DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

SummaryCompanies Q2 profits slump 56% at Shell, 49% at TotalEnergies y/yOil, gas, LNG prices much lower in 2023 vs 2022TotalEnergies sees LNG prices recover somewhat in winterShell slows pace of share buyback programmeLONDON/PARIS, July 27 (Reuters) - Shell (SHEL.L) and TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) reported sharp falls in second-quarter profit from bumper 2022 earnings as oil and gas prices, refining margins and trading results all weakened. 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 eased amid global economic challenges. Reuters GraphicsShell's shares were down 1.9% at 0755 GMT and TotalEnergies' slipped 0.4%, compared with a 1% decline in the European index of oil and gas companies (.SXEP). Prices for liquefied natural gas (LNG), a key product for both groups, dropped to $11.75 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) from around $33. Both Shell and TotalEnergies had flagged shrinking profit from refining crude oil into fuel and chemicals in the quarter.

Persons: TotalEnergies, Shell, Wael Sawan, Patrick Pouyanne, Ron Bousso, Shadia, America Hernandez, Susan Fenton Organizations: Shell, Reuters Graphics, Brent, Thomson Locations: PARIS, Ukraine, TotalEnergies

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

LAUNCESTON, Australia, July 26 (Reuters) - China boosted its stockpiling of crude oil to the highest level in three years in June, taking advantage of cheap Russian crude to bolster inventories and add flexibility to future import requirements. The volume of crude available to refiners was 16.93 million bpd, consisting of imports of 12.67 million bpd and domestic output of 4.26 million bpd. This would have the impact of lowering their import bills, but also of cutting global oil demand and putting some downward pressure on oil prices. What is becoming clearer is that the amount of heavily discounted crude China can buy is reaching a maximum. In addition to discounted Russian oil, China also buys crude from Iran, although this is largely disguised as imports from other nations in official data.

Persons: China doesn't, Jamie Freed Organizations: National Bureau of Statistics, International Energy Agency, Brent, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Ukraine

☆ Goldman Sachs expects 'all time high' oil demand to spur large deficits, boosting prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

In this article GSBDGS Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTOil storage tanks stand at the RN-Tuapsinsky refinery, operated by Rosneft Oil Co., at night in Tuapse, Russia. Andrey Rudakov | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesGoldman Sachs expects record demand in oil markets to drive crude prices higher in the near term. He added that the bank forecasts Brent crude to rise from just above $80 per barrel now to $86 per barrel by year-end. Global benchmark Brent futures traded 0.39% lower at $80.75 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures stood 0.42% at $76.75 per barrel. That metric, which tallies the number of active oil rigs, is used as an indicator of drilling activity and future output.

Persons: Andrey Rudakov, Goldman Sachs, Daan Struyven, CNBC's, Struyven Organizations: Rosneft Oil, Bloomberg, Getty, Brent, U.S, West Texas Locations: Tuapse, Russia

As investors bet on a milder inflation outlook, the MSCI World Equity index (.MIWD00000PUS) rose to its highest so far this year. BOND YIELD BOUNCEU.S. government bond yields bounced back slightly on Friday after sharp declines earlier in the week. The two-year U.S. Treasury yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations, was up 10.6 bps at 4.717%. "Getting the 3% (inflation reading) is one thing, getting back to 2% is going to be a much harder task," Villamin said. LOWER DOLLAR HOLDSThe dollar hovered near a 15-month low on Friday and was set for its biggest weekly decline since November after softening U.S. inflation data.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Germany's DAX, Michele Morganti, Morganti, Norman Villamin, We're, Villamin, Brent, Lawrence Delevingne, Elizabeth Howcroft, Jan Harvey, Nick Macfie Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, U.S . Federal Reserve, Wednesday U.S, JPMorgan Chase, UnitedHealth, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Generali Investments, Treasury, Brent, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Rome, Libya, Nigeria, Boston, London

☆ Brent oil hovers above $81 after supply disruptions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Natalie Grover | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

On Thursday some oilfields in Libya were shut down because of a local tribe's protest against the kidnapping of a former minister. Separately, Shell suspended loadings of Nigeria's Forcados crude oil owing to a potential leak at a terminal. With the "market in thrall of a ‘tightening’ narrative", any more outages will push the oil price to levels that not even the most ardent bull would have predicted for the second half of the year, Evans added. Both Brent and WTI futures were down slightly at 1207 GMT, with Brent 9 cents lower at $81.27 a barrel and WTI down 11 cents at $76.78. Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's biggest oil exporters, this month agreed to deepen oil cuts in place since November last year, providing further support to crude prices.

