Core Viewpoint - Shell (SHEL) is expected to report quarterly earnings of $1.21 per share, a 0.8% increase year-over-year, with revenues projected at $68.09 billion, reflecting a 1.9% year-over-year increase [1]. Earnings Projections - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 0.3% lower over the last 30 days, indicating a reevaluation by analysts [2]. - Changes in earnings projections are crucial for predicting investor reactions, as empirical studies show a strong correlation between earnings estimate trends and short-term stock price movements [3]. Key Metrics Estimates - Analysts predict the 'INTEGRATED GAS - Realised gas price' to be $6.90 per thousand scf, down from $8.10 in the same quarter last year [5]. - 'INTEGRATED GAS - LNG liquefaction volumes' are forecasted to reach 8 million tons, up from 7 million tons year-over-year [5]. - The estimated 'INTEGRATED GAS - Realised liquids price' is $55.89 per barrel, compared to $63.45 in the same quarter last year [6]. - The consensus for 'CHEMICALS & PRODUCTS - Global indicative refining margin' is $13.56 per barrel, significantly up from $5.54 in the same quarter last year [6]. - 'CHEMICALS & PRODUCTS - Refinery utilisation' is expected to be 93.0%, a notable increase from 76.0% year-over-year [7]. - 'CHEMICALS & PRODUCTS - Chemicals sales volumes' are projected at 2469 thousand tons, down from 2926 thousand tons in the same quarter last year [7]. - The estimated 'UPSTREAM - Realised liquids price' is $60.34 per barrel, compared to $70.69 in the same quarter last year [9]. Stock Performance - Over the past month, Shell shares have returned +0.9%, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite has changed by +1.8% [11]. - Shell currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting its performance may align with the overall market in the near future [11].

Core Insights - Linde plc is recognized as one of the Dividend Growth Stocks: 25 Aristocrats, highlighting its strong dividend history and commitment to shareholder returns [1] - The company has made significant advancements in hydrogen solutions, focusing on efficient compression systems and carbon capture technologies to reduce hydrogen's carbon footprint [2] Group 1: Hydrogen Projects and Investments - In 2024, Linde will build a 100-megawatt renewable hydrogen plant for Shell in Germany, with operations expected to commence in 2027 [3] - Linde signed a long-term contract in June 2025 to supply industrial gases to a $4 billion low-carbon ammonia facility in Louisiana, planning to invest $400 million in a new on-site facility [3] - The company anticipates that hydrogen technology will take five to seven years to mature before achieving full economic viability, leading to selective investments in the interim [4] Group 2: Clean Energy Commitment - Linde plans to invest up to $50 billion in clean energy projects over the next decade, emphasizing its commitment to clean energy initiatives [5] - The company expanded its global presence by acquiring Airtec, a major industrial gas company in the Middle East, in September 2025 [5] Group 3: Company Overview - Linde plc is a UK-based industrial gases and engineering company serving diverse markets, including chemicals, energy, food and beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, metals, and mining [6] - The company has a strong track record of increasing dividends for 31 consecutive years, demonstrating its reliability in returning value to shareholders [5]

