Miners benefit from financials that drag down the UK's FTSE100
The UK's FTSE 100 dipped on Wednesday, as financials shares declined. This was offset by gains in energy and mining stocks ahead of next week's U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate decision. The blue-chip FTSE 100 as well as the midcap FTSE 250 both fell 0.2% at 11:05 GMT. This is on course to be the third consecutive session of declines. After a session of gains, heavyweight bank shares fell by almost 1%. The British financial regulator announced that it would lift the suspension on motor finance complaints by May 31, 2026. This is two months earlier than originally proposed. It will also finalise a compensation plan for those affected by a misselling scandal.
Pemex debt should be a red flag to potential partners when Mexico looks to increase oil production
Over a month has passed since Pemex's head made an appeal for partners to assist Mexico's state oil company in boosting production. But national and international companies are still not responding. Pemex has a mountain of debts, ranging from Italian producers such as Eni, to U.S. service companies SLB and Baker Hughes, which, combined with rigid contract terms, have dampened interest among potential partners. Four industry insiders said that foreign oil companies are more worried about Pemex not paying them on time. This puts Pemex’s production goal of 1.7m barrels per day at risk. Pemex's production has plummeted over the last two decades.
Maguire: High natural gas prices may lead to a new surge in coal consumption in the US
The benchmark U.S. gas prices will end 2025 the same way they started - with an explosive rally. This is bad news for those who hoped for a further reduction in coal consumption in the U.S. Gas prices in the United States increased by a third between January and March this year due to a harsh winter and strong LNG exports. This led to an increase in coal-fired electricity generation, as utilities reduced costs by burning coal instead of gas. As 2025 approaches, a similar pattern is emerging. Coal-fired power generation is on the increase and gas-fired production is being reduced as gas prices reach three-year-highs and put pressure on the budgets for electricity suppliers.
By the end of this year, Ukraine will import 5 billion cubic meters of gas
Ukraine, which has lost more than half its gas production due to Russian missile attacks, had imported 4.4 billion cubic meters (bcms) by December, and planned to import a further 0.6 bcms by year's end, said state energy company Naftogaz on Wednesday. "Our current rate of import is 26 million cubic meters (mcm), compared to 21 mcm per month. "The increase is due to the growth of imports from Naftogaz as well as private companies," said he. Ukrainian authorities stated that the country needs an extra 4.4 billion cubic meters of gas in order to compensate for the shortfalls in domestic production.
Prices remain stable as the supply is strong and peace talks in Ukraine fail.
The Dutch and British wholesale prices of gas were stable on Wednesday morning. They were close to a 19-month low as the peace talks between Russia, the U.S. and Ukraine on ending the conflict in Ukraine failed to find a solution and gas supplies remained strong. LSEG data shows that the benchmark Dutch front-month contract was lower by 0.16 euros at 27,85 euros per megawatt (MWh) at $9.50/mmBtu at 0924 GMT. The contract reached an intraday low on Tuesday of 27,53 euros/MWh, a rate not seen since the middle of April 2024. The British day-ahead contracts was down by 0.05 pence to 72.30p/therm.
East Timor President says that improved trust will drive long-stalled project
East Timor’s president is confident in what he called a new era goodwill between Canberra, Woodside Energy and his country. This will finally allow the development of an important gas project to proceed after years of delays. Woodside and East Timor have agreed to study a project of 5 million metric tons at the Greater Sunrise Fields, an area that contains an estimated 5.1 trillion cubic feet of gas. Australia has been talking about this since the 1980s, originally with Indonesia. Jose Ramos Horta, a spokesperson for the Australian government and Woodside Energy, said that trust had improved between the two nations following previous tensions.
