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☆ Uniper CEO: We're living in a more volatile energy pricing environment
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | 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 EmailUniper CEO: We're living in a more volatile energy pricing environmentMichael Lewis, CEO of Uniper, discusses the outlook for European energy supply and the continent's resilience to potential price volatility.

Persons: Michael Lewis

☆ The Ukraine War has accelerated research into lithium-ion battery alternatives, including ones made of sand
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The war in Ukraine has spurred more research into clean energy, including lithium-ion alternatives. Polar Night Energy says batteries made of sand could be as effective without the same risks. It has also spurred research into safer alternatives to the lithium-ion batteries used in the ever-expanding electric vehicle market. One of the key resulting innovations has been new alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, the development of which is tied to human rights abuses and environmental harm. Beyond the human rights abuses prevalent in the cobalt industry, lithium-ion batteries also present environmental hazards.

Persons: Olga Khakova, Khakova Organizations: Energy, Service, Research, The Washington Post, Global Energy Center, Atlantic Council, Washington Post, Amnesty, Democratic, CNN Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Europe, Russia, Finnish, Democratic Republic of, Congo

☆ First US offshore wind auction in Gulf of Mexico attracts paltry interest
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Nichola Groom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

RWE is among the world's largest offshore wind developers, with an extensive portfolio in Europe, and has also secured leases off the coasts of California and New York. The Southeast also has low power prices that could make it harder for higher-cost offshore wind generation to compete for electricity contracts. Texas does not have an offshore wind target. "Today's auction results show the important role state public policy plays in offshore wind market development," Liz Burdock, CEO of the Business Network for Offshore Wind, said in a statement. They included offshore wind development arms of European energy companies Equinor (EQNR.OL) and Shell (SHEL.L), who also have oil and gas operations in the Gulf.

Persons: Karen, Steve Nesius, Biden administration's, Germany's, RWE, Liz Burdock, Joe Biden's, ”, Elizabeth Klein, Nichola, Marguerita Choy, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, ASA, Texas, U.S . Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Carolinas, Business Network, Offshore, of Ocean Energy Management, Shell, . Developers, Thomson Locations: Dauphin Island , Alabama, Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, California, Europe, U.S, Gulf, Mexico, Texas, of Mexico

The headquarters of the European Energy Exchange (EEX), world's biggest online power trading platform is seen in a centre-of-town high-rise office building in Leipzig, Germany April 25, 2021. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Deutsche Boerse's (DB1Gn.DE) European Energy Exchange (EEX) has to seek EU antitrust approval for its acquisition of Nasdaq's (NDAQ.O) European power trading and clearing business because of its importance to Europe's energy market, EU antitrust regulators said on Monday. The Commission said the two companies are the only providers of services facilitating the on-exchange trading and subsequent clearing of Nordic power contracts. This is the third time that the EU antitrust watchdog has used its power under the so-called Article 22 whereby EU countries can request that it reviews deals which do not meet the merger criteria but can impact their markets. Reporting by Foo Yun Chee and Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Annegret, Foo Yun Chee, Sudip Kar, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: European Energy Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, Deutsche, Energy Exchange, European Commission, Nasdaq, Thomson Locations: Leipzig, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway

☆ This international stock picker beats the market long term by mastering downside risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Now the manager of the Goldman Sachs' International Equity Income Fund (GSTKX) , as a young man Deladerriere was surrounded by farmers and government employees, not investors. Deladerriere sought out companies with good business fundamentals, saying many of the firms he invested in back then have survived and are "actually thriving." One was French energy technology provider Schneider Electric, still a holding in his Goldman fund. He landed a research internship at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, and is now a partner and head of international developed markets equity. Good times and bad In 2012, Deladerriere started managing Goldman International Equity Income, a $1.1 billion fund with a five-star rating from Morningstar.

