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Energy Markets

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels

Reliance acquires Kelvinator, a home appliance maker from Sweden's Electrolux

Reliance Industries announced on Friday that its retail arm had purchased the Kelvinator Brand in India from Sweden’s Electrolux. The Mukesh Ambani led group is now a stronger player in the rapidly growing consumer durables market. Reliance Retail is expanding its private-label product portfolio, as well as its footprint, in the home appliances and electronics segment, which has seen a boom due to urbanisation and rising incomes. Reliance Digital operates stores that sell everything from washing machines to refrigerators and washing machines, as well as smartphones and laptops. Since 2019, the company has sold Kelvinator refrigerators, air conditioning units and...

Fossil Fuels

London's unloved shares are attracting foreign investors

The UK stock market is finally reversing its years-long underperformance compared to the rest of Europe. This comes as a result of a UK/U.S. A trade agreement, a softer regulatory environment and cheap stocks are delivering juicy returns which are beginning to attract foreign investors. The FTSE 100 is up nearly 10% in the last year, and has reached record highs, surpassing the STOXX 600 which is up 7.5%. London's blue chip index performed better on a year to date basis than its European counterpart in the last six week, the longest stretch of its kind since the end of...

Fossil Fuels

After Israel-Iran truce, UK midcaps are lifted by travel stocks

Travel stocks led the UK's midcaps on Tuesday as investors were encouraged by signs of eased tensions in Middle East, and a positive forecast from Carnival Cruise Lines. The domestically oriented FTSE 250 rose 1%, reaching a record high of more than a week. Carnival's UK listed shares rose 11.8%, outpacing gains in the midcap index. raised Its annual profit forecast was higher than expected and it beat the second-quarter earnings estimate. The FTSE 350 Travel & Leisure index rose 3.6% after U.S. president Donald Trump announced Israel and Iran reached a 12-day-old ceasefire. Both sides accuse each other Violations...

Fossil Fuels

European truckmakers address rare-earths shortage with stockpiling and supply chain changes

Daimler Trucks is building up inventory to address supply problems linked to Chinese export restrictions. Daimler Trucks says it has learned lessons from the chip crisis. Recent export regulations in China are causing concern for the automotive industry. They fear that this will affect supply of rare Earths which is needed to make magnets. Exporters are required to apply for new licenses since April. These licences are being granted slowly. China is the dominant market for raw materials used in various components, from electric motors to the window mechanisms of cars and trucks. Karin Radstrom, CEO of Daimler Truck, told...

Renewable Fuels

Volvo Group and Daimler to form technology joint venture to reduce costs

AB Volvo, a European truckmaker rival, and Daimler Truck, a European truck manufacturer, hope to reduce costs and rely less on suppliers through collaborating on implementing a software defined vehicle program. Like automakers, truck and fleet manufacturers are racing to create vehicles with advanced technology while also battling the need to cut costs. Daimler-Volvo's new venture, Coretura, aims to reduce this dependence by developing a software defined vehicle platform. Daimler Trucks CEO Karin Radstrom said that the companies were looking to create a "standard industry". Radstrom stated that they are looking to see how to move away from the current...

Fossil Fuels

Analysts say that Le Vot and Stellantis' Picat could be included in Renault's search for a new CEO.

The sudden departure of Luca de Meo as CEO of Renault has sparked a search for a successor. Analysts have mentioned longtime insider Denis Le Vot, and Maxime Picat from Stellantis rival as candidates to continue the French carmaker's turnaround. Investors worried about Renault's future with de Meo gone, pushed the shares down by up to 8%. This was the biggest percentage drop in a single day since February 2022. Kering shares, where de Meo will be CEO, rose. Picat, the head of global procurement and supply chains for Stellantis, was in the running to be the CEO at the...