Persons: John Evans, thrall, Evans, Brent, Craig Erlam, Natalie Grover, Sudarshan Varadhan, Katya Golubkova, David Evans, Mark Potter Organizations: Shell, Brent, International Energy Agency, Organization of, Petroleum, National Australia Bank, U.S ., U.S . Federal, OANDA, Thomson Locations: Libya, Nigeria, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, London, Singapore, Tokyo

☆ Brent oil hovers above $80 as U.S inflation eases
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Natalie Grover | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 13 (Reuters) - Global oil benchmark Brent hovered above $80 a barrel on Thursday after U.S. inflation data implied interest rates in the world's biggest economy are close to their peak. The futures contract structure of the global benchmark Brent indicates the market is tightening and that OPEC could be succeeding in its mission to support the market. The premium of a front month Brent contract to a six-month February 2024 contract rose to $2.64 a barrel on Wednesday. At the end of the June, the front month contract was at a discount to the six month contract. Meanwhile, an OPEC report also published on Thursday, maintained an upbeat world oil demand outlook despite economic headwinds.

Persons: Craig Erlam, Brent, Natalie Grover, Jeslyn Lerh, Laura Sanicola, Jacqueline Wong, Elaine Hardcastle, Barbara Lewis, Conor Humphries Organizations: Brent, U.S, West Texas, OPEC, International Energy Agency, Customs, Thomson Locations: Brent, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, India, London, Singapore, Washington

☆ Russia's economy is in shambles and its oil exports are collapsing — but its crude oil just smashed a crucial price cap
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia's flagship Urals crude just breached the price cap of $60 a barrel on Tuesday, per S&P Global. The price cap came into effect on December 5 and sought to limit Moscow's energy revenues. These production cuts prop up oil prices as demand outsizes supply, an unnamed European oil trader told S&P. The benchmark US West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures were up 0.2% at $75.90 a barrel at 2.29 ET on Thursday. The global benchmark Brent crude oil prices were up 0.3% at $80.33 a barrel.

Persons: Phil Rosen Organizations: P Global, Service, P, West Texas, Brent Locations: Wall, Silicon, Russia, Ukraine, China, Saudi Arabia

☆ Wall Street cheers cool CPI with stock rally; dollar, yields decline
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Lawrence Delevingne | Thomson Reuters | Delevingne Works Primarily On Enterprise Stories Related To Finance. He Joined Reuters In | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Ralph OrlowskiSummaryCompanies U.S. CPI data for June shows inflation slowdownWall Street stocks gainDollar, Treasury yields dropOil and gold gainJuly 12 (Reuters) - Wall Street stocks advanced on Wednesday and the dollar and Treasury yields fell after new U.S. inflation data showed a slowdown in the seemingly relentless rise of consumer prices. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) gained just 0.2% last month, the Labor Department said on Wednesday, lifted by rises in gasoline prices as well as rents, which offset a decrease in prices of used motor vehicles. Shares of big tech-related companies, which tend to be sensitive to higher interest rates, gave the S&P 500 its biggest boost. /FRXU.S. Treasury yields also dropped, with the 10-year Treasury yield now at 3.865%, down 11.9 basis points . Wall Street banks overall are expected to report higher profits as rising interest payments offset a downturn in deal making.

