That’s a sharp contrast with earlier in the war, when gross domestic product was expanding on the back of military-linked investments that drove an almost 20% growth in wages in 2024, boosting consumer demand though also contributing to inflation.“Prices are now rising faster than wages,” said Elena, 27, an event company manager from the Moscow region. Bloomberg withheld her surname to protect her identity in case of repercussions. She’s changed her shopping habits, buying fewer clothes and more domestic br ...

The UK government has revised its position on new oil and gas production in the North Sea, now set to greenlight new output from existing fields and fields in close proximity to them. The government announced this decision during the presentation of its budget this week, crushing industry hopes for the end of the windfall tax that was introduced in 2022. The tax will remain in place until 2030, Reuters reported. The energy industry has spoken against the tax repeatedly, warning it would discourage much-n ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of conducting thorough due diligence before making any financial decisions, particularly in the context of investments and trading activities [1] Group 1 - The content includes general news and personal analysis intended for educational and research purposes [1] - It highlights that the information provided may not be real-time or accurate, and prices may be sourced from market makers rather than exchanges [1] - The article warns that trading decisions should be made at the individual's own risk and discretion [1] Group 2 - The website discusses complex financial instruments such as cryptocurrencies and contracts for difference (CFDs), which carry a high risk of losing money [1] - It encourages individuals to perform their own research and understand the risks involved before investing in any financial instruments [1] - The article mentions that FX Empire does not endorse any third-party services and is not liable for any losses incurred from using the information provided [1]

Company Overview - Vaalco Energy has been growing production since its merger with TransGlobe in 2022, transitioning from reliance on Gabonese assets to a diversified global player [1] - The company is based in Houston, Texas, and has expanded its operations beyond Gabon to include Côte d'Ivoire and Egypt [6][7] - Vaalco's stock price has fluctuated, recently rallying to nearly $8.00 per share after a strong Q-4 2023 earnings report, but has since declined to $3.33 [6] Financial Performance - The company reported a mixed Q-2 performance, which negatively impacted its stock, while Q-3 showed some optimism despite missing EPS and revenue expectations [5][6] - Vaalco trades at a low EV/EBITDA multiple of 2.8X and a low flowing barrel valuation of $19,000 per barrel [9] - The company has a 6.5% dividend yield and a small amount of long-term debt, with ongoing capital reduction and cost-cutting programs to improve cash flow [10] Production and Operations - Vaalco's production focus includes ramping up output in its Egyptian concession and Gabon, although results have been uneven due to various operational challenges [7] - The company has hedged a quarter of its Q-4 production at $60 and plans to increase this to about half, with a target of hedging 40% of daily output by 2026 [9] Market Conditions - The upstream oil and gas sector is currently facing an oversupply narrative, with crude oil prices having fallen about 30% this year [4] - Geopolitical volatility continues to influence trading, with traders maintaining long futures contracts during periods of conflict [2][3] Investment Outlook - Analysts rank Vaalco as a strong buy, with price targets set at $10.00 per share, although EPS estimates suggest potential small losses in the near term [9][21] - The company’s management is experienced in West African operations, which bodes well for future performance [20] - The upcoming drilling campaigns in Gabon, Egypt, and Côte d'Ivoire are seen as potential catalysts for growth [14][15]

Core Viewpoint - Epsilon Energy Ltd. is an onshore oil and gas company operating in multiple states including Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and Texas, focusing on undervalued profitable stocks with strong balance sheets and minimal debt [1] Company Overview - Epsilon Energy Ltd. operates in the oil and gas sector, specifically onshore, with activities in Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and Texas [1] Investment Strategy - The company aims to derive income from investment setups by purchasing undervalued stocks and writing calls against positions to generate additional income [1] - Risk management is emphasized through position sizing and the use of trailing stop losses over time [1]

Regulatory Compliance - EPA finalized a rule granting oil and gas operators over a year of additional time to comply with mandates [1] - Mandates include replacing leaky equipment and routinely monitoring for escaped methane [1]

Core Insights - Nuclear energy is highlighted as a standout investment opportunity in 2025, with the Range Nuclear Renaissance Index ETF (NUKZ) returning approximately 55% year-to-date, outperforming the broader energy sector [1] Group 1: Factors Driving Nuclear Energy Surge - Three main factors are driving the surge in nuclear energy: it provides reliable baseload power, qualifies as clean energy, and has bipartisan policy support in Washington [2] - The demand for nuclear energy has been amplified by the AI and data center boom, as major tech companies require substantial amounts of continuous power [2] Group 2: Market Performance and Comparisons - The nuclear sector is experiencing broad growth, contrasting with the oil and gas market, which is more selective. Companies like Oklo Inc. have seen stock increases of over 300% this year, while construction firms such as Korea Electric Power Corp. and Samsung Heavy Industries have risen over 100% [3] - Approximately 30% of the NUKZ index consists of utilities benefiting from increased nuclear demand and lower interest rates [3] Group 3: Investment Opportunities - For income-focused investors, the Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP) is noted for its yield of just under 8%, with expectations for continued distribution growth due to its fee-based model, providing a defensive investment against oil price volatility [4] Group 4: New Financial Products - Aptus Capital Advisors has launched a new series of buffer ETFs with a low expense ratio of 0.25%, making them the lowest cost buffer ETFs available, significantly undercutting competitors [5]

Shale drillers are finding new and exciting ways to boost production in the Permian and elsewhere. This can make the industry more resilient to international price swings—but never fully resilient and never for very long. The pain from the prolonged price depression is beginning to bite in. Back in October, Kpler warned that U.S. oil production could shed 700,000 barrels daily if international oil prices slid lower than $60 per barrel. The analytics firm cited drilled but uncompleted well data showing the ...

January WTI crude oil (CLF26) on Wednesday closed up +0.70 (+1.21%), and January RBOB gasoline (RBF26) closed up +0.0251 (+1.39%). Crude oil and gasoline prices are settled higher on Wednesday.  Dollar weakness on Wednesday boosted crude prices.  Also, doubts about a deal to end the Russian-Ukrainian war sparked some short covering in crude on Wednesday after European Commission Vice President Kallas said today that "we see no indication from Russia that they want peace."  Crude prices raced to their high ...

Core Insights - U.S. energy firms have reduced the number of oil and natural gas rigs for the first time in four weeks, according to Baker Hughes' report [1] Industry Summary - The reduction in active rigs indicates a potential shift in the energy sector's operational strategy, reflecting market conditions and possibly influencing future production levels [1]