Bp Share Discussion Threads

[penycae] 17/5/2018 17:53

Evening all.

Turned out nice again. Off out for a steak supper this evening, courtesy of Mrs. P.
Watch the FTSE 'cos the top's in.

Trade well and prosper Earthlings

[optomistic] 17/5/2018 17:28

...a very nice finish which must be very welcome to the long term holders of BP.
Watching the oil price movement much more could come for BP.
All that is needed now is a divi increase in the next results.

[waldron] 17/5/2018 17:14

Total
54.5 +1.79%


Engie
14.545 +2.07%

Orange
14.63 +0.76%

FTSE 100
7,787.97 +0.70%
Dow Jones
24,800.95 +0.13%
CAC 40
5,621.92 +0.98%


Brent Crude Oil NYMEX 80.23 +1.17%
Gasoline NYMEX 2.27 +0.62%
Natural Gas NYMEX 2.83 +0.50%




BP
584 +1.41%

Shell A
2,730 +1.98%


Shell B
2,805.5 +2.13%

[toon1966] 17/5/2018 14:52

Broker Forecast - Citigroup issues a broker note on BP PLC
By BFN News | 09:30 AM | Thursday 17 May, 2018 BP PLC USD0.25 (BP.)

Citigroup today upgrades its investment rating on BP PLC (LON:BP.) to buy (from neutral) and raised its price target to 650p (from 510p). Story provided by StockMarketWire.com Broker Forecasts data provided by www.sharesmagazine.co.uk

[sarkasm] 17/5/2018 09:03

Oil Firms Tap Refining, Retailing -- WSJ
17/05/2018 8:02am
Dow Jones News

Shell A (LSE:RDSA)
Intraday Stock Chart

Today : Thursday 17 May 2018
Click Here for more Shell A Charts.

Petrochemicals, gas stations offer growth, as swings in crude prices roil drilling

By Sarah Kent

This article is being republished as part of our daily reproduction of WSJ.com articles that also appeared in the U.S. print edition of The Wall Street Journal (May 17, 2018).

Major oil companies are doubling down on gas stations, refineries and processing plants, betting on a once-unloved part of the energy business to shore up profits and expand their customer bases.

BP PLC plans to open thousands of gas stations in new markets such as Mexico and India over the next three years. Exxon Mobil Corp. is investing heavily to expand its petrochemical operations, which make products like plastics and the basic ingredients for all sorts of household goods. In November, Royal Dutch Shell PLC started work on a massive petrochemical complex in Pennsylvania -- its first big new plant in the U.S. since the 1960s.

Companies are expected to add 7.7 million barrels a day of new refining capacity by 2023, according to the International Energy Agency. In petrochemicals, it estimates investment in the U.S. alone over the next five years will add 13 million tons a year of new capacity to produce ethylene, the main component of plastic.

American refining, in particular, is booming. Surging shale production has provided plentiful, cheap oil close to the country's petrochemical heartland around the Gulf Coast. Fuel demand is expected to rise. All those dynamics helped drive Marathon Petroleum Corp.'s agreement to buy rival Andeavor last month for $23 billion, a deal that would create the country's largest refiner.

As smaller refiners consolidate, the world's major oil companies are promising that investment in their so-called downstream businesses -- and restructuring efforts they are simultaneously pursuing to improve efficiency -- will add billions of dollars to earnings. The focus on downstream grew amid a period of lower oil prices and concerns over long-term oil demand. Cheaper crude -- the primary feedstock for refining -- boosted margins and profits. Oil companies' "upstream," or oil exploration and development, meanwhile, was suffering from lower prices.

"Upstream at some point was not making money," said Tufan Erginbilgic, head of BP's refining and retail arm. That gave his unit a fresh imperative to "really significantly contribute to group performance, because we have to."

Today, higher crude prices pose a risk that margins from refining won't be as strong as they have in recent years. And all the new investment in capacity could end up swamping the market, analysts warned.

"It remains to be seen the way demand is going to shape up," said Jonathan Leitch, research director at Edinburgh-based consultancy Wood Mackenzie.

Big companies say the downstream investment is worth it -- no matter where crude prices head. Executives say that integrating the oil they produce with refining and retail businesses can maximize profits, and help steady finances amid the sometimes-wild swings in crude.

Investor pressure also has mounted on the major oil companies to start positioning for an age when fossil fuels may no longer power the world's fleet of passenger cars. Executives are betting their big petrochemical plants can offer diversification. According to the IEA, petrochemical production is expected to be the biggest driver of oil demand growth in the coming decades.

Gas stations, too, are promising new growth. They offer access to emerging markets, where demand for fuel is expected to be especially robust. A geographically wide network of branded, retail outlets also could create new opportunities where the industry now sees threats -- such as electric charging stations.