Maguire: High natural gas prices may lead to a new surge in coal consumption in the US
The benchmark U.S. gas prices will end 2025 the same way they started - with an explosive rally. This is bad news for those who hoped for further reductions in U.S. coal usage. Gas prices in the United States increased by a third between January and March this year due to a harsh winter and strong LNG exports. This led to an increase in coal-fired electricity generation, as utilities reduced costs by burning coal instead of gas. As 2025 approaches, a similar pattern is emerging. Coal-fired power generation is on the increase and gas-fired production is being reduced as gas prices reach three-year-highs and put pressure on the budgets for electricity suppliers.
In Brazil, oil majors have united to oppose the Subsea7/Saipem merger
Public documents show that oil majors in Brazil are united against a merger proposed between energy contractors Subsea7 & Saipem. Cade, the antitrust agency, has requested new data from both firms on Friday for its investigation. In a filing in November to Cade, the Brazil oil industry group IBP stated that a new company, called Saipem7 would be strong enough to impose extra costs, delay projects, and force some clients into exclusive, long-term contracts. Cade, weeks after IBP's comment, which represents the oil majors of Brazil, sent Cade a request for additional data on Friday. Cade said it was lacking the information needed to analyze the proposed merger.
Saudi Finance Ministry says Aramco Jafurah Gas Plant has begun production
Saudi Finance Ministry announced on Tuesday that the first phase of Aramco’s Jafurah Gas Plant is completed and production with a capacity 450 million cubic foot per day has started. The ministry included the achievement in its budget statement for 2026. Jafurah could be the largest shale-gas project outside of the U.S. It is expected to achieve sustainable production levels of 2 billion cubic foot per day by 2030. Aramco's CEO Amin Nasser said that the first phase of the project was expected to be completed by the end this year during a quarterly earnings call held last month.
Russell: China's LNG crown is at risk due to high prices that limit demand.
Asia's imports liquefied gas remained flat in November. The region that is the largest buyer of this super-chilled fuel will likely record its first decline annually in three years. China is largely to blame for this soft result, as it may lose its position as the top LNG importer in the world to Japan. The drop in imports is likely due to the high spot price for LNG, which has been persistent for most of the year. Asia imported 22.99 millions metric tons (MT) of LNG in the month of November. This is a tiny bit more than the 22.97 in October, and a little higher than the 22,66 in November 2011. Kpler estimates imports to have rebounded in December.
Tetra is considering a magnesium project in Arkansas with Pentagon-backed Magrathea
Tetra Technologies said on Tuesday that it may form a joint-venture with the Pentagon-backed startup Magrathea in order to build America's first magnesium refinery, and increase domestic supplies of this metal. U.S. Magnesium, a privately owned company, closed its Utah operation in 2022 due to environmental concerns. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, China produces 95% of all magnesium in the world. Magnesium is used as an alloy for steel and aluminium across the aerospace, energy, and defense sectors. Texas-based Tetra announced that it had signed a termsheet with Magrathea for the study of a joint venture.
Bousso: New oil quotas system to spur spending with ROI-OPEC+
The changes OPEC+ makes to its oil production quotas will likely trigger a wave upstream investment among members, especially in low-cost Gulf producers. This will reduce concerns about long-term shortages of supply. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) and other major oil producing nations including Russia and Kazakhstan approved on Sunday a mechanism for assessing members' maximum output capacity. This will be used from 2027 to establish baselines. It may appear to be a very technical issue. It could be a welcome departure…
Bousso: New oil quotas system to spur spending with ROI-OPEC+
The changes OPEC+ makes to its oil production quotas will likely trigger a wave upstream investment among its members, especially in low-cost Gulf producers. This will reduce concerns about long-term shortages of supply. OPEC+ (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and other major oil producing nations including Russia and Kazakhstan approved a new method to determine the maximum production capacity of members. This will be used from 2027 to establish baselines for output. It may appear to be a very technical issue. It could be a…
Russell: China's LNG crown is at risk due to high prices that limit demand.
