian pipeline gas, would put sites in the region at a structural disadvantage to overseas rivals with cheaper energy supplies. Reporting by Ludwig Burger; Editing by Miranda MurrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

German chemicals maker Covestro (1COV.DE) lowered its 2022 earnings guidance for the third time this year, blaming gas and raw material prices. Gas prices in Europe have eased in response to an unusually warm October and projections of a mild winter. The group, which relies heavily on natural gas, is buying from outside Europe, where prices are lower. RACE TO CUT COSTSCompanies across Europe are racing to reduce their energy use ahead of the winter when demand increases as households turn up the heat. Chemical companies are among the hardest hit by the energy crisis because they use gas as a raw material for production and as an energy source.

☆ European stocks rise as earnings offset economic gloom
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Sruthi Shankar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SummarySummary Companies SAP earnings boost tech sharesUBS gains on profit beatECB set to raise rates this weekOct 25 (Reuters) - European stocks rose on Tuesday after a slew of better-than-expected earnings reports helped offset worries about fast rising interest rates and a slowing euro zone economy. The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) rose 0.3%, with financial services (.SXFP) and technology (.SX8P) stocks countering losses in chemical firms (.SX4P). Boosting financial stocks, UBS (UBSG.S) climbed 5.6% after the Swiss bank beat market expectations for quarterly profit due to a rise in new money inflows. While European corporate earnings are expected to grow 28.4% in the third quarter, it is seen up 18.2% in the fourth quarter and just 3.1% in the first quarter of 2023. read moreGerman sportswear maker Adidas (ADSGn.DE) dropped 3.1% after Morgan Stanley downgraded its stock to "underweight" from "equal weight".

☆ Covestro cuts profit outlook again on rising energy, raw material costs
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Bartosz Dabrowski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The company's shares were down around 2% by 0810 GMT after it said it was only able to offset the sharp rise in raw material and energy prices to a small extent by higher prices. The group, whose main products include foam chemicals used in mattresses, car seats and insulation for buildings, sees full-year earnings before interests, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in a range of 1.7 billion euros and 1.8 billion euros ($1.7 billion-$1.8 billion), compared with a previous forecast of 1.7 billions euros-2.2 billion euros. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterIt lowered its free operating cash flow (FOCF) forecast to a range of 0 and 100 million euros from a previous range of 0 to 500 million euros. Covestro said third-quarter EBITDA fell 65% to 302 million euros, below the analysts' average estimate of 320 million euros in a company-provided poll. Chemical companies are among the hardest hit by the energy crisis because they use gas both as a raw material for production and as an energy source.

☆ Gas prices in Europe expected to 'remain volatile': Covestro CEO
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailGas prices in Europe expected to 'remain volatile': Covestro CEOMarkus Steilemann, CEO of German chemicals company Covestro, discusses the uncertain and challenging macroeconomic environment in Europe amid the company's Q3 earnings report.

☆ European markets advance as investors watch earnings, monetary policy
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

European markets nudged higher on Tuesday as global investors assessed the outlook for monetary policy from the U.S. Federal Reserve and digested a swathe of corporate earnings. The pan-European Stoxx 600 climbed 0.4% in early trade, with tech stocks adding 1.4% to lead gains as most sectors and major bourses entered positive territory. Among the major companies reporting quarterly earnings on Tuesday were HSBC , UBS , Novartis , Randstad , Air Liquide , SAP and Covestro. Shares in Europe closed higher on Monday after the announcement that Rishi Sunak would replace Liz Truss as U.K. prime minister. U.S. stock futures were flat in early premarket trade on Tuesday ahead of a big few days of earnings from the world's largest tech companies.

☆ Germany girds for gas supply pain, targets $93 billion price relief plan
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-09 | by ( Holger Hansen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Under a second stage of Germany's plan, the brake would cut the gas price to 12 cents from March through to the end of April 2024 on 80% of usage. For large industrial customers, a price brake of 7 cents is to apply to the procurement price from January 2023. Hans Juergen Kerkhoff, president of the German Steel Federation, said the scheme was a key building block to support companies during the energy crisis. Comparison portal Verivox said its calculations showed that the brake proposal would reduce household gas costs by around 41%. "The gas price brake is a very important first step that gives many companies back some confidence that they can overcome the crisis," VCI Managing Director Wolfgang Grosse Entrup said in a statement, calling for an electricity price brake as well.

☆ How Germany's industrial giants are preparing for winter
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Victoria Waldersee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Some industrial giants in particular gas-heavy industries like chemicals have begun shifting production and sourcing from elsewhere, while others are switching from gas to coal or oil - spelling trouble for their carbon footprint. read moreBMW (BMWG.DE)BMW consumes around 3,500 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy annually in Germany and Austria, three-quarters of which comes from natural gas. The carmaker can reduce its gas intake by at least 15% compared to last year, the company's chief financial officer said on Monday. LINDEThe world's largest industrial gas company said in July it produced gases which were critical from a medical or process safety perspective and so believed it would be prioritised for gas allocation from Germany' government. read moreA spokesperson declined to provide further information, saying an update would be provided later in October in line with third quarter results.

☆ Factbox: How Germany's industrial giants are preparing for winter
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Victoria Waldersee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Industrial giants, in particular gas-heavy industries like chemicals, have begun shifting production and sourcing from elsewhere. It is now sourcing some of its ammonia from outside of Europe, where prices are lower, a spokesperson said. read moreBMW (BMWG.DE)BMW consumes around 3,500 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy annually in Germany and Austria, three-quarters of which comes from natural gas. Chief executive Dominik von Achten said the company was shifting production at plants to times when power prices were lower, such as weekends. LINDEThe world's largest industrial gas company said in July it produced gases which were critical from a medical or process safety perspective and so believed it would be prioritised for gas allocation from Germany' government.

Search resuls for: "Covestro"

24 mentions found