Last year, Shell bought one of Europe's biggest electric-vehicle charging companies, New Motion. It has teamed up with a group of car manufacturers to install more than 500 fast-charging points at existing Shell stations, across 10 countries in Europe over the next two years.

The rise of electric vehicles is "a reality, and an opportunity," Shell's downstream director, John Abbott, told analysts in March. "We are adjusting our offer to meet this new demand."

BP started its push before oil prices collapsed in 2014. The company was seeking stability after selling off billions of dollars in assets to pay for cleanup fees and legal costs associated with its catastrophic blowout in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

It sold off some of its refining businesses but resisted investor pressure to get rid of its downstream unit altogether. That was despite it being an industry laggard. Mr. Erginbilgic, the downstream boss, eliminated a layer of management and ordered up targeted improvement plans at each plant.

"At that time, we were the worst in the industry. Literally the worst," he said. BP says now it is on track to increase earnings from Mr. Erginbilgic's division by $3 billion between 2017 and 2021, doubling the improvement made in the two years from 2014.

Over the next three years, BP sees the biggest opportunity to boost earnings in gas stations. It is doubling down on partnerships with convenience stores, which has boosted profitability at gas stations in mature markets, and is pushing hard into new countries where demand is expected to grow.

BP says it is on track to open 500 retail sites in Mexico by the end of the year, up from zero at the start of 2017. Elsewhere, it is looking to build gas stations in India, China and Indonesia.

Write to Sarah Kent at [e-mail]



(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 17, 2018 02:47 ET (06:47 GMT)

[waldron] 16/5/2018 17:29

Total
53.54 -0.61%


Engie
14.25 -3.52%

Orange
14.52 -0.07%

FTSE 100
7,734.2 +0.15%
Dow Jones
24,730.41 +0.10%
CAC 40
5,567.54 +0.26%



Brent Crude Oil NYMEX 78.26 +0.28%
Gasoline NYMEX 2.22 +1.06%
Natural Gas NYMEX 2.82 -0.32%



BP
575.9 -0.23%


Shell A
2,677 -0.52%


Shell B
2,747 -0.92%

[englishlongbow] 16/5/2018 12:28

Take a look at Powerhouse Energy (PHE).

Could be a 600+ bagger.

[grupo] 16/5/2018 11:21

BP awards Vroon Offshore Services multi-ship contract

Published by David Bizley, Editor
Oilfield Technology, Wednesday, 16 May 2018 11:00

Vroon Offshore Services Aberdeen has been awarded a long-term contract with BP.

Under the multi-million pound contract, Vroon Offshore will provide emergency response and rescue vessels (ERRVs) to support BP’s on-going and future operations in the North Sea and West of Shetland. The contract is for two years with the option to extend to five.

Five modern, purpose-built ERRVs from Vroon Offshore’s versatile fleet of forty vessels will provide the service to BP. They are the VOS Fabulous, VOS Vigilant, VOS Innovator, VOS Discovery and VOS Fairness.

Craig Harvie, Managing Director of Vroon Offshore Services Aberdeen, said: “The award of this major contract strengthens our relationship with BP with whom we have worked for many years. It underlines the confidence our customers place in our safe, valued-added and cost-effective approach.

“The significant investment in our fleet in recent years has cemented our position as a market leader in the UK Continental Shelf and the Irish Sea. With this modern and versatile fleet and highly qualified, experienced colleagues, we are committed to providing safe, reliable and cost-effective services which meet the needs of our customers who operate in some of the challenging North Sea environment.”

Vroon Offshore Services operates a diverse fleet of 40 ERRVs. A major part of the fleet has cargo-carrying capabilities, while some vessels have towage and tanker-assist features. With its own rescue-craft maintenance workshop in Montrose an office in Great Yarmouth, for local support, the company employs 50 people onshore and 1000 seafarers.

[grupo] 16/5/2018 11:01

Tuesday 15 May 2018 11:04pm
More investor rebellions brew as BP and Shell bosses' pay comes under fire
Share


Alys Key
Retail and leisure reporter
Follow Alys

BRITAIN-ECONOMY-COMPANY-OIL-FUEL-BP
The bosses of BP and Shell are facing opposition to their pay (Source: Getty)

More shareholder rebellions are brewing as a summer of AGM revolts gets underway, with oil and gas companies the latest to face the music.

Shareholders in BP are being urged to vote against the "unacceptable" pay of chief executive Bob Dudley, whose remuneration is 48 times higher than the company's average employee.

Advisory service Pensions & Investment Research Consultants (Pirc) advised shareholders to oppose the company's remuneration report at the annual general meeting on 21 May.

"Performance share awards granted during the year under review are excessive, amounting to 363.7 per cent of salary for the CEO," Pirc said in a note. "Total variable pay for the year under review is also inappropriately excessive, amounting to 581 per cent of salary."