Asia's imports liquefied gas remained flat in November. The region that is the largest buyer of this super-chilled fuel will likely record its first decline annually in three years. China is largely to blame for this soft result, as it may lose its position as the top LNG importer in the world to Japan. The drop in imports is likely due to the high spot price for LNG, which has been persistent for most of the year. Asia imported 22.99 millions metric tons (MT) of LNG in the month of November. This is a tiny bit more than the 22.97 in October, and a little higher than the 22,66 in November 2011. Kpler estimates imports to have rebounded in December.
UK withdraws financial support for TotalEnergies Mozambique Liquefied Natural Gas Project
On Monday, the British government announced that it had decided to stop UK Export Finance from supporting TotalEnergies' Mozambique Liquefied Natural Gas Project. In 2020, the UKEF had committed to providing financial support for the $20 billion project. The project was supposed to turn Africa into a major LNG exporter for Europe and Asia. However, it was stopped in 2021 because of an islamist insurgency. In a press release, British business minister Peter Kyle stated that "my officials have evaluated risks surrounding the project and it is His Majesty’s Government's view that these risks have grown since 2020".
Gunvor's managers buy out Tornqvist's CEO as the company seeks to 'definitive re-set'
Torbjorn Tornqvist, the CEO of global commodity trading firm Gunvor, will sell his entire shareholding as part of a management buyout. This comes after the U.S. labeled the company the "Kremlin’s puppet" because it had previously been linked to Russia. Gary Pedersen, the Americas director who was hired just last year by the firm, will take on the role of CEO. Gunvor stated in a press release that the buyout was being advanced to create a path for a company whose misperceptions of its past had become an unavoidable distraction. This was a reference last month when the U.S.
Sources say that RPT-Gunvor is weighing the US energy push, which could strengthen Washington ties.
Sources familiar with the situation said that Gunvor, a commodity trader, has been in active discussions to invest into U.S. oil and gas producing assets. This could help to repair relations with the Trump Administration after the fallout of Gunvor's attempt to purchase the foreign assets of the sanctioned Russian company Lukoil. Gunvor dropped its offer to purchase Lukoil assets after the U.S. Gunvor was interested in increasing its U.S. investment even before the failed Lukoil bidding, but such a move would now help it improve relations with President Donald Trump's administration, which is making it a priority to attract more investors in the country’s energy industry.
Documents show that Alberta oil regulators stopped enforcing gas flare limits after government pressure.
Documents seen by have revealed that the regulator responsible for environmental enforcement in Canada’s largest oil-producing province, bowed to pressure from both the provincial government and major oil companies in order to remove a limitation on natural gas flare ups as Canadian oil production increased. Alberta's decision to remove its 20-year old flaring limit, after companies exceeded the limit twice in a row with no objections by the federal government is a good example of Canada's challenges in reconciling environmental commitments and a renewed focus of economic growth.
EUROPE GAS - European benchmark gas hits new intraday low of 18 months on milder outlook
As the milder weather has lowered demand for heating, and as markets await any progress in U.S. led Russia-Ukraine talks, the European benchmark contract reached its lowest intraday price in over 18 months on Sunday morning. LSEG data shows that the benchmark Dutch front-month contract was at its lowest intraday price since May 15, 2024, at 28.05 Euro per megawatt hour or $9.55/mmBtu. The Dutch February electricity price fell by 0.53 euros to 28.22 Euro/MWh. The British day-ahead contracts was down 2.45 pennies at 72.85 pence per therm. LSEG data shows that temperatures in Northwest Europe will remain normal this week with an average temperature of 5 degrees Celsius.
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. Airbus: According to industry sources, the plane maker has ordered a software update for a large number of its A320 family jets. This will affect over half of their global fleet or 6,000 jets. Axa, the French insurer, announced on Friday that it had acquired a 51% share in Italian direct insurance group Prima. The deal was announced at the beginning of August. RENAULT/STELLANTIS : The number of new car registrations in France in November fell by 0.3% compared to the same month a year ago, according to data released on Sunday by French auto body PFA.