Volkswagen Halts Planned Merger with Porsche

- Volkswagen Halts Planned Merger with Porsche



Sep 8, 2011

Volkswagen (ETR:VOW) says on Thursday it's planned merger with Porsche (ETR:PAH3) will not go through as planned, at least not yet.

The company said the merger could not be implemented within the time frame agreed upon due to uncertainty of the economy, legal hurdles, as well as proper valuation of Porsche.

In the announcement the company said, "From Volkswagen's perspective, the continuing legal hurdles mean that it is currently impossible to quantify the economic risks of a merger and therefore to perform the valuation of Porsche SE required to determine the exchange ratio. The main causes of uncertainty are the ongoing proceedings and actions brought against Porsche SE in Germany and the USA for alleged market manipulation. According to the information currently available, these legal hurdles are no longer expected to be removed in time. One factor influencing the Board of Management's assessment was an indication by the Stuttgart public prosecutors of the length of time needed for the preliminary investigations."

In the coming weeks, members of Volkswagen's Board of Management will analyze whether there are other potential avenues to explore to complete the agreement. Both companies still believe the planned merger will continue at a later time

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Commodity Corner: Oil Follows Stocks' Lead

- Commodity Corner: Oil Follows Stocks' Lead

Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Rigzone Staff
by Matthew V. Veazey

Thanks to a German court ruling supporting bailouts in the euro-zone, world equities markets posted healthy gains Wednesday. The WTI and Brent crude oil benchmarks followed suit.

Light sweet crude oil for October delivery gained nearly four percent to end the day at $89.34 a barrel. Brent, meanwhile, climbed 2.7 percent to settle at $115.80 a barrel. Buoying stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic as well as Asia was the German Constitutional Court's rejection of an attempt to block German involvement in bailouts of other euro-zone countries.

The Dow Jones Industrial Averaged gained nearly 2.5 percent while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose by 2.86 percent and 3.04 percent, respectively. In Europe, the London-based FTSE 100 finished more than 3.1 percent higher and the CAC 40 in Paris gained 3.63 percent. Major exchanges in Shanghai, Tokyo, and Hong Kong posted more modest increases.

The WTI traded within a range from $86.15 to $89.74 while the Brent contract price fluctuated from $112.81 to $115.98.

Natural gas for October delivery managed to break the $4.00 mark, peaking at $4.04 per thousand cubic feet. The midweek momentum faded by the close of floor trading, however, with the front-month contract settling at $3.94 for the second straight day.

October natural gas bottomed out at $3.90 Wednesday.

The price of a gallon of gasoline gained nearly nine cents to settle at just under $2.91, also the intraday high. The price floor during Wednesday's trading was $2.82.

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Commodity Corner: Oil Edges Lower on Econ Woes

- Commodity Corner: Oil Edges Lower on Econ Woes

Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Rigzone Staff
by Saaniya Bangee

Light, sweet oil edged lower Tuesday on lingering concerns about the global economy.

Oil futures traded 43 cents lower at $86.02 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Concerns that the European debt crisis might worsen pushed prices and equities lower Tuesday. Traders worry that the economic plague could spread to neighboring countries.

Prices fell as low as $83.20 a barrel in intraday trading as U.S. stock indexes plummeted for a third consecutive session. They peaked at $86.50. Earlier today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 308 points but rebounded after the Greek government indicated swifter economic reforms.

Traders are waiting to take cues from President Obama and the Federal Reserve's speech later this week.

Brent crude, which is used to price many international oil varieties, gained $2.81 Tuesday to settle at $112.89 a barrel. Brent took its cues from production problems in the North Sea and a continued absence of Libyan oil in the market.

Likewise, natural gas for October delivery added 6.6 cents to settle at $3.94 per thousand cubic feet. Prices fluctuated between $3.85 and $3.95 Tuesday.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that a new weather system west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands had a 90 percent chance of becoming a cyclone in the next 48 hours.

After trading between $2.77 and $2.84, front-month gasoline lost 1.7 cents to settle down at $2.82 a gallon.

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ConocoPhillips Completes Shutdown of Bohai Bay Oilfield

- ConocoPhillips Completes Shutdown of Bohai Bay Oilfield



Sep 6, 2011

ConocoPhillips China (NYSE:COP) has completed the shutdown of its Bohai oilfield operations, as ordered by China marine authority.