Group 1 - BP Plc is considered one of the most undervalued stocks to buy and hold for 5 years [1] - BP and Shell are seeking licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control to extract natural gas from fields in Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, specifically targeting the Loran-Manatee field which contains approximately 10 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas [1] - The Loran-Manatee field has about 7.3 tcf located in Venezuela and 2.7 tcf in Trinidad and Tobago [1] Group 2 - During the Indian Energy Week conference, it was reported that BP is also seeking a license to develop the Cocuina-Manakin field, which is part of the Plataforma Deltana offshore gas project with 1 tcf of proven gas reserves [2] - BP Plc is a global energy company involved in various sectors including oil and gas production, marketing, trading, aviation fuel, retail fuel, EV charging, lubricants, midstream operations, refining, and bioenergy [3]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The report focuses on the **oil industry**, highlighting current market conditions and future expectations for oil prices and demand. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Current Oil Price Trends**: Oil prices are expected to decline by another 10% in 2026, reaching around **US$61/bbl Brent**. This bearish outlook is driven by weak demand growth in China and increased supply from non-OPEC sources, leading to an oversupply of **1-2 million barrels per day (MMbls/d)** [2][4]. 2. **Return on Capital**: The oil industry is currently experiencing returns on capital below the cost of capital, with a need for prices above **US$70/bbl** to generate sustainable returns. At **US$60/bbl**, returns are projected to be in the low to mid-single digits, which is not sustainable [4][6]. 3. **Long-term Price Expectations**: The five-year forward price for Brent is currently **US$66/bbl**, which is considered too low compared to the estimated marginal cost of **US$71/bbl**. This suggests a favorable risk-reward scenario for investors at current price levels [8][9]. 4. **Global Oil Demand Dynamics**: While oil demand in China may be peaking, demand from emerging markets in Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, and Africa is expected to grow, potentially offsetting declines in developed markets [11][14]. 5. **Spare Capacity and Supply Risks**: The effective spare capacity in the oil market is around **3.4%**, which is back to historical averages. This low spare capacity increases the risk premium on oil prices due to reduced buffers against supply disruptions [15][16]. 6. **Geopolitical Risks**: Rising geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, could lead to unexpected supply disruptions, warranting a higher risk premium for oil [19][20]. 7. **Dollar Weakness Impact**: A weaker dollar is expected to support higher oil prices, as it makes oil cheaper in non-dollar currencies, stimulating demand from emerging markets [22][24]. 8. **Re-investment Rates and Reserves**: The re-investment ratio in the oil sector has fallen significantly, leading to a decline in proven oil reserves. This trend could result in slower production growth in the future [29][30]. 9. **Energy Sector Performance**: The energy sector has underperformed the S&P 500 over the past three years, with its share in the index dropping from **12% in 2011 to 3%** currently. This decline reflects reduced investor interest in the sector [34]. 10. **Shale Production Trends**: The growth of U.S. shale production is plateauing, with expectations of flat production levels moving forward. This shift has significant implications for future non-OPEC supply growth [36]. Additional Important Insights - **Strategic Stockpiling by China**: China is expected to continue adding to its strategic petroleum reserves, potentially purchasing **150MMbls** this year, which could support demand despite overall sluggishness [37]. - **Investment Opportunities**: Despite the bearish sentiment, there are opportunities for contrarian investors, particularly in companies with high free cash flow yields and dividends [38][40]. This comprehensive analysis indicates that while the oil market faces significant challenges, there are underlying factors that could lead to a recovery in prices and investment opportunities in the sector.

Group 1: Federal Reserve and Kevin Walsh - Kevin Walsh has been confirmed as Trump's pick for Fed chair, known for his criticism of the central bank and calls for a reduction in its balance sheet [1] - Walsh is expected to be well-received by policymakers due to his previous experience as a Fed governor and his persuasive arguments [2] - The announcement of Walsh's appointment has been a catalyst for market reactions, with expectations of a stable Fed independence [9][10] Group 2: Market Reactions and Economic Indicators - Treasuries have remained steady despite volatility in other asset classes, with the 10-year yield at 4.218% [3] - The dollar experienced its largest rally since May, gaining approximately 210% over the past week, indicating challenges to US exceptionalism [4] - Bitcoin fell below $80,000 for the first time since April, reflecting a broader pullback from riskier assets amid a global sell-off [5] Group 3: Earnings Season and Market Expectations - Over 100 S&P 500 companies, including major firms like Amazon and Alphabet, are set to report earnings this week, with expectations of better-than-expected results [14][15] - In the US, earnings revisions are outpacing those in Europe, with consensus expectations for seven of the eleven S&P sectors to show sequential declines despite strong overall performance [17] - The stronger euro is impacting European multinationals, but expectations have already been adjusted, suggesting limited downside surprises [19] Group 4: Emerging Markets and Asia - Emerging market equities and rates are viewed positively, with expectations of reduced volatility benefiting high beta assets [22] - Asian markets, particularly Korea, have seen significant gains despite recent pullbacks, indicating a normalization after a period of frenzy [23] - The weaker dollar is expected to support a favorable earning setup for Asian equities and emerging markets overall [24]