Persons: Ralph Orlowski, Alexandra Wilson, Elizondo, Bryce Doty, Australia's, Wells, Scott Wren, Wren, Brent, Lawrence Delevingne, Marc Jones, Ankur Banerjee, Jan Harvey, Chizu Nomiyama, Will Dunham, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, Companies U.S, Treasury, Index, Labor Department, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, CPI, Bank of England, U.S, Sit Investment, Fed, Japan's Nikkei, JPMorgan, Citigroup, Wells, Investment Institute, Brent, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, U.S, Minneapolis, Asia, Wednesday ., Boston, London, Singapore, Carolina, New York

July 12 (Reuters) - Oil prices settled higher on Wednesday, with benchmark Brent futures breaching $80 a barrel for the first time since May, after U.S. inflation data spurred hopes the Federal Reserve may have fewer interest rate hikes in store for the world's biggest economy. U.S. data showed consumer prices rose modestly in June and registered their smallest annual increase in more than two years. Markets expect one more interest rate rise, but oil traders hope that may be it. Brent futures settled up 71 cents, or 0.9%, to $80.11 a barrel. Forecasts from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) point to the market tightening into 2024.

Persons: Naeem Aslam, Brent, Tamas Varga, Phil Flynn, Natalie Grover, Trixie Yap, Sonali Paul, Barbara Lewis, Emelia, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Zaye, . West Texas, U.S . Energy Information Administration, International Energy Agency, IEA, Saudi, U.S . Energy, Administration, Price Futures, Thomson Locations: China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, U.S, London

[1/2] A trader works at the Frankfurt stock exchange, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Frankfurt, Germany, December 30, 2020. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) gained just 0.2% last month, the Labor Department said on Wednesday, lifted by rises in gasoline prices as well as rents, which offset a decrease in prices of used motor vehicles. CPI advanced 3.0% in the 12 months through June, down from 4.0% in May and the smallest year-on-year increase since March 2021. /FRXU.S. Treasury yields also dropped, with the 10-year Treasury yield now at 3.853%, down 12.9 basis points . EARNINGS AHEADOvernight in Asia, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index (.AXJO) rose 0.4%, while the bouncing yen knocked Japan's Nikkei (.N225) down 0.8%.

Persons: Ralph Orlowski, Alexandra Wilson, Elizondo, Bryce Doty, Australia's, Wells, Scott Wren, Wren, Brent, Lawrence Delevingne, Marc Jones, Ankur Banerjee, Jan Harvey, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, Companies U.S, Treasury, Index, Labor Department, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Bank of England, U.S, Sit Investment, Fed, Bank of Canada, Japan's Nikkei, JPMorgan, Citigroup, Wells, Investment Institute, Brent, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, U.S, Minneapolis, Asia, dealmaking, Boston, London, Singapore, Carolina, New York

[1/2] A trader works at the Frankfurt stock exchange, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Frankfurt, Germany, December 30, 2020. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) gained just 0.2% last month, the Labor Department said on Wednesday, lifted by rises in gasoline prices as well as rents, which offset a decrease in the price of used motor vehicles. CPI advanced 3.0% in the 12 months through June, down from 4.0% in May and the smallest year-on-year increase since March 2021. /FRXU.S. Treasury yields also dropped, with the 10-year Treasury yield now at 3.885%, down 9.7 basis points . GLOBAL STOCKS, COMMODITIESOvernight in Asia, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index (.AXJO) rose 0.4%, while the bouncing yen knocked Japan's Nikkei (.N225) down 0.8%.

Persons: Ralph Orlowski, Alexandra Wilson, Elizondo, Bryce Doty, Australia's, Wells, Brent, Lawrence Delevingne, Marc Jones, Ankur Banerjee, Shashwat Chauhan, Jan Harvey, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Companies U.S, Treasury, Index, Labor Department, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Bank of England, U.S, Sit Investment, Fed, Bank of Canada, Japan's Nikkei, JPMorgan, Citigroup, Brent, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, U.S, Minneapolis, Asia, Boston, London, Singapore, Bengaluru

"We'll have a much better sense after we get another major data point on Friday with the jobs report and the inflation data next week." MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) closed 0.93% lower, while Japan's Nikkei (.N225) lost 0.25%. In currencies, the U.S. dollar edged higher against other major currencies after Fed minutes reinforced expectations of another interest rate hike at the end of the month. The dollar index rose 0.272%, with the euro down 0.22% to $1.0853. And market participants were awaiting demand data from the July 4 U.S. holiday weekend, which tends to mark the peak U.S. travel season.