The company says it will continue to work with CNNOC (NYSE:CEO), which holds a 51% stake of in the oil field, to develop a plan to reduce reservoir pressure to ensure the safety of the field

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) has a potential upside of 24.6% based on a current price of $66.44 and an average consensus analyst price target of $82.8.

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Integrys Energy Group Announces Two Acquisitions

- Integrys Energy Group Announces Two Acquisitions



Sep 1, 2011

Integrys Energy Group (NYSE:TEG) announced the acquisition of two operating businesses involved in the compressed natural gas fueling business, Pinnacle CNG Systems and Trillium USA, previously owned by Wagner & Brown, Ltd.

Charlie Schrock, Integrys Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "Expansion into this business is consistent with our mission of providing customers with the best value in energy and related services. Our decision to enter this market is in response to customer needs, and this is complementary to our existing skill sets in regulated and nonregulated natural gas and electric services."

Integrys Energy has a potential upside of 2.4% based on a current price of $49.79 and an average consensus analyst price target of $51.

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Transocean Launches All Cash Voluntary Offer For Aker Drilling

- Transocean Launches All Cash Voluntary Offer For Aker Drilling



Aug 26, 2011

Transocean (NYSE:RIG) announced after receiving clearance by the Oslo Stock Exchange, that it launched its all cash voluntary offer for 100% of the shares of Aker Drilling for 26.50 Kroner per share. The offer has been made on an unconditional basis and with settlement guaranteed by a financial institution.

Transocean has a potential upside of 51.7% based on a current price of $51.47 and an average consensus analyst price target of $78.07.

Transocean is currently below its 50-day moving average (MA) of $59.22 and below its 200-day MA of $70.28.

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Halliburton Planning To Hire 11,000 In 2011

- Halliburton Planning To Hire 11,000 In 2011



Aug 25, 2011

Halliburton (NYSE:HAL) plans to hire 11,000 workers in North America in 2011, according to a top executive who told Jim Cramer on CNBC's Mad Money on Wednesday.

The president of the Western Hemisphere, Jim Brown said many of the new hires will be sent to North Dakota's oil-rich Bakken shale, which is one of the largest oil finds in the U.S.

Brown commented, "If you have a willingness to work and an aptitude to learn with a high school education, within a year-and-a-half to two years, you can become a front-line supervisor. That job will pay $125,000 to $130,000 a year. It's a tremendous opportunity. You gotta come to North Dakota, but what we're doing here, we're replicating across the nation."

Halliburton (NYSE:HAL) has a potential upside of 79.6% based on a current price of $40.27 and an average consensus analyst price target of $72.31.

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Legacy Reserves Enters Equity Distribution Agreement for Up to $60 Million In Units

- Legacy Reserves Enters Equity Distribution Agreement for Up to $60 Million In Units



Aug 25, 2011

Legacy Reserves (NASDAQ:LGCY) entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement with Knight Capital Americas. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Partnership may sell from time to time through Knight, as the Partnership's sales agent, the Partnership's common units representing limited partner interests having an aggregate offering of up to $60 million.

Sales of the units, if any, will be made by means of ordinary brokers' transactions on the Nasdaq Global Select Market at market prices, in block transactions or as otherwise agreed by the Partnership and Knight.

Legacy Reserves (NASDAQ:LGCY) has a potential upside of 27.5% based on a current price of $26.68 and an average consensus analyst price target of $34.

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GM and LG to Jointly Develop Electric Vehicles

- GM and LG to Jointly Develop Electric Vehicles



Aug 25, 2011

General Motors and LG Group will join forces in design and engineer future electric vehicles, expanding a relationship built on LG's work as the battery cell supplier for the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera extended-range electric vehicles.

The definitive agreement will assist GM expand the number and types of electric vehicles it makes and sells by using LG's proven expertise in batteries and other systems.

Timing of the launch of the first vehicles resulting from the partnership will be announced closer to market readiness. The agreement does not involve an exchange of equity between the companies.

General Motors (NYSE:GM) has a potential upside of 85.6% based on a current price of $22.3 and an average consensus analyst price target of $41.38.