Read more: BP profits soar 71 per cent in one year to £1.9bn

Meanwhile, Royal Dutch Shell was also criticised by Pirc for its "excessive" executive pay.

Chief executive Ben van Beurden's total realised variable pay is considered excessive at 471 per cent of his base salary.

As well as advising investors to oppose the remuneration report, the service also advocated voting against the re-election of senior independent director Gerard Kleisterlee on account of his role as the chair of the remuneration committee. Pirc said that "concerns remain over the excessive levels of remuneration, as evidenced by repeated recommended oppose votes against the report".

[veryniceperson] 16/5/2018 08:44

Onwards and upwards 600 should be no problem. Arise Sir Bob. He's done ok.

[steve73] 16/5/2018 06:32

If they hadn't stopped buying back their shares last week I think we'd have already been at 6 quid..

[waldron] 15/5/2018 17:32

Total
53.868 +0.31%


Engie
14.77 +0.54%

Orange
14.53 -3.20%


FTSE 100
7,722.98 +0.16%
Dow Jones
24,715.57 -0.74%
CAC 40
5,553.16 +0.23%

Brent Crude Oil NYMEX 78.71 +0.24%
Gasoline NYMEX 2.21 +0.54%
Natural Gas NYMEX 2.85 +0.46%


BP
577.2 +1.17%

Shell A
2,691 +1.13

Shell B
2,772.5 +1.22%

[sicker] 15/5/2018 13:31

£6 looks very achievable :-)

[veryniceperson] 15/5/2018 13:13

Onwards and upwards. Doing well.

[waldron] 14/5/2018 17:12

Total
53.7 +0.69%

Engie
14.69 +0.34%

Orange
15.01 -1.18%


FTSE 100
7,710.98 -0.18%
Dow Jones
24,956.07 +0.50%
CAC 40
5,540.68 -0.02%


Brent Crude Oil NYMEX 78.15 +1.53%
Gasoline NYMEX 2.20 +0.95%
Natural Gas NYMEX 2.85 +0.96%

BP
570.5 +1.06%

Shell A
2,661 +0.19%

Shell B
2,739 +1.05%

[veryniceperson] 14/5/2018 14:48

Doing very nicely today. We may get to 600 by Christmas, why not. More projects coming on line this year. Very possible!

[grupo guitarlumber] 13/5/2018 09:09

BP picks German group to test commercial refining catalysts
BERLIN, 3 days ago

Germany-based hte, a high throughput experimentation company, has been selected by BP to evaluate commercial catalysts for both naphtha reforming and hydrocracking applications using high throughput technology under commercially relevant conditions for its refineries around the world.

BP selected hte for the evaluation study in order to benchmark commercial naphtha reforming and hydrocracking catalysts and compare their performance against incumbent catalysts, said a statement.

The resulting testing programme at hte will provide BP with the data to make selections for its upcoming naphtha reforming and hydrocracking catalyst change-outs, it said.

The overall aim of both projects is to measure activity, yields, and stability. In naphtha reforming, these performance parameters will be determined at constant octane operation, whereas in hydrocracking, the catalysts will be tested under various process conditions including the evaluation of product qualities. The two projects will start in the third quarter of 2018, it added.

Belma Demirel, senior engineer at BP Refining Technology and Engineering in Naperville, US, said: “We selected hte as a partner for our qualification project because of its reputation in independent catalyst testing and its ability to provide experimental services across the major refining processes.”

Wolfram Stichert, chief executive officer, hte, said: “We are very pleased to be selected as a partner for independent commercial catalyst testing by BP.”

“Our focus here is to help refineries to be cost-effective in the catalyst selection process. We are looking forward to continuing our reliable and long-lasting partnership with BP,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service

[la forge] 12/5/2018 07:06

HERALDSCOTLAND.COM

As oil prices begin to soar, should you up your exposure?
Iona Bain Personal Finance Writer
As oil prices begin to soar, should you up your exposure?

As oil prices begin to soar, should you up your exposure?
0 comments

THE IMPORTANCE of oil to investors has been underlined as President Trump’s tough line on Iran stoked a further rise in the price of crude.

Despite widespread predictions a year ago that oil would struggle to top $50 a barrel under pressure from US shale production, it topped $77 this week.

Big oil is a pillar of the FTSE 100 and of popular investment funds, and its strength helped the blue-chip index jump nearly seven per cent last month, bouncing back above 7,500 from its February depression.

So should investors be checking their exposure to the black gold, and do the latest geopolitical rumblings in the Middle East signal another bout of volatility ahead?