Persons: Mike Segar, outstrip Brent, Michael James, Jack Janasiewicz, Janasiewicz, ”, Paul Nolte, Sterling, Brent, Sinéad Carew, Lewis Krauskopf, Tom Wilson, Stella Qiu, Dhara, Sam Holmes, Helen Popper, Will Dunham, Christina Fincher Organizations: Wall, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, . Federal Reserve, Wedbush Securities, U.S . Commerce, Companies, U.S, Solutions, Traders, Murphy, Sylvest Wealth Management, “, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Japan's Nikkei, Treasury, Brent, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Los Angeles, United States, China, Washington, Europe, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Russia, New York, London, Sydney

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $2.15 from Monday's close, or 3.1%, to $71.91 a barrel by 11:36 a.m. EDT (1536 GMT). Brent crude futures rose 45 cents, or 0.5%, to $76.66 a barrel, after gaining $1.60 a barrel on Tuesday. "The July voluntary cuts and the extension into August should considerably tighten the oil market, but investors will stay on the sidelines until oil inventories will show substantial draws," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo. The American Petroleum Association will report its weekly U.S. crude oil and products inventory report after 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT) on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley on Wednesday lowered its oil price forecasts, predicting a market surplus in the first half of 2024 with non-OPEC supply growing faster than demand next year.

Persons: Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Giovanni Staunovo, Staunovo, Morgan Stanley, Shariq Khan, Natalie Grover, Yuka Obayashi, Muyu Xu, David Goodman, Jan Harvey, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Brent's Tuesday, Brent, . West Texas, American Petroleum Association, U.S . Energy, Administration, U.S, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Russia, BENGALURU, Monday's, Algeria, Saudi, OPEC, China, Europe

Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's biggest oil exporters, deepened oil supply cuts on Monday in an effort to send prices higher. OPEC says it does not have a price target and is seeking to have a balanced oil market to meet the interests of both consumers and producers. But Riyadh has repeatedly rebuffed U.S. calls and Prince Abdulaziz said on Wednesday that new joint oil output cuts agreed by Russia and Saudi Arabia this week have again proven sceptics wrong. ENOUGH FOR NOWThe International Energy Agency has said it expects the oil market to tighten in the second half of 2023, partly because of OPEC+ cuts. Additional oil cuts should be enough to help balance the oil market, United Arab Emirates' energy minister Suhail Al Mazrouei told reporters on Wednesday.

Persons: Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Prince Abdulaziz, Morgan Stanley, Suhail Al Mazrouei, Mazrouei, Dmitry Zhdannikov, Louise Heavens, Jason Neely, Jan Harvey Organizations: Saudi, Saudi Energy, Wednesday, of, Petroleum, Brent, OPEC, Reuters, Bloomberg, Wall Street, International Energy Agency, United, Thomson Locations: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Russia VIENNA, Saudi, OPEC, United States, Ukraine, Riyadh, United Arab Emirates, UAE

TOKYO/SINGAPORE, July 5 (Reuters) - Oil benchmark Brent fell on Wednesday, reversing some of the gains made after Saudi Arabia and Russia announced they would extend and deepen output cuts into August, as concerns over a global economic slowdown weighed on market sentiment. Brent was down 46 cents, or 0.6%, at $75.79 a barrel by 0704 GMT, after climbing $1.60 on Tuesday. Investors remained concerned about oil demand, however, after business surveys showed a slump in global factory activity because of sluggish demand in China and in Europe. "The trajectory of global oil stockpiles may soon become as relevant as OPEC+ supply cuts and macro headwinds given the International Energy Agency's outlook for a tightening oil market in H2 2023," analysts from Commonwealth Bank of Australia said in a note. Reporting by Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo and Muyu Xu in Singapore; Editing by Sonali Paul and Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brent, Tomomichi Akuta, Yuka Obayashi, Xu, Sonali Paul, Muralikumar Organizations: . West Texas, Mitsubishi UFJ Research, Consulting, Federal, Market, U.S, of, Petroleum, Investors, Traders, American Petroleum Institute, Reuters, International Energy, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, SINGAPORE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, ., Monday's, U.S, United States, Europe, China, Algeria, OPEC, Tokyo, Singapore

☆ Stock Market Today: Dow Futures Edge Down—Live Updates
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Stock futures slipped as data showed China’s services sector expanded slower than expected and investors awaited minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting. “It’s contributing to the loss of momentum and growth in Europe as well.”Coming up: The Fed’s minutes for its June meeting are due at 2 p.m. In recent market action:Stock futures slipped. Nasdaq-100 futures fell 0.4%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index lost 1.6% and the Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.7%.

