From Business News Network: 9 Jan 2015
BNN Exclusive: Shell Canada lays off oil sands workers
News and information on Shell Plc
BNN Exclusive: Shell Canada lays off oil sands workers
“Malaysia’s Shell Refining explores options in face of weak margins”
Like the rest of the oil sector, Royal Dutch Shell (LSE: RDSB) has seen its earnings forecasts painted with red ink by City analysts in recent weeks.
Shell is expected to see earnings drop a meaty 15% in 2015, to 295.3 US cents per share. But while a 10% improvement is anticipated for next year, to 325.5 cents, a slumping oil price suggests otherwise. The Brent benchmark’s nosedive took in a fresh multi-year trough below $50 per barrel this week, the lowest since mid-2009, and a figure of $20 before the year is out is being touted with increasing confidence.
By: MICHEAL KAUFMAN
Published: Jan 9, 2015 at 6:57 am EST
In recent months, questions have been raised if it is prudent for companies to pay out dividends or build up cash reserves. With crude oil falling below the $50 per barrel barrier, many energy firms have had to cut their capital expenditures (capex), halt expansion plans, get more debt, and sell off assets.
Sacrificing revenue growth and selling off valuable assets is not a sustainable way to balance cash flows, but should the companies continue to pay billions of dollars in dividends? Perhaps, it would be wiser to withhold dividend payments to protect the company from negative impacts of falling cash flows.
By: MICHEAL KAUFMAN
Published: Jan 8, 2015 at 8:56 am EST
BP plc (ADR) (NYSE:BP) is looking to divest more assets in the US as effects of lower crude price continue to take their toll on the oil companies. Crude oil price since June has fallen over 50%. West Texas Intermediate during pre-market trading on Thursday gained 0.3% to $48.9, while Brent crude was trading at $51.2 per barrel. Currently crude oil price is hovering around its five-and-a-half year low.
In addition to falling oil price, the British oil major has been charged a maximum fine of $18 billion regarding the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Therefore, to improve its liquidity position BP is undertaking major divestments and has significantly reduced capital spending. BP has undertaken asset divestitures of $42 billion and further asset divestitures worth $10 billion are expected by the end of this year.