Shell forecasts sharp rise in refinery margins as war-damaged plants tighten fuel supplies
Shell has forecast that its refinery profit margins will rise sharply in the July-to-September period, as shutdowns at war-damaged refineries in the Middle East and Russia squeeze global fuel supplies. The company said margins are expected to reach $42 a barrel, almost double the $24 a barrel recorded in the second quarter. That would also exceed the previous high of about $28 a barrel seen in mid-2022.The forecast was set out in a market trading update on Wednesday. Shell said the increase reflects a steep rise in the price of refined fuels, including diesel, relative to the cost of crude... [Continue Reading]
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European markets open mixed as energy and autos lead, FTSE lags on firmer pound and softer oil
Executive summary: European equities opened mixed, with the Euro Stoxx 50 and DAX higher while the FTSE 100 slipped. Energy-linked moves were notable, natural gas jumped sharply, Brent eased, and gold was little changed. In FX, the euro and pound both softened modestly against the dollar, while USD/JPY pushed higher. The broad tone points to a market balancing growth-sensitive optimism in parts of Europe against currency and commodity cross-currents. [Continue Reading]