Persons: Alexis Deladerriere, Goldman Sachs, Deladerriere, Goldman, that's, Morningstar Organizations: International Equity Income, Schneider Electric, Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Paris, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Goldman International Equity, Morningstar, Vinci, Schneider, Stock, Zurich Insurance Group, Singapore Locations: France, French, Europe, Australasia, London, New York, U.S, Swiss

☆ Exxon Reports Leaner Earnings in Second Quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Santul Nerkar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The NumbersExxon’s revenue declined in the latest quarter, to $82.9 billion from $115.7 billion a year earlier. The company reported earnings per share of $1.94, compared with $4.21 in the second quarter last year. Exxon’s reduced profit is relative to the unusual level achieved in a roiled energy market a year ago. Why It Matters: A reflection of lower oil prices. Still, at about $80 per barrel now, oil prices are lower than they were at the start of the war.

Persons: Exxon’s, Darren Woods, Biden Organizations: Chevron, Shell, Exxon, West, United, Strategic Petroleum Reserve Locations: Ukraine, West Texas, United States, Texas, New Mexico, Saudi Arabia, —, Russia

The earnings, which missed forecasts, follow bumper earnings in 2022 after energy prices surged in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but were in line with its second-quarter performance two years ago. In June, Shell announced it would buy back at least $5 billion in shares in the second half of the year. Shell shares were down 1.7% by 0730 GMT, compared with a 1% decline for the broader European energy index (.SXEP). Reuters GraphicsWEAKER QUARTERThe lower results mainly reflected lower liquefied natural gas (LNG) trading results, lower oil and gas prices, lower refining margins, and lower sales volumes, compared with the previous quarter, Shell said. Oil and gas prices soared last year in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine but energy prices have dropped sharply this year as fears of shortages have eased.

Persons: Shell, Wael Sawan, Sawan, Jefferies, Giacomo Romeo, TotalEnergies, Norway's, Ron Bousso, Christina Fincher, Jason Neely Organizations: Shell, Reuters Graphics, Benchmark Brent, Thomson Locations: Ukraine

☆ Goldman: The market is missing these 'highly compelling' global stocks — and 2 are on its conviction list
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Lucy Handley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Goldman Sachs has named a number of European renewable energy stocks it says the market is missing — and says it expects the sector to bounce back after a period of declining returns. The growth in renewable energy is "highly compelling," the bank said, owing to the European energy crisis, a decline in costs for wind and solar energy, and the European Union's focus on mitigating climate change. "RWE is among the best-placed [renewable energy storage] developers to capture the expanding addressable market in the US, Germany and the rest of Europe," the analysts stated. As the pipeline builds we expect the company to unlock further value," the analysts stated. Conviction list stocks Two of Goldman's stock picks are on its conviction list of most favored stocks.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Alberto Gandolfi, Goldman, Enel, — Organizations: EDP Renewables, ENEL, Scottish, Renewables, LevelTen Energy Locations: Orsted, US, Germany, Europe

☆ Germany more flexible on hydrogen transition, emphasises speed - draft
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FRANKFURT, July 12 (Reuters) - Germany is set to hold on to its hydrogen economy goals up to 2030 and beyond while pressing for speed and allowing greater leeway in transitioning from fossil fuels-based variants to renewables, a draft paper showed on Wednesday. The draft was seen by Reuters while being presented to the national hydrogen council prior to assessment and adoption by the Berlin cabinet. It will become a 2023 strategy update guiding stakeholders in production, transport and wholesale markets as well as infrastructure investors. The coalition government in 2021 installed a target of 10 gigawatts (GW) of green hydrogen production by 2030, which can receive direct financial support, doubling previous ambitions. There would be greater tolerance of fossil- and nuclear-derived hydrogen, partly with carbon sequestration until such time as renewables could fully meet hydrogen demand, Germany's draft paper said.

Persons: Vera Eckert, Christian Kraemer, Markus Wacket, Devika Organizations: Europe's, Reuters, EEX, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany

☆ JPMorgan reveals its 'pecking order' for the second half including these high-yielding global stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Lucy Handley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

JPMorgan has named a raft of European stocks it described as having high yields, strong balance sheets and safe dividends, such as BT Group , Bayer and Sainsbury's . In a July 3 note detailing its outlook for the second half of the year, analysts led by Mislav Matejka stated: "Our pecking order for 2H is: bullish on Staples, Utilities, Telecoms and Healthcare, European Energy could hold up well." The bank said international markets had outperformed the U.S., adding that it sees a "significant valuation discount in International vs US stocks." Its European Sustainable yield basket — made up of 40 "high- and sustainable-yielding European stocks, with safe dividends and strong balance sheets" — include stocks across the bank's preferred sectors. JPMorgan also chose a number of "cheap" global sectors it expects to outperform, including telecoms, energy and staples.

