NEW YORK: Oil prices jumped on Wednesday, as the European Union, the world's largest trading bloc, spelled out plans to phase out imports of Russian oil, raising concerns about further market tightness as those nations hunt for adequate supply. Crude benchmarks have risen steadily over the past two months following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Until now, the European Union has been reluctant to fully cut off imports of Russian oil and gas, and its plans still do not suggest a full ban for all EU members. Europe imports some 3.5 million barrels of Russian oil and oil products daily, and also depends on Moscow's gas supplies. "Inventories are so tight, so against this backdrop, when you're talking about this ban, there are a lot of questions on how (Europe) is going to make up for this," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group. Brent crude LCOc1 futures settled up $5.17, or 4.9%, to $110.14 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 futures settled at $107.81 a barrel, up $5.40, or 5.3%. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday proposed a phased oil embargo on Russia, as well as sanctioning Russia's top bank. The Commission's measures include phasing out supplies of Russian crude within six months and refined products by the end of 2022, von der Leyen said. She also pledged to minimise the impact of the move on European economies.
Hungary and Slovakia, however, will be able to continue buying Russian crude oil until the end of 2023 under existing contracts, an EU source told Reuters. Russia could offset the loss of one of its primary customers by selling oil to other importers including India and China. Neither country has stopped buying from Moscow. Needs for much greater supplies are not likely to be met at a meeting on Thursday of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers. OPEC+ is expected to stick to its plan for a gradual ramp-up of monthly production. In the United States, crude stocks rose modestly last week, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Stocks were up 1.2 million barrels as the United States released more barrels from its strategic reserves. Fuel stocks fell, in part due to stronger exports of products since Russia's invasion as buyers have sought other sources. EIA/S The markets largely shook off the Federal Reserve's announcement that it would raise interest rates by a half percentage point to try to bring down rising inflation. "The market was up so strong before the announcement I think (the Fed) was a foregone conclusion," said Gary Cunningham, director of market research at Tradition Energy.- Reuters
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — The Minister of Finance (Incorporated) MoF Inc may provide financial assistance to ailing oil-and-gas giant Sapura Energy Bhd, according to sources.
Sources familiar with developments at the wholly-owned Finance Ministry unit told The Edge that the intervention would be made under MoF (Inc) Act, which empowered the finance minister to enter into business transactions for social and strategic purposes.
"From what I know it is MoF Inc that will step up (lend a helping hand to Sapura Energy. What is discussed at present is some sort of assistance package...it could be a grant of some sort and it could be announced soon," one source was quoted as saying in the latest edition of The Edge.
It also said Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz has been working on the proposal for several weeks......
Oil prices have been edging higher this week as improving demand signals highlight the lack of supply options in oil markets if there is a drastic contraction in Russian production, a likely outcome if the European Union bans Russian oil. With both US crude and gasoline inventories continuing their decline, whilst recent altercations between the United States and Iran have rendered any JCPOA breakthrough largely impossible, analysts are anticipating another surge towards the $130-140 per barrel range this summer.
Icon Offshore Bhd posted a net profit of RM2.96 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 (1QFY22) compared with a net loss of RM11.15 million a year earlier, on higher gross profit.
SUMMARY OF KEY FINANCIAL INFORMATION 31 Mar 2022 ICON OFFSHORE BERHAD
Revenue: 66,951,000 {Around 67 milion ringgit} Profit/(loss) before tax: 6,159,000 {Around 6.2 milion ringgit} Profit/(loss) for the period: 2,899,000 {Around 2.9 milion ringgit} Net assets per share(NTA): 0.1398
(May 31): Offshore oil and gas services firm Icon Offshore Bhd is in advanced talks to buy a maintenance, repair and operations business that will help it diversify earnings and boost profitability, its top executive said on Monday (May 30). “We are preparing for the next phase of growth with this potential acquisition,” managing director Datuk Seri Hadian Hashim, 64, told Bloomberg News in an interview at Icon’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. “We hope to wrap up the deal before the end of the year. The acquisition will provide us with a new earnings stream while reinforcing our position in Brunei and help us to expand regionally.” He declined to name the target but said Icon would be able to fund the acquisition via internal funds and some borrowing. The planned deal is estimated to provide at least a 30% increase in net income and will help mitigate the cyclical nature of the company’s earnings, Hadian said. The company, which counts Malaysian private equity firm Ekuiti Nasional Bhd as indirect major shareholder, owns and operates 20 active offshore supply vessels and a jack-up drilling rig, according to its official website. Currently, the company derives 60% of its profits from Malaysia and the remainder from Brunei, Hadian said. Icon’s outlook for the next few years will be good and will be supported by the sustained high crude oil prices and order book, Hadian said. The company has a combined order and tender book totalling RM2 billion, he said. Icon has a "buy" call from Maybank Investment Bank, which pegs a target price of 16 sen per share on the company, according to analysts tracked by Bloomberg. The stock ended unchanged at 10.5 sen per share on Monday. Maybank’s equity analyst Liaw Thong Jung expects “sequentially stronger” second quarter outlook for Icon after the company returned to profitability in first quarter with a net income of RM2.96 million versus a net loss of RM11.15 million a year ago. Revenue grew 31% on-year to RM66.95 million mainly driven by its drilling business, according to stock exchange filing. The company is projected to report a net income of RM49.2 million for year ending 2022 from RM22.5 million last year, according to Liaw.
This book is the result of the author's many years of experience and observation throughout his 26 years in the stockbroking industry. It was written for general public to learn to invest based on facts and not on fantasies or hearsay....
cashflow
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Posted by cashflow > 2022-04-29 00:27 | Report Abuse
Strange the optimism is still low in this counter despite the Bull run on crude prospect