Sefton Resources Share Discussion Threads

[relishing] 15/2/2008 14:56

Oil hits fresh one-month high on ongoing supply woes linked to Venezuela-US spat




LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Oil hit a new one-month high on ongoing
concerns that the market has not seen the last of a spat between the US and
Venezuela that has led to the South American country cutting oil supplies to
ExxonMobil.
The supply cut, which came after the US oil giant won a court order freezing
some 12 bln usd worth of Venezuelan state assets, has put at risk some 90,000
bpd of supplies to the US.
However, major oil producers in the Middle East have assured the US they can
easily make up for this amount, while Energy Secretary Sam Bodman said he will
make supplies available from the strategic petroleum reserve.
All the same, Bank of Ireland analyst Paul Harris said the Venezuela issue
could easily escalate, and that traders will look to this weekend's Sunday
broadcast by President Hugo Chavez.
Last Sunday, Chavez threatened to cut all Venezuelan oil supplies to the US,
while he yesterday renewed his call on fellow OPEC members to consider pricing
their oil in currencies other than the dollar.
At 2.25 am, New York's WTI crude for March delivery was up 0.92 usd at 96.39
usd a barrel, having earlier hit a one-month high of 96.65 usd a barrel.
In London, Brent crude for April delivery, the new front-month contract, was
up 0.40 usd at 95.56 usd per barrel.
US oil prices have risen some 6 usd this week although some analysts say the
gains have been largely overdone, especially considering the ongoing risks to US
economic growth.
US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke yesterday cast a gloomy picture of
the US economy, saying inflation risks continue even as the growth slowdown
gathers pace.
Meanwhile, OPEC earlier trimmed its 2008 oil demand growth forecast earlier,
and said it can not rule out the potential for further downward revisions to
demand.
Barclays Capital analysts said simmering economic fears and rising
inventories will likely lead oil prices back near the high 80 usd a barrel level
in the short term.
Longer term, however, they remain upbeat on prices, citing disappointing
non-OPEC output growth, frequent supply disruptions such as those in the North
Sea and Nigeria, and ongoing geopolitical tensions such as with Venezuela.
In addition, there is rising speculation that should oil prices attempt a
serious downward correction, OPEC will move to defend prices by trimming its
output quotas.
A report released yesterday by tanker tracking agency Oil Movements showed
OPEC exports are expected to fall by some 140,000 bpd in the four weeks to March
1.
Meanwhile, the cartel itself said it believes current OPEC output near 32
mln bpd should be enough to further ease market fundamentals, reinforcing
speculation that it will at best keep output levels steady in March.
At worst, the cartel could of course opt to cut output, especially if global
inventories continue rising while the global economic outlook turns even weaker.
The dollar yesterday fell considerably after Bernanke's downbeat economic
outlook was accompanied by comments indicating further interest rate cuts are on
the horizon.
Bank of Ireland analyst Paul Harris said a weak dollar could provide upside
to oil over the next few weeks, even though the dollar has not been a key factor
in oil since mid-January.

[relishing] 15/2/2008 14:54

Just heard from JE - they will be reporting on the drilling programme next week (pretty obvious really).

[mickey take] 15/2/2008 14:52

You don't want JE talking to anybody imo, you may have him present as a token gesture just nodding when necessary, You will need someone who will come across as genuine and not some over promising excited ceo, who has a reputation cast in stone now with the city boys as such

[bobbyg2] 15/2/2008 14:51

dean

ellerton should be left stroking his drillbit in yankeeland. If anyone is to do presentations it should be JDM imho.

[relishing] 15/2/2008 14:48

Dean,

Exactly - building the fundamentals and profitability, strong foundations for developing other assets etc. So we are in agreement on that now, good.

[relishing] 15/2/2008 14:47

dean,

If this is what doing a round of presentations in the City and attracting buyers does to your shareprice, I'd rather they didn't!

[vavoom2] 15/2/2008 14:46

deanroberthunt

Sefton are only here because they could not raise funding in the US

[deanroberthunt] 15/2/2008 14:43

OK Spins the wrong word, but eventually they need to attract bigger punters in for the longer haul...with 10,000's of stocks, many won't even have the faintest idea who Sefton are, not a clue.....they need to do a sort of City Rounds, Slide shows / Presentations to Institutions etc (a good example is Sterling Energy, they did a round of presentations in the City and attracted buyers).. saying this is where we are and where we're going...I'm not saying Mr Ellerton should do it himself, although he should imo.

its too early still, they'd just get laughed off the park.....but imo once we can sustain and build strong cashflow and profitability, and have some strng foundations for developing their other assets, then off you trot.

rgs

[vavoom2] 15/2/2008 14:40

California Joe - 15 Feb'08 - 14:20 - 13063 of 13068


Vavoom, if you would like to post the area you live in, I would be happy to look up the number of the nearest job centre for you!

---------------------------


California Joe

No need son

I have a job

[relishing] 15/2/2008 14:39

In my view you are wrong about spin and substance, especially in the current climate. Spin is viewed increasingly cynically and more substance than before is required to gain people's trust, and money.

They already do some spin/pr in the form of Hardman and Oilbarrel etc - it hasn't exactly done much good so far?

[relishing] 15/2/2008 14:37

dean,

You didn't answer my question - what sort of PR / 'spin' do you have in mind?

[deanroberthunt] 15/2/2008 14:29

Relishing, in an ideal world substance would be enough, but unfortuantely it isn't so we need substance and spin.....

[california joe] 15/2/2008 14:20

Vavoom, if you would like to post the area you live in, I would be happy to look up the number of the nearest job centre for you!

[relishing] 15/2/2008 14:17

IMO the best sort of PR will be delivering on fundamentals, increasing production, posting a maiden profit etc etc.

In other words, substance, not spin.

[relishing] 15/2/2008 14:14

dean,

What sort of PR do you have in mind?

[deanroberthunt] 15/2/2008 14:13

It needs highlighting at the AGM, since without exposure this will languish for some time......value should eventually win out but it will be a tough old slog without PR.

[mickey take] 15/2/2008 13:49

Ferny - Noted :0)

[mickey take] 15/2/2008 13:48

Dean – That's exactly my point with definite progress and promotion of the company they could achieve well in excess of the figure i quoted, i don't believe we have the right people within the company to do that.

[fernygrade] 15/2/2008 13:39

Micky you say to the management go suck the 'zest' of a lemon.
f

[deanroberthunt] 15/2/2008 13:35

Mickey....they can't do a thing about the share price, all they can do is run the business, increase cashflow and increase profitability...and imo they're doing a satisfactory job at the moment...

the issue here is that only a small % of shares are tightly held, so we're at the mercy of traders and the bored, history is against us as most sell off once its breached 7p....we need to establish and post successive improving profits and have firm plans for CBM and Steaming before we see any "bigger player investors" who are willing to hold....reducing the free float.

the Directors could buy more shares, but why, would you when you can have options....I would too, wouldn't you.

[bobbyg2] 15/2/2008 13:30

thats already been done - i was talking the repair job.

[relishing] 15/2/2008 13:25

Just as long as its not a hatchet job!