Persons: Mislav Matejka, JPMorgan's, J Sainsbury, Banks, Michael Bloom Organizations: JPMorgan, BT Group, Bayer, Sainsbury's, Healthcare, European Energy, International, Novartis, Sanofi, Telefonica, Telia Locations: Staples, Utilities, Swiss, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Europe

LONDON, July 6 (Reuters) - European Union (EU) countries have added aluminium to the list of minerals and metals covered by the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). Western European primary aluminium production is the lowest this centuryFALLING OUTPUTAs things stand, Europe is going to struggle to lift primary production at all over that time-frame. European aluminium imports by countryIMPORT DEPENDENCYEuropean aluminium consumption averaged just over 5.0 million metric tons per year over the 2016-2020 period, according to the EU. However, the key difference is where Europe sources its bauxite and primary aluminium. POWER PROBLEMSGetting aluminium onto Europe's critical raw materials list is an important win for the region's aluminium sector.

Persons: didn't, it's, David Evans Organizations: Union, Federation of Aluminium Consumers, International Aluminium Institute, IAI, EU, Rusal, Thomson, Reuters Locations: United States, China, Europe, EU, Ukraine, Guinea, Brazil, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Iceland, Britain, Russia

The shares have been held in Russia by a different depositary bank. DRs are certificates issued by a bank representing shares in a foreign company traded on a local stock exchange. Swapping DRs for shares in the Russian company is a first step towards an effort to recover their money. Deutsche Bank is now allowing investors to swap DRs for shares as part of its plans to exit all Russia business, one source said. JPMorgan & Chase (JPM.N), Citigroup (C.N) and BNY Mellon (BK.N) act as depositary banks for most other Russian depositary receipt programs, according to Clearstream.

Persons: Mechel, underscoring, Irina Tsukerman, Grigory Marinichev, Morgan Lewis, BNY Mellon, Sinead Cruise, Alexander Marrow, Elisa Martinuzzi, Megan Davies, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Moscow LONDON, Deutsche Bank, Reuters, Deutsche, Aeroflot, LSR, Novolipetsk, The Central Bank of Russia, Depository, JPMorgan, Chase, Citigroup, BNY, Commission, Control, Foreign Investments, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Washington, London, Carolina, New York

Henriette Borgund knows attackers can find weaknesses in the defences of a big renewables power company - she's found them herself. She joined Norway's Hydro (NHY.OL) as an "ethical hacker" last April, bringing years of experience in military cyberdefence to bear at a time of war in Europe and chaos in energy markets. They're nervously monitoring a hybrid war where physical energy infrastructure has already been targeted, from the Nord Stream gas pipelines to the Kakhovka dam. It said Russia had tried to destroy digital networks and cause power cuts, and that missile attacks on facilities were often accompanied by cyberattacks. "Companies in the energy space, their core business is producing energy, not cybersecurity," said Jalal Bouhdada, CEO of cybersecurity firm Applied Risk, a division of DNV.

Persons: Nora Buli, Henriette Borgund, she's, shoring, Michael Ebner, cyberattacks, didn't, Swantje Westpfahl, James Forrest, Cem Gocgoren, Stephan Gerling, Mathias Boeswetter, Leonhard Birnbaum, Jalal Bouhdada, Nina Chestney, Christoph Steitz, America Hernandez, Paris Pavel Polityuk, Guy Faulconbridge, Pravin Organizations: REUTERS, Norway's Hydro, Reuters, Hydro's Oslo, Hydro, Ukraine, cyberattacks, Germany's Institute for Security, TRITON, Triton, Svenska, ICS CERT, University of Tulsa, E.ON, " Companies, Pravin Char, Thomson Locations: Norwegian, Fosen, Norway, Ukraine, OSLO, LONDON, FRANKFURT, Europe, Nord, Russia, Ukrainian, Moscow, United States, Russian, Capgemini, Saudi, Swedish, DNV, Oslo, London, Frankfurt, Paris, Kiev