Market Overview - The UK stock market's benchmark index FTSE 100 recovered after a weak start, with gains in financials and consumer sectors offsetting weakness in mining and energy stocks [1] - A sell-off in precious metals and oil led to declines in mining and energy stocks, with gold and silver prices dropping 4% and 11% respectively, and oil futures sliding 1.1% [1] Financial Sector Performance - Lloyds Banking Group advanced 2.3% after launching a share buyback program to repurchase up to £1.75 billion of its ordinary shares [2] - Barclays, Natwest Group, and Standard Chartered saw increases of 1.5%-2.2%, while HSBC Holdings gained nearly 1% [2] Other Notable Stock Movements - Experian gained about 3.6%, while Smith & Nephew and Diageo climbed 2.5% and 2.4% respectively [3] - Companies such as IAG, Pearson, Reckitt Benckiser, and others gained between 0.8% to 2% [4] - Conversely, Fresnillo, Endeavour Mining, and Antofagasta lost 3.2%-4%, with Anglo American Plc sliding 2.3% and Glencore shedding about 1.7% [4] Consumer and Business Borrowing - A report from the Bank of England indicated that net mortgage approvals for house purchases in the UK fell by 3,100 to 61,013 in December, marking the lowest level since June 2024 [5] - Consumer credit decreased to £1.5 billion in December from £2.1 billion in November, although the annual growth in consumer credit remained unchanged at 8.2% [5] - UK businesses borrowed £1.0 billion from banks and building societies, following net borrowing of £6.2 billion in November [6]

The FTSE 100 Index continued its rally this week and was hovering near its all-time high as market participants reacted to the key earnings by some American companies and Lloyds Bank. Shell and other energy companies are benefiting from the ongoing crude oil price rally because of rising tensions in the Middle East now that Trump has sent a large armada to the region and Iran has warned of a prolonged fight. It was trading at £10,170, a few points below the all-time high of £10,240. This article explores so ...

Core Viewpoint - Subsea 7 S.A. has been awarded a significant contract by Shell for the Kaikias Waterflood project, enhancing their collaboration and leveraging deepwater expertise for efficient project execution [1][3]. Group 1: Contract Details - The contract is classified as "sizeable," defined by Subsea 7 as being between $50 million and $150 million [3]. - The Kaikias field is located approximately 210 kilometers off the Louisiana coast in the US, involving deepwater development in the Mars-Ursa Basin [1]. - The scope of work includes the transportation and installation of a subsea umbilical, riser, and a rigid flowline at water depths of up to 1,650 meters [1]. Group 2: Project Timeline - Project management and engineering activities will commence immediately from Subsea 7's Houston, Texas office [2]. - Offshore operations are scheduled to begin in 2027 [2]. Group 3: Company Positioning - Subsea 7 is recognized as a global leader in delivering offshore projects and services, focusing on creating sustainable value and being a preferred partner in the energy industry [4].

Luxembourg – 29 January 2026 – Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Børs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) today announced the award of a sizeable1 contract by Shell for the Kaikias Waterflood project. The Kaikias field is a deepwater development in the Mars-Ursa Basin, approximately 210 kilometres off the Louisiana coast in the US. The scope of work includes the transportation and installation of a subsea umbilical, riser, and a rigid flowline in water depths of up to 1,650 metres. Project management and engineering activities will begin ...

Danske Bank upgraded Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR) from Sell to Hold, reflecting a more optimistic view on its stock performance.Equinor's strong 6% dividend yield offers portfolio safety, making it an attractive investment amidst European natural gas supply concerns.The company's market capitalization of approximately $66.5 billion and active trading volume highlight its significant role in the energy sector.Equinor ASA, listed on the NYSE under the symbol EQNR, is a major player in the energy sector. The compan ...