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SEBI of India dismisses Hindenburg claims against Adani group
The Securities and Exchange Board of India dismissed on Thursday allegations of stock manipulating against billionaire Gautam Adani and his company group made by U.S. Short-seller Hindenburg Research. SEBI began to investigate Adani Group companies in 2023, including Adani Power, Adani Ports and Adani Enterprises after Hindenburg accused the group of using tax havens as well as failing to disclose related party transactions. The conglomerate, while denying wrongdoings, was forced to sell off $150 billion worth of its stock. Since then, the shares have recovered. Adani's spokesperson didn't immediately comment on the SEBI decision. The order was made in two different orders. SEBI stated that the transactions between Adani Group companies and companies flagged up by Hindenburg were not related party transactions, and did not violate disclosure norms or represent market manipulation.
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Sources say that Russia has revised its oil export plans to Novorossiisk and Ust-Luga as Primorsk is facing delays.
Two sources familiar with the schedule said that Russia increased its planned oil loads from the Black Sea port Novorossiisk and the Baltic port Ust-Luga for September due to disruptions at Primorsk. Diversion of oil to western ports that are less damaged may help Russia maintain overall exports despite damage to infrastructure. Moscow is trying to maintain oil sales which are the mainstay of its budget revenues. Drone attacks on Russian refineries caused unplanned shutdowns. This has also led to an increase in seaborne shipping. Ukraine has increased its drone attacks against Russia's oil-and-gas infrastructure since early August, amid frustration with the direction that peace talks have taken. The Kremlin claims the talks are now effectively on hold. Sources said that the outages left more crude oil for export. Sources said that Ust-Luga will now load at least 2 million tonnes or 500,000 barrels each day, instead of the initial 1.5 million tonnes. Port continues to run below capacity due to repairs following the damage caused by drone strikes on August 22nd, 2016 at Unecha Pumping Station. Unecha is crucial for flow to Ust-Luga, and Druzhba. Novorossiisk will load about 750,000 bpd or 3.1 millions tonnes, which is an increase of approximately 350,000 tons over the original plan. The sources said that this is the highest level of exports from the terminal for months. Primorsk's loadings, which were expected to reach 900,000 barrels per day in September, may also be delayed and reduced. After drone attacks disrupted the port's operations, crude and diesel exports resumed in part on Saturday. However, repairs are still ongoing and it is unclear when the port will be fully operational again. According to LSEG shipping information, as of Thursday two Aframax tanks -- Kusto, and Cai Yun, -- that were hit in the strikes remained anchored close to Primorsk. A source noted that the limited availability of tankers makes it difficult to divert volumes from Primorsk towards Novorossiisk. The source stated that it was not simple to adjust a tanker to Russian oil loadings, or to change the destination of a vessel at short notice. (Reporting and Editing by Susan Fenton).
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Aena, a Spanish airport operator, will invest $15 billion over the next five years in upgrading airports.
Aena, the Spanish airport operator, announced on Thursday that it will triple its investment to 12,88 billion euros (15.24 billion dollars) between 2027-2031. The aim is to upgrade terminals in order to accommodate an increase in passenger traffic. The company expects Spanish airports to handle 320 million passengers by 2025. This is a 3.4% rise from the previous year. Record 309 Million The Spanish economy has grown at a rapid pace, thanks to booming tourism. Aena shares dropped 4.7% after the announcement on Thursday. Airport operator anticipates that the volume of passengers will continue to grow in the future. The main airports of Spain Are set to become major hubs of intercontinental connectivity. In a speech delivered on Thursday, Chief Executive Maurici Lucena stated that "Madrid airports and Barcelona airports have reached capacity and require a new round of investment." "They are very busy," he said. In the first eight month of 2018, international arrivals to Spain grew by 5.9%, reaching 75.4 millions. Lucena said that Aena would face both technical and commercial challenges in the years to come, since the company would be undertaking multiple projects simultaneously at airports across Spain while ensuring uninterrupted operation. Aena, which is the largest airport operator worldwide in terms of passengers and has budgeted 3,54 billion euro of investment for the four-year period ending in 2026. According to the company, the Spanish cabinet will review the proposed investment plans on October 15.
