Ashurst: Oil and gas firms gear up for wave of M&A activity as oil prices stabilise May 25, 2016 Oil and gas firms are gearing up for a wave of mergers and acquisitions activity which will sweep across the world this year. The industry expects deal volumes to swell by 50 per cent year-on-year in 2016, rising substantially on a three to five year horizon, according to a report released today by City law firm [...]
US crude oil inventories dropped sharply last week, data from the US Energy Information Administration shows May 25, 2016 US crude inventories dropped by 4.2m barrels in the week ending 20 May, a much bigger loss than was previously expected. Traders had been gearing up for a drop of around 1.7m barrels. Oil has been trading up all day, with US crude hitting a seven-month high overnight, and global benchmark Brent up 0.89 per cent [...]
The pound’s looking sound as it gains even more ground May 25, 2016 There's no doubt about it – the pound is tearing it up this week. Sterling smashed through another barrier this afternoon to stand at $1.4708, up another 0.5 per cent against the US dollar on the day and approaching one of its highest levels for the year. Read more: Sterling volatility just hit a seven-year high Against the euro, the quid [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open May 25, 2016 Oil is climbing and China has fixed the yuan at its weakest level in five years. Here's what you need to know before the market open at 14:30 London time. The pre-market is pointing to a strong rise at the open. The S&P is up by 0.36 per cent, while the Nasdaq is up by 0.44 per cent. [...]
Shell cuts 2,200 more jobs after its takeover of BG Group May 25, 2016 Royal Dutch Shell said today that it will cut an additional 2,200 jobs due to low oil prices and in the wake of its £35bn takeover of BG Group. This takes the total job cuts resulting from the integration of its smaller rival to at least 5,000 globally, including 475 job losses in the UK. Shell recently reduced its 2016 spending [...]
Opec boss warns world needs $65 oil to avoid price shocks May 25, 2016 The head of Opec has warned that the world "badly" needs $65 oil to avoid any future price shocks. Low crude prices have left firms with less cash to fund exploration, while producers pumping to the hilt has shrunk the global spare capacity margin. The has left markets increasingly vulnerable to production outages and soaring prices. [...]
US oil hits seven month high as both West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude trade around $50 a barrel May 25, 2016 US oil hit its highest price in over seven months this morning, rising to as much as $49.35 in early trading, after industry data pointed to a larger-than-expected drop in US crude inventories last week. Brent crude was also up, hitting a high of $49.26. Data from the American Petroleum Institute showed that US crude [...]
Why long-term investors shouldn’t fear Brexit: Alarming projections have emerged about the impact of Britain leaving the EU on sterling, stocks and bonds. But there are reasons not to expect the worst May 25, 2016 You’d be forgiven for thinking the investment industry is united against Brexit. Accompanied by alarming forecasts about the impact of a Leave vote on sterling or the risk to various sectors of the UK economy, repeated reports have painted the referendum as a choice between emotion and reason, with Remain the only sensible option for [...]
More action in Amsterdam as London’s float market awaits referendum May 24, 2016 The Amsterdam stock exchange today welcomed a new €740m (£564m)-valued addition. Livestock feed company ForFarmers priced on the Netherlands Euronext on Tuesday, finishing the day with a share price of €6.95. Read more: London set for IPO market recovery… but not just yet While Europe’s flotation markets have experienced a slow start to the year, [...]
Oil market entering a phase of rebalancing claims Goldman Sachs May 24, 2016 Increased oil production from countries with lower costs is going to hold down the price of crude, according to industry experts at Goldman Sachs. Goldman commodity analysts claim the “new oil order” means that output from the likes of Iran and Iraq will soon entirely offset disruption from higher cost producers. Recently the oil price [...]