Fossil Fuels

Russian court delays hearing on $2.9 billion Rosatom/Fortum dispute to March

Court filings show that a Russian court postponed the legal proceedings in a $2.9 Billion lawsuit brought by Rosatom, Russia's nuclear energy company, against Finland's Fortum & Outokumpu by over nine months. In May, documents filed in court and a Rosatom press release revealed that the state-controlled nuclear energy company Rosatom was seeking compensation of 227.8 billion Russian roubles (about $2.9 billion) for the termination of the contract for the Hanhikivi-1 Nuclear Power Plant in Finland. Court documents, which did not provide any further information, showed that the hearing at the Moscow City Arbitration Court scheduled for Wednesday morning has...

Fossil Fuels

The ethics committee of the Norway Fund reviews Israeli bank stakes in West Bank settlement loans

The ethics watchdog of Norway's $1.9 trillion fund is reviewing the practice by Israeli banks to underwrite Israeli settlers' commitments to build houses in the occupied West Bank. This review could lead up $500 million in divestments. The Council on Ethics (a public body established by the Ministry of Finance) has decided to not object to the Fund’s investments in platforms like Airbnb, which offer rentals in Jewish settlements. The Norwegian parliament has set ethical guidelines for the companies in the portfolios of the largest wealth fund in the world. Svein Brandtzaeg, the Council's head in an interview on May...

Fossil Fuels

Shortsellers target a wider range of companies before Trump's "Liberation Day"

Hazeltree, a data and technology firm, said that shortsellers had targeted a broader range of equity sectors before President Donald Trump announced his "Liberation Day", or April 2, tariff announcement. They also raised negative bets against a group of large tech stocks. Super Micro Computer was the most popular security. It knocked oil and gas producer Chevron from the top spot it held for two months. Prior to this, tech stocks dominated the top 10 list of most-shorted U.S. Large Caps. Hazeltree reported that only five of the top 10 stocks most shorted in March were tech shares, compared to...

Oil & Gas

Financial Times – March 31,

These are the most popular stories from the Financial Times. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. Headlines Volvo Cars brings former boss back to provide a'steady' hand Trump threatens to impose secondary tariffs on Russian Oil if there is no agreement on Ukraine Isar declares launch of rocket a success, despite first-time failure to reach orbit Task force urges to eliminate oil and gas windfall taxes before 2030 View the full article Volvo Cars has appointed Hakan Samuelsson as its new chief executive after warning last month of a potentially challenging 2025. Donald Trump,...

Oil & Gas

Chinese Premier warns of "rising instabilities" at key business conference

At a Beijing business forum on Sunday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for countries to expand their markets in order to combat the "rising uncertainty and instability" as China prepares to face further U.S. trade tariffs. State media reported that Li said, "In an increasingly fragmented and uncertain world, with rising instabilities and uncertainties, it's more important for countries to open their markets and enterprise... to resist challenges and risks." He was speaking to dozens of visiting U.S. Republican senator Steve Daines and dozens other foreign CEOs at the China Development Forum. Sources previously said that foreign CEOs, including Tim...

Oil Exploration

Saudi Aramco-backed Cognite taps India in AI expansion bet

Cognite, a Saudi Aramco-backed software company for industrial applications in Bengaluru in southern India, opened its AI service center on Wednesday and announced that it was exploring possible contracts with the top conglomerates of the country. The company declined to give further details, but said that it had signed agreements with two major automobile companies and a large industrial-cement company. Hakon Bjerke, chief strategy officer at Cognite, said that the company is "betting on India" and investing millions of dollars in India. Cognite produces software to help companies improve the safety and operation of industrial installations such as oil and...

Environment

Environment

Daimler Volvo and other truck manufacturers sue California for blocking emissions regulations

Four major truckmakers including Daimler, Volvo and others sued California in order to prevent the state from enforcing the strict emission standards that U.S. president Donald Trump declared null in June. Daimler Volvo Paccar and International Motors, formerly Navistar said that they were "caught in crossfire" when Trump revoked waivers granted during the Biden Administration which allowed California to set its own standards. In a Monday complaint, truckmakers claimed that Trump's decision to revoke the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's approval of California’s plan to increase zero-emissions heavy-duty trucks sales and reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions preempted state enforcement. The truckmakers said...