“Investors do need to keep an eye on the price of oil, which is now up 50 per cent year-on-year,” said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

“A sustained surge in crude could lead to inflation or even a slowdown in global economic activity. The higher oil goes, the more dangerous the impact of the Trump policy shift could become.”

Read more: Oil price hits three year high as tensions over Syria increase

Richard Turnill, Blackrock’s global strategist, added: “For investors seeking exposure to oil today, we see a stronger case for investing in energy equities over crude itself. Oil prices have run well ahead of energy stocks this year but this trend has started to turn.”

Surprisingly, the index of FTSE All-Share oil and gas producers is up only 4.4% in 2018, ranking it 13 out of 39 industry groupings, while the oil equipment and services sector is up by just 0.9%.

The producers’ index currently trades at 128 times the actual oil price, compared to an average of 156 over the last 20 years.

Mr Turnill said: “Current oil prices offer potential upside for energy companies’ earnings and stock prices.

"Most energy companies have budgeted for mid-$50s oil prices in 2018, with this conservative outlook reflected in share prices today.

"This points to valuation upside should current levels of oil prices be sustained.”

BP and RoyalDutchShell are strengthening the cover of their dividends as the oil cash flows in and both still offer yields of over five per cent. Mr Mould said that “less-well developed, pure play producers” such as Edinburgh-based FTSE 250 firm Cairn Energy or London-headquartered Tullow Oil could also benefit, although with a higher level of operational and exploration risk.

“The riskiest oil plays are the AIM-quoted junior explorers which may not even be producing or have a find, but whose share prices could welcome more positive sentiment toward their industry,” he said.

“The London Stock Exchange is also host to a select number of firms which provide equipment and services to the oil industry. None of them feature in the FTSE 100, although Wood and Petrofac were both once part of the UK’s elite index. Other names to note include Lamprell and Hunting.”

Read more: Bid speculation mounts over North Sea oil and gas giant

There are actively managed funds focused on the sector such as Guinness Global Energy, which has almost two-thirds of its assets in North America, while passive funds include ETFS US Energy Infrastructure and iShares US Oil & Gas Exploration & Production, both exchange-traded funds.

The iShares Core FTSE 100, meanwhile, has both BP and Shell in its top five holdings and an overall weighting of 17% to energy. Among UK equity income funds – the top-performing fund sector last month - River & Mercantile UK Equity Income has a 15% energy exposure.

For those who are happy to swap equity risk for oil price risk, ETFS WTI Crude Oil (CRUD) tracks the US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate, while ETFS Brent Crude (BRNT) mirrors European oil. Both of these funds use derivatives to track the prices, which can affect returns.

Turnill cautions that there could still be “a hefty drop in oil prices, possibly sparked by a large US shale production boost or falling demand”.

Oil futures, which predict the price ahead, have lagged the rise in spot prices, while a stronger dollar could also weigh on oil.

Tom Elliott, international investment strategist at deVere Group, said: “Investors should expect an increase in market volatility. In the shorter term at least it is likely gold and the US dollar may rally on growing fears of further conflicts in the Middle East breaking out, while risk assets, namely stocks and credit markets, may weaken. Oil may rally strongly.

“Geopolitical events such as these underscore how essential it is for investors to always ensure that they are properly diversified - this includes across asset classes, sectors and geographical regions – to mitigate potential risks to their investment returns.”

[waldron] 11/5/2018 17:29

Total
53.33 +1.18%


Engie
14.64 +0.27%

Orange
15.19 +0.30%


FTSE 100
7,724.55 +0.31%
Dow Jones
24,795.46 +0.23%
CAC 40
5,541.94 -0.07%


Brent Crude Oil NYMEX 77.27 -0.23%
Gasoline NYMEX 2.19 -0.14%
Natural Gas NYMEX 2.81 +0.11%


BP
564.5 +0.09%



Shell A
2,656 +0.85%



Shell B
2,710.5 +0.65%

[ariane] 11/5/2018 16:24

BP, China's NIO Capital to Explore Opportunities in Advanced Mobility
11/05/2018 4:10pm
Dow Jones News

BP (LSE:BP.)
Intraday Stock Chart

Today : Friday 11 May 2018
Click Here for more BP Charts.

By Ian Walker


BP PLC (BP.LN) said Friday that it has signed an agreement with NIO Capital to jointly explore opportunities in advanced mobility in China and internationally.

The oil major said potential investment opportunities include electric vehicles, new energy infrastructure, intelligent automotive systems, connected vehicles and new materials including batteries.

"Advanced technology is now driving rapid changes in transportation and China, which is seeing some of the fastest growth in new energy vehicles, is a key market for BP," BP Downstream Chief Executive Tufan Erginbilgic said.



Write to Ian Walker at [e-mail]; @IanWalk40289749



(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 11, 2018 10:55 ET (14:55 GMT)