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Yingli Green Energy Topped Q2 Estimates, Top Line Up 27%

- Yingli Green Energy Topped Q2 Estimates, Top Line Up 27%



Aug 19, 2011

Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE) reported Q2 EPS of $0.34, ahead of consensus estimates of $0.27 per share. Revenues for the quarter rose 27.4% year-over-year to $680.6 million, topping consensus estimates of $613.8 million.

Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy commented, "I'm pleased to announce that we had our best quarter ever in terms of PV module shipments, which increased by 36.6% over the previous quarter. With the significantly increased shipments, we managed not only to expand our global market share, but also to extend our sales geographies."

Yingli Green Energy has a potential upside of 60.4% based on a current price of $5.63 and an average consensus analyst price target of $9.03.

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Royal Dutch Shell Trying to Stop Oil Leak in North Sea

- Royal Dutch Shell Trying to Stop Oil Leak in North Sea



Aug 18, 2011

Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.A) is trying to stop an oil spill leak in the North Sea.

In the first phase of the operation to shut down the leak, engineers have lowered five giant concrete "blankets" on to a stretch of pipeline to place it back on the seabed after it lifted 4 feet off the sea floor.

Work is ongoing to lay concrete blankets to secure the pipeline, Shell spokesman Steve Harris said.

"First, we have to make a risk assessment ... to make sure that we can find a safe way to shut it off. We expect the result of the risk assessment very quickly and then divers will go down 300 feet (90 meters) and turn off the remaining amount of oil that is leaking into the sea."

Nearly 1,300 barrels of oil has leaked from its Gannet Alpha platform since August 12.

Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.A) has a potential upside of 32.6% based on a current price of $63.21 and an average consensus analyst price target of $83.83.

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Noble Energy Pays $3.4 Billion For 50% Stake in Consol's Marcellus Assets

- Noble Energy Pays $3.4 Billion For 50% Stake in Consol's Marcellus Assets



Aug 18, 2011

Noble Energy (NYSE:NBL) agreed to pay $3.4 billion to Consol Energy (NYSE:CNX) for a 50% interest in Consol's Marcellus Shale assets.

The two companies will create a joint venture to develop Consol's 663,350 acres in the region.

In early trading, Consol rose $1.80, or 4.24%, to $42.22. In spite of the deal between Consol and Noble, most companies with property in the Marcellus region are declining along with the broader market.

Noble Energy (NYSE:NBL) has a potential upside of 33.4% based on a current price of $83.39 and an average consensus analyst price target of $111.25.

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Rockwell Awarded $4 Million Order from Grizzly Oil Sands

- Rockwell Awarded $4 Million Order from Grizzly Oil Sands



Aug 16, 2011

Grizzly Oil Sands, and independent oil sands company, has awarded a $4 million order to Rockwell (NYSE:ROK) and its Global Solutions team.

Global Solutions will use the company's PlantPax process automation system to help Grizzly produce more than 5,000 barrels of oil per day at the first phase of its Algar Lake Project.

The solution supports steam-assisted gravity drainage, an enhanced oil recovery technology for producing heavy crude oil and bitumen.

Rockwell Automation is currently below its 50-day moving average (MA) of $77.93 and below its 200-day MA of $79.74.

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NRG Energy Inc. To Purchase Energy Plus

- NRG Energy Inc. To Purchase Energy Plus



Aug 16, 2011

NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE:NRG) plans to purchase a Philadelphia retail electricity and natural-gas provider for $190 million in cash.

Based in Princeton, New Jersey NRG announced Tuesday that acquiring Energy Plus Holdings LLC would give the company an opportunity to widen its retail business in the Northeast.

The deal requires regulatory approvals from the Justice Department and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. It is expected to close in October.

NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG) has a potential upside of 21.1% based on a current price of $22.57 and an average consensus analyst price target of $27.33.

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JinkoSolar Holding Reported In Line Q2 EPS

- JinkoSolar Holding Reported In Line Q2 EPS



Aug 16, 2011

JinkoSolar Holding (NYSE:JKS) reported Q2 EPS of $1.38, in line with consensus estimates. Revenues for the quarter rose 152% year-over-year to $350.6 million, topping consensus estimates of $320.3 million.

The company sees Q3 revenues of $310 to $330 million, vs. consensus estimates of $343.13 million, with shipments of about 230 to 250 MW. For 2011, JinkoSolar sees revenues of $1.4 to $1.5 billion, vs. consensus estimates of $1.36 billion, with shipments of 950 to 1k MW.