SummarySummary Companies Shell to hold oil output steadyCompany to grow gas and LNG businessCapital spending reduced for 2024-25LONDON, June 14 (Reuters) - Shell (SHEL.L) will ramp up its dividend and share buybacks while keeping oil output steady into 2030 as part of CEO Wael Sawan's efforts to regain investor confidence that wavered over its energy transition plan. Reuters GraphicsOIL STEADYShell scrapped its previous target to cut oil output by 20% by 2030 after largely reaching the goal. Sawan, a 48-year-old Canadian-Lebanese national who previously headed Shell's oil, gas and renewables divisions, has in recent months scrapped several projects, including in offshore wind, hydrogen and biofuels, due to projections of weak returns. It currently has a target to cut its 2030 emissions intensity, including from the combustion of the fuels it sells, by 20%. Shell also faces a Dutch court ruling ordering the company to drastically cut emissions.

Persons: Wael Sawan's, Shell, Sawan, Ron Bousso, David Goodman, Jan Harvey Organizations: Shell, Reuters, Lebanese, Thomson Locations: New York, Bukom, Jurong, Singapore, Paris

☆ Climate crisis: Russia's war in Ukraine is undermining global efforts to tackle emissions, new report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The report, titled Climate Damage Caused by Russia’s War in Ukraine, follows on from a first interim assessment presented at the UN COP27 climate conference in November 2022. Nearly 22 million metric tons of planet-heating pollution came from warfare, almost 20% of the total emissions attributable to the conflict, the report found. “We probably will only be able to really get a more accurate estimate once the war is over,” de Klerk said. “The biggest chunk of the emissions are still in the future reconstruction of Ukraine,” de Klerk said. The report authors even calculated the extra planet-warming pollution created by airlines rerouting flights to avoid Russian and Ukrainian airspace.

Persons: “, ” Lennard, Klerk, It’s, ” de Klerk, Leah Millis, de Klerk, James Appathurai, ”, Rachel Kyte Organizations: CNN, UN, Firefighters, Reuters, Aris Mssinis, Getty, Global, Fletcher School, Tufts University, “ Locations: Ukraine, Belgium, Russia, Nemyshlianski, Kharkiv region, Russian, Avdiivka, Donetsk, AFP, Europe, Ukrainian

☆ Norway's sovereign wealth fund votes against Chevron and Exxonmobil
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —The world’s biggest investor in the stock market wants ExxonMobil and Chevron to do more to tackle the climate crisis. Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, which holds $1.4 trillion in total assets, announced Friday that it would back calls for the US oil companies to set more aggressive emission reduction targets. It said it would support motions proposed by climate activist group Follow This at the companies’ annual shareholder meetings next Wednesday. ExxonMobil and Chevron (CVX) have urged shareholders to reject them. It holds a 0.86% stake in Chevron and a 1.13% stake in ExxonMobil, according to the latest fund data.

LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) - Shell (SHEL.L) will likely face one of its most acrimonious annual meetings next week as it struggles to balance investor pressure to capture profits from oil and gas and a vocal minority saying it must move faster to tackle climate change. Big Oil firms posted record profits last year amid soaring energy prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. That resolution echoes a ruling by a Dutch court telling Shell to adjust its climate targets, which Shell has appealed. It also said it was pleased that proxy advisers ISS and Glass Lewis had recommended votes against the Follow This resolution. The measures, however, did not prevent climate activist participants from heckling and disrupting proceedings before being escorted out, some carried by security staff.

☆ Goldman Sachs names a slew of energy companies to buy right now as attitudes shift
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Goldman Sachs has identified a number of energy stocks to own ahead of an expected turn in the market's sentiment toward the oil and gas sector. Goldman's analysis comes after the energy sector posted stellar gains last year. Goldman expects a 10% increase in revenue from green investments at these companies this year compared to last year. The trend also indicates that a turning point may be approaching where larger energy companies could attract even more investment if they continue transitioning toward greener practices, the analysts added. Oil and gas companies have also been particularly attractive to investors over the past year thanks to their bumper profits.