Persons: ”, Hani Redha, Jerome Powell, Brent Organizations: Federal, PineBridge Investments, Dow, Nasdaq, Nikkei, Treasury Locations: China, Europe, Shanghai

2 oil exporter, said shortly after the Saudi announcement that it would cut crude shipments by 500,000 bpd for August. Taken together, the Saudi and Russian moves mean that the total output cuts pledged by members of the OPEC+ producer group are 5.16 million bpd, or about 5% of daily global demand. The subtext to Saudi calls for stability and balance is that the kingdom wants to keep oil prices at a level it deems high enough. The allocation of additional crude import permits is a factor that could keep crude imports strong in the second half, but it's likely that much will depend on crude prices. This level of stockpile building gives China's refiners options should crude oil prices rise as OPEC+ cuts output.

Persons: refiners, Jamie Freed Organizations: Saudi, Brent, Organization of, Petroleum, International Energy Agency, Refinitiv Oil, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Saudi, OPEC, Russian, CHINA, Beijing, China

☆ Oil settles higher but posts fourth straight quarterly decline
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil pumpjacks are viewed in the Inglewood Oil Field in Los Angeles, California. Oil prices settled higher on Friday but posted their fourth straight quarterly loss as investors worried that sluggish global economic activity could crimp fuel demand. Signs of strengthening U.S. economic activity and sharp declines in U.S. oil inventories last week offered some support. The market was also supported by upward revisions in demand for crude oil and refined products in the United States. A Reuters survey of 37 economists and analysts showed oil prices will struggle for traction this year as global economic headwinds linger.

Persons: John Kilduff, Baker Hughes Organizations: Inglewood Oil Field, Brent, U.S . West Texas, U.S . Commerce, Federal Reserve, HSBC, Reuters Locations: Inglewood, Los Angeles , California, U.S, New York, United States, Saudi, OPEC, Saudi Arabia

An example is the trade in physical cargoes from the Middle East where Unipec, the trading arm of top Chinese refiner Sinopec, has been selling heavily this month. There are several reasons for this, including the output cuts implemented by OPEC+, which effect more Middle East grades than Brent and related light crudes. Asia is expected to import 29.12 million bpd in June, a third consecutive monthly gain and up from 26.47 million bpd in May, according to Refinitiv. China's imports are estimated at 12.5 million bpd, up slightly from May's 12.16 million, while India is forecast to receive 5.24 million bpd, up from 4.74 million bpd in May. Asia's imports from the United States are expected to reach a record high of 2.58 million bpd in June, up from 1.66 million bpd the prior month.

Persons: Unipec, refiners, BRENT, Brent, Stephen Coates Organizations: Unipec, Refinitiv Oil Research, Saudi Aramco, OPEC, Saudi, Aramco, refiners, Brent, . West Texas, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Oman, Dubai, Middle East, Africa, Americas, Asia, Saudi, Brent, China, India, United States, Europe, North America

☆ Oil pares gains as rate hike fears offset US inventory drop
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Alex Lawler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Benchmark Brent crude prices are down more than 15% this year as rising interest rates hit investor appetite, while China's economic recovery has faltered after several months of softer-than-expected consumption and other data. "For now, the market remains stuck with demand concerns weighing," said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. "Overall, the commodity sector, including crude oil, is suffering from risk adversity amid China growth worries and U.S. data strength pointing to higher rates," he said. The Energy Information Administration's official supply report is due out at 1430 GMT. Higher interest rates can weigh on economic activity and oil demand.