Mr. Kangping Chen, JinkoSolar's chief executive officer said, "We are pleased to announce the second quarter results that came in ahead of our expectations, despite the challenging market environment. During the quarter, we exceeded our shipment and revenue guidance, and were able to maintain relatively healthy margins as a result of further improvements to our cost structure. The healthy growth is a testament to our ability to capitalize on our brand name and maintain the strong relationships we have built with our existing customers across the globe."

JinkoSolar has a potential upside of 81.2% based on a current price of $16.76 and an average consensus analyst price target of $30.37.

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Exxon Mobil Back On Top As U.S.'s Valuable Company

- Exxon Mobil Back On Top As U.S.'s Valuable Company



Aug 12, 2011

After being surpassed by Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) on Tuesday, Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) shares are again benefiting from a rise in the price of oil. They're up 2% Friday to $73.04, although still down for the week.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) has a potential upside of 28% based on a current price of $72.57 and an average consensus analyst price target of $92.88.

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Honda To Invest $800 Million In New Automobile Plant In Mexico

- Honda To Invest $800 Million In New Automobile Plant In Mexico



Aug 12, 2011

Honda de Mexico (NYSE:HMC), Honda's production and sales company in Mexico, announced that it will build an automobile plant for production of fuel-efficient subcompact vehicles for the Mexican and North American markets.

Honda will invest approximately $800 million to build the plant, which is scheduled to begin operation in 2014. The company is expected to hire 3,200 associates at its full annual capacity of 200,000 units; the plant will boost Honda's capital investment in its North American operations to nearly $21 billion.

Honda Motor (NYSE:HMC) has a potential upside of 37.5% based on a current price of $33.59 and an average consensus analyst price target of $46.2.

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General Motors Recalling 15,000 Buick LaCrosse, Chevy Impala

- General Motors Recalling 15,000 Buick LaCrosse, Chevy Impala



Aug 12, 2011

The Detroit News reported that General Motors (NYSE:GM) is set to recall about 15,000 new Buick LaCrosse and Chevy Impala models in North America.

The recalls will reprogram software in some LaCrosse vehicles and inspect power steering hoses in Impalas.

General Motors (NYSE:GM) has a potential upside of 64.4% based on a current price of $26.3 and an average consensus analyst price target of $43.25.

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Commodity Corner: WTI, Brent Rebound

- Commodity Corner: WTI, Brent Rebound

Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Rigzone Staff
by Matthew V. Veazey

Light sweet crude oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange rebounded Wednesday after the U.S. Department of Energy reported that inventories fell last week, catching investors off-guard.

The September WTI contract price gained $3.59 to settle at $82.89 a barrel. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced that commercial crude stocks declined by 5.2 million barrels last week to 349.8 million barrels. The 1.5-percent week-on-week draw starkly contrasted to the prediction of a Platts survey of analysts: a 1.8 million-barrel build for the period.

Brent futures also surged Wednesday, settling $4.11 higher at $106.68 a barrel. The WTI traded within a range from $79.53 to $82.90. The contract price for Brent fluctuated from $103.47 to $106.55.

EIA also reported Wednesday that reformulated gasoline inventories declined by a larger-than-expected volume last week: 1.6 million barrels. The 213.6 million barrel EIA figure for the week ending August 5, 2011, was 400,000 barrels below what a Platts survey of analysts had projected.

Front-month gasoline gained 11 cents to end the day at $2.78 a gallon. The September contract price peaked at $2.79 and bottomed out at $2.68.

Natural gas for September delivery edged upward by less than a penny to settle at $4.00 per thousand cubic feet. The contract price fluctuated from $3.98 to $4.08.

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Basic Energy's Rig Utilization Falls

- Basic Energy's Rig Utilization Falls



Aug 8, 2011

Basic Energy Services Inc.(NYSE:BAS) reported Monday that its July well servicing rig utilization rate fell slightly to 73% from 74% in the prior month.

The number of well servicing rigs stayed unchanged at 412 as of July 31, but rig hours fell to 69,000 from 73,600 the month before.

The count for drilling rigs remained at 10, but drilling rig days climbed to 279 from 256 in June. Drilling utilization rose to 90% from 85% in June.

Basic's fluid services truck fleet increased to 871 by the end of the period from 838 at the end of June.

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