☆ Russian Attack on Ukraine Kills at Least 12 People: Live Updates
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Marc Santora | Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Evidence is piling up about the steady disintegration of Russia’s vital natural gas export industry since the country’s invasion of Ukraine. With this success behind them, European leaders are contemplating widening their attack to include imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia. Russian L.N.G. energy commissioner, has urged members of the bloc and European energy companies to stop buying Russian L.N.G. On the other hand, having largely gone cold turkey on Russian pipeline gas, European leaders may calculate that “going without Russian L.N.G.

regulators reached out to their European Union counterparts, according to emails that were obtained through a Freedom of Information request. That April, the Europeans asserted jurisdiction using a novel theory, asserting that the combination would stifle innovation in the E.U. claims that conforming to the European financial regulations — rules based on directives of the European Parliament and intended to drive social objectives — is a laudable goal. The Federal Reserve and other financial regulators face virtually constant pressure from members of Congress and international bodies to import similar, sweeping E.U. If these were isolated examples of abdication of regulatory authority to Europe, we might shrug it off.

☆ TotalEnergies sheds Canadian oil sands, promises to reward shareholders
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( America Hernandez | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TotalEnergies said its first-quarter adjusted net income fell 27% to $6.5 billion - in line with analyst expectations - due to lower energy prices. It also confirmed it expected net investments of $16-18 billion this year, including $5 billion for low-carbon energies. After European refining capacity was hampered by French strikes in the first quarter, TotalEnergies anticipates its facilities will ramp back up above 80%. TotalEnergies' share price was down around 1% in early trade, in line with falls across the sector and relatively weak oil prices . Analysts said its results were positive, as was the sale of carbon intensive oil sands given investors' focus on lower carbon energy.

☆ Brits need to accept they are now poorer, Bank of England chief economist says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON — Companies and workers are trying to pass the impact of inflation onto each other — and that risks persistent inflation, according to Huw Pill, the Bank of England's chief economist. "What we're facing now is that reluctance to accept that yes we're all worse off, we all have to take our share," Pill said on an episode of Columbia Law School and the Millstein Center's "Beyond Unprecedented" podcast, released on Tuesday. That has been followed by adverse weather and an outbreak of avian flu driving up food prices. The U.K. imports nearly half its food. "If what you're buying has gone up a lot relative to what you're selling, you're going to be worse off," Pill said.

☆ A portfolio manager at a $41 billion investment firm explains why US stocks aren't as attractive as their international counterparts — and shares 5 recession-resistant stocks to buy now
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Portfolio manager Emily Leveille shared 7 international stocks investors should consider buying now. After lagging behind their American counterparts for years, international equities may finally give US stocks a run for their money in 2023. Leveille is a portfolio manager who oversees the international growth strategy at Thornburg Investment Management, a firm with $41 billion in assets under management. As growth becomes more scarce during an economic slowdown, she believes that companies with resilient growth characteristics are best positioned to outperform. Another luxury brand Leveille owns is LVMH (LVMHF), which is known for its signature Louis Vuitton handbags.

☆ 'Bond Kings' Bill Gross and Jeffrey Gundlach predict an imminent US recession as surging interest rates strangle growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Bill Gross and Jeffrey Gundlach expect higher interest rates to hammer growth in the near future. Bond yields signal investors' expectations for growth, inflation, and interest rates in the months and years ahead. The central bank is betting that higher rates will make borrowing more costly and encourage saving over spending, cooling price growth. He also declared in February that stocks are likely to underperform for a while, as higher rates are a drag on company valuations. Gross has previously jabbed at Gundlach over their shared nickname, labeling him the "self-anointed 'bond king'" in an October outlook.

☆ Morgan Stanley just upgraded a global energy stock it says has 'significant' potential for growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Morgan Stanley upgraded the shares of French energy firm TotalEnergies . In a March 21 note, Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock from equal weight to overweight, raising its price target to 64 euros ($69) — representing nearly 16% upside. Morgan Stanley said TotalEnergies is the only major European energy company with an upstream business that can fund all the capital expenditure needed to realize its "significant growth potential." In the report, Morgan Stanley assessed the energy production assets of major energy companies in the wake of several key events in 2022 — the Russia-Ukraine war, bad weather and disrupted supply chains — which highlighted the "fragility of global energy supply." Morgan Stanley said TotalEnergies is one of few companies under its coverage of energy companies with growth potential, and estimates it has the ability to support 3.8% growth annually till 2030.

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