Environment

Health Rounds: Plastic waste can be used to make a widely used pain medication

Researchers have found that common bacteria can convert plastic waste into acetaminophen (an over-the-counter painkiller), which researchers discovered. Acetaminophen is made from fossil fuels, and it's the main ingredient of Tylenol, also known as Paracetamol in certain countries. AstraZeneca helped develop the new method that transforms a polyethylene terephthalate molecule into Tylenol’s active ingredient. The process produces virtually no carbon dioxide emissions. Researchers said that the plastic can be converted into the drug in less than 24 hrs at room temperature, by using a similar fermentation process to beer brewing. PET, a lightweight, strong plastic that is used in water...

Climate Change

The EU's leading legislator on sustainability laws suggests more cuts

The European Union needs to further reduce the number of businesses subject to its corporate sustainability and environmental rules, said the European Parliament Member leading the negotiations on these policies on Thursday. The European Commission announced in February a "simplification package" that would allow European companies to compete more effectively with their foreign competitors by reducing the reporting requirements and obligations for sustainability. According to Swedish center-right legislator Jorgen Warborn who has proposed amendments that would further scale back laws to cover only companies with at least 3,000 employees and a turnover of over 450 millions euros ($521million) he believes...

Mining

Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources

SMG Swiss Market Place, an online property portal, announces its intention to flotation

SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, an online platform for real estate and auto sales, announced on Tuesday its intention to float. This is a sign that the European IPO market has been reviving after a long period of stagnation. TX Group owns 30.7% of SMG. TX Group stated that the timing of its planned IPO is dependent on market conditions. Further information will be provided in due time. The company did not specify how many shares will be offered in the floatation, but stated that it has no intention of selling any of its stock. TX Group said that it was...

Mineral Resources

US and China to start new talks on tariff truce, easing the path for Trump-Xi Meeting

The top U.S. economic officials and Chinese representatives will resume their talks on Monday in Stockholm to address long-standing economic disputes that are at the heart of a trade conflict between the two largest economies. They hope to extend the truce for three months while preventing tariff increases. China faces an August 12 deadline for a lasting tariff agreement with the Trump administration. Beijing and Washington had reached preliminary agreements in May and early June to end weeks' worth of escalating tariffs, and to stop the cutoff of rare-earth minerals. If there is no agreement, the global supply chain could...

Mineral Resources

US and China to start new talks on tariff truce, easing the path for Trump-Xi Meeting

The top U.S. economic officials and Chinese economic officials are scheduled to resume their talks on Monday in Stockholm to address long-standing economic disputes that have been at the heart of the trade war between two of the world's largest economies. They hope to extend the truce for three months while preventing tariffs from rising sharply. China faces a deadline of August 12 to reach a lasting tariff agreement with the administration of President Donald Trump. Beijing and Washington had reached preliminary agreements in May and early June to put an end to weeks of escalating tariffs, including a ban...

Mineral Resources

Outgunned Europe accepts the least-worst US Trade Deal

The European Union found that it did not have the leverage it needed to force Donald Trump's America to agree to a trade agreement on their terms. So, it signed a deal which it could just about stomach. The agreement reached on Sunday on a 15% tariff blanket after months of standoff is a reality-check on the aspirations for the European Union, a 27-country bloc of countries, to become a power economic able to compete with the United States and China. The cold shower feels all the more refreshing, given that for years the EU has portrayed itself to be...

Mineral Resources

As tariff uncertainty persists, there are some bright spots in the corporate earnings

In their most recent earnings reports, some of the top technology firms in the world, such as U.S.-based Alphabet and South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix, as well Indian IT services provider Infosys have given upbeat guidance, despite an uncertain U.S. Trade Policy. The erratic U.S. Trade Action has overshadowed corporate operations, upending supply chains and leaving firms to navigate fluctuating tariffs. This is on top of other economic uncertainties like regulatory changes and currency fluctuations. Alphabet, SK Hynix, and Infosys, all of which reported earnings above market expectations, predicted a brighter future. Alphabet and SK Hynix have both announced plans...