Persons: Brent, Ole Hansen, Oil, Christine Lagarde, Tamas Varga, Mohi Narayan, Jason Neely, David Evans Organizations: Oil, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Saxo Bank, American Petroleum Institute, Energy, European Central Bank, ECB, PVM, Saudi, Thomson Locations: contango, China

☆ Analysis: Contrarians bet U.S. energy shares will shake doldrums in 2023's second half
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( David Randall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

That has hurt shares of energy companies: after soaring in 2022, the S&P 500 energy sector (.SPNY) has lost nearly 10% this year, making it the index’s worst performing sector. Most investors believe central bank interest rate hikes to fight inflation should keep a lid on global growth for the time being. Yet some are positioning for a rebound in energy shares, drawn by attractive valuations and signs the U.S. will continue to stave off an economic downturn. Stan Majcher, a portfolio manager at Hotchkis & Wiley, is among those counting on oil prices rebounding due to tight supply. “If you don’t get it, the path of least resistance is for oil prices to move much higher," he said.

Persons: Brent, David Lefkowitz, Baker Hughes, Stan Majcher, Refinitiv, Charles Lemonides, Sam Peters, David Randall, Lewis Krauskopf, Ira Iosebashvili, David Gregorio Our Organizations: YORK, UBS Wealth Management, UBS, Federal Reserve, TD Securities, . West Texas, Brent, U.S, drillers, Hotchkis, Wiley, Kosmos Energy Ltd, Bank of America Survey, Hess Corp, Occidental Petroleum Corp, ClearBridge Investments, Thomson Locations: U.S, China, Saudi Arabia

LAUNCESTON, Australia, June 26 (Reuters) - The extraordinary events in Russia this weekend made for dramatic headlines and the ramifications are likely far from over, but the immediate impact on global crude oil markets is likely to be limited. What is somewhat more certain is that there is no direct threat to Russia's crude oil industry and no reason to believe that shipments from the world's second-largest exporter of the fuel are in any danger. While there appears little imminent threat to Russia's exports of crude oil and refined products, the weekend unrest does raise concerns over the medium and longer terms. Russia's crude oil exports are expected to dip in June, but this is largely the impact of Moscow's earlier announcement of a voluntary 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) additional cut to output. But a wounded and weakened Putin is one more thing the global oil market now has to worry about.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Alexander Lukashenko, Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, midmorning, Sonali Paul Organizations: Brent, Refinitiv Oil Research, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Russia, Belarus, midmorning Sydney, OPEC, Moscow, Saudi Arabia

☆ US crude inventories post surprise draw, fuel stocks rise, EIA says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Arathy Somasekhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Crude inventories (USOILC=ECI) fell by 3.8 million barrels to 463.3 million barrels in the week to June 16, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 300,000-barrel rise. Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub (USOICC=ECI) fell 98,000 barrels, EIA said. U.S. crude oil exports climbed to 4.5 million barrels per day last week, while imports fell about 50% to 1.6 million barrels per day. "A rebound in crude exports, dip in imports, and ongoing strength in refining activity have encouraged a draw to crude inventories," said Matt Smith, a lead oil analyst at Kpler. Refinery crude runs (USOICR=ECI) fell by 116,000 barrels per day in the last week, EIA said.

Persons: Andrew Lipow, Matt Smith, Arathy Somasekhar, Stephanie Kelly, Jan Harvey Organizations: Energy Information Administration, Cushing, . West Texas, Brent, Lipow Oil Associates, EIA, Thomson Locations: Oklahoma, Houston . U.S, U.S, Houston, New York

☆ US shale's muted reply to OPEC oil cuts to limit supply, executive says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Arathy Somasekhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. energy firms have cut domestic oil and gas drilling activity to the lowest level since April 2022 with declines from Texas to Pennsylvania. Analysts expect further cuts this year with oil and gas prices off from last year's strong levels. "We are more constructive on where oil prices could go." Global benchmark Brent crude was trading at $77.10, while U.S. natural gas prices were trading around $2.58 per million British thermal units. It expects to flatten drilling activity there and turn more to Ohio's Utica and Wyoming's Powder River Basin, he added.

Persons: Lloyd Helms, Morgan, Helms, Arathy Somasekhar, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Global, Brent, Organization of, Petroleum, U.S . Energy Information Administration, Thomson Locations: ., Texas, Pennsylvania, U.S, Saudi Arabia, New Mexico, Utica, Houston

Search resuls for: "Benchmark Brent"

25 mentions found