Mineral Resources

Businesses deliver gloomy results even as markets celebrate Japan trade deal

The trade war between the United States and Japan, which has impacted businesses from chip makers to steel producers, caused a downturn in results. However, Japan's agreement lifted stocks as well as hopes that Europe could reach a similar deal. Investors cheered the news of a new trade agreement between Japan and the United States, which will lower tariffs on auto imports while sparing Tokyo from new taxes on other goods. This news sparked hopes of a deal being reached with the European Union before the Trump administration's August 1 deadline. Results from Texas Instruments, SSAB, and other steelmakers showed...

Mineral Resources

Boliden CEO anticipates dividend payment to resume

Mikael Stafas, Chief Executive Officer of Boliden's Swedish subsidiary, said in an exclusive interview with the newspaper on Friday that Boliden will resume dividends. He said that the copper and zinc producer has committed to its dividend distribution policy, and will continue to do so until 1/3 of its profit is distributed to shareholders. This was after Lundin Mining acquired the Somincor mines and Zinkgruvan from Lundin Mining. Staffas stated that "even though we had good cash flow this quarter, I believe most people expected the balance sheet to be much stronger after the acquisition." Boliden has not yet been...

Mineral Resources

Volvo CEO wants EU auto tariffs cut to defuse Trump's threat

In an interview on Thursday, the chief executive of Volvo Cars called on the European Union (EU) to reduce its 10% tariff against American-made vehicles, arguing that European carmakers don't need protection from U.S. rivals. Brussels and the auto industry have spent months trying persuade Washington, with its 27,5% tariff, to lower it on imported European cars. Hakan Samuelsson, after the company announced its second-quarter results, said: "If Europe wants free trade then we should lead the way by lowering tariffs to very low levels first." Donald Trump, the U.S. president, has threatened to increase tariffs on European Union imports...

Mineral Resources

Volvo Cars has delayed the start of production at its new Slovak factory until early 2027

Volvo Cars, according to a spokesperson on Thursday, has delayed the large-scale production of its factory in Slovakia from 2026 until early 2027 to optimize the Swedish automaker’s product launch schedule. The Gothenburg-based firm, owned by China’s Geely Holding, hasn't made it public which model will be manufactured at the Kosice plant, except to say that it will be next-generation Volvo. The spokesperson declined to say when the decision was made, but said that it had not been taken recently. Polestar, which is also owned by Geely and will begin production of its new Polestar 7 SUV in Kosice, Poland,...

Mineral Resources

Polestar will make new SUVs in Europe starting 2028

Polestar announced on Thursday that it will produce its Polestar SUV model in a Volvo Cars plant in Slovakia. The EV maker is shifting more production out of China to reduce its exposure to high European and U.S. Tariffs. Polestar announced that the two Swedish firms, both controlled and owned by China's Geely, and Li Shufu its owner, had signed an agreement and the new model will be launched in 2028. The company stated that it is expanding its footprint in Europe to diversify its contract manufacturing business. Volvo's Kosice plant in Slovakia will begin production in 2026 with a...

Mineral Resources

Volvo Cars sales drop 12% in June; fully electric cars fall 26%

Volvo Cars, based in Sweden, reported Wednesday that sales volume had fallen for the fourth consecutive month due to trade tariffs as well as a weaker demand for electric vehicles. Volvo Cars, owned by China's Geely in majority, announced in a press release that it had sold 62 858 cars in the month of June, down 12% from a year ago. In April, the group, in response to tariffs, retracted its earnings forecasts for the next two-year period. The sales of electric vehicles fell by 26%, accounting for 22% in total sales. The sales of all electrified vehicles, including plug-in...

Mineral Resources

Autoliv tries to avoid disruptions caused by China rare earths

Autoliv, the largest manufacturer of airbags in the world, and seatbelts has set up a taskforce to combat China's You can restrict yourself to certain areas. The CEO of the company said that the group is focused on exporting rare earth magnets and doesn't expect a production halt in the next few weeks. CLEPA, the European association of auto suppliers, warned on Wednesday that more shutdowns could be expected due to the shortage of rare Earths caused by China’s export restrictions. Autoliv's factories are still operating, according to CEO Mikael Bratta in an interview at the group strategy update. When...