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The key to the surprise Air Europa deal in Turkey was control
Turkish Airlines' surprising deal to buy a stake in Spanish airline Air Europa was largely due to the fact that it was willing to share control with Hidalgo's family, according to four sources. This deal is a rare non-European airline's stake in Europe. Airlines are trying to consolidate Europe's fragmented markets and buy smaller struggling operators such as Scandinavia's SAS or Italy's ITA Airways. Sources close to the deal have said that Air France-KLM, Lufthansa and others wanted more control over Air Europa. Turkish Airlines, with its deeper pockets and political support and a desire to expand globally, was willing to accept a smaller stake. Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat announced on Wednesday that the airline had agreed to invest $300 million in convertible debt. This is equivalent to 25-27% of Air Europa. The crux of the talks, previously unknown, is Turkish Airlines' willingness and ability to give up influence to get a foothold with Iberia. This opens up fast-growing and important routes to Latin America. Sources familiar with the deal said that both Air France-KLM and Lufthansa demanded a "path to control" in a few short years, something the Hidalgos refused to do. Source: The Turkish deal "fit better", added the source. Three other sources confirmed that the issue of controlling stake was the reason for both Air France-KLM & Lufthansa pulling out of the deal. Air Europa's estimated value of up to 1,2 billion euros was also deemed too high by one of the sources. Lufthansa has not responded to a comment request. A spokesperson for Air France-KLM said that the carrier pulled out of the deal because it could not reach an agreement with Air Europa's owners Globalia on certain key issues, without commenting if they wanted a majority share. Javier Hidalgo of Globalia, the son Juan Jose Hidalgo's chairman, refused to comment on this story when contacted by. Turkish Airlines' deal is unusual - non-European carriers rarely take stakes in European carriers. This is because European Union regulations prevent them from acquiring majority ownership of an EU airline. Analysts and executives have said that Air Europa has always been a difficult case to navigate from a competition perspective, given British Airways' 20% ownership. The benefits for Turkish Airlines, however, are less about financial gains and more about geopolitics, connectivity and other factors. Neil Glynn is an analyst with Alvarez and Marsal. He said that taking minority stakes can lead to a loss of control and a diminished ability to influence the strategy. Air France-KLM, Lufthansa and other airlines balked at having to balance out so many controlling parties. IAG had previously attempted to buy out Air Europa, but the plan was scrapped last year due to regulatory concerns. Business Strategy or State Plan? Turkish Airlines touts the deal as a chance to expand into its two least penetrated markets, Iberia and Latin America, and link them with their hub-and-spoke system. It also has political weight behind it. Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, who appeared in Seville with the airline this week to promote the deal, said it would fit into a wider "strategy", to connect Turkey to the world. Ahmed Bolat, Turkish Airlines' Ahmed Bolat, told reporters the decision was made as a matter of business even though the Turkish government had the firm's attention. He said that "(Turkish listens and considers the strategies of the state, but its own strategies are developed privately." The Turkish carrier faces few financial obstacles that could threaten its relatively small share. The forecast net debt-to-EBITDAR ratio of the group for 2025 is 1,60. This ratio is similar to Lufthansa or Air France KLM, even though they have weaker balances and less support from their governments. Erdem Kayli is the research director for TEB Investment/BNP Paribas. $1 = 0.8448 euro (Reporting and editing by Adam Jourdan, Susan Fenton, Tim Hepher, Inti Landauro and Andres Gonzalez)
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The price of oil shipping has risen due to increased exports from the Middle East and tighter vessel availability
According to industry sources, and LSEG's data, freight rates for Very Large Crude Carriers have risen to their highest level in over two years. This is due to a tightening of tanker supplies, resulting from an increase in Middle East exports, and more arbitrage supplies into Asia. The key VLCC rate on the Middle East-China route, also known as TD3C LSEG data shows that, jumped up to W108 in the Worldscale Industry Measure, its highest level since November 20,22. According to industry sources, this is at least $6.6 Million. Since the beginning of this year, the rate has risen by almost 150%. A shipbroker said on Thursday that "we are seeing constant cargoes coming from ex-MEG loading (Middle East) and ex Atlantic while the vessel's tonnage list has been balanced very tightly." Shipping industry sources told the Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference, held in Singapore last week, that robust VLCC freight rates will yield attractive earnings to shipowners this coming year. Data from Kpler, an analytics firm, showed that crude exports from the Middle East will exceed 18 million barrels a day in September, for the first since April 2023. This is after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, a collective known as OPEC+ agreed to increase oil production. The robust Asian demand will also force tankers to travel further distances due to the arbitrage supply. Indian refiners, for example, increased their U.S. crude purchase in October and November while Chinese independent refiners buy oil from Brazil and West Africa. Sentosa Shipbrokers said that the main reason for the September surge was the arbitrage between U.S. Gulf and East Asia flows, as well as the tightness caused by the vessels' commitment to these long-haul journeys. Anoop Singh, global director of shipping research for Oil Brokerage, says Saudi Arabia exports more oil because the demand for burning crude for electricity generation in summer has ceased, while arbitrage opportunities are wide open due to high Dubai crude prices. He said that the short-term forecast is for the momentum in Dubai prices to continue through the end of this year and into the first quarter of next year. The strength could be amplified further if the medium-quality crude supplies, like those from Russia, are reduced due to geopolitical tensions. U.S. president Donald Trump stated on Saturday that he was willing to impose new energy sanctions against Russia if NATO nations stopped purchasing Russian oil.
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The price of oil shipping has risen due to increased exports from the Middle East and tighter vessel availability
According to industry sources, and LSEG's data, freight rates for Very Large Crude Carriers have risen to their highest level in over two years. This is due to a tightening of tanker supplies, resulting from an increase in Middle East exports, and an increase in arbitrage supplies into Asia. The Middle East to China VLCC Spot Rate, also known as TD3C. LSEG data shows that jumped up to W108, the highest since November 2022. According to industry sources, this is at least $6.6 Million. Since the beginning of this year, the rate has increased nearly 150%. A shipbroker said on Thursday that "we are seeing constant cargoes coming from ex-MEG loading (Middle East) and ex Atlantic while the vessel's tonnage list has been balanced very tightly." Shipping industry sources told the Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference, held in Singapore last week, that robust VLCC freight rates will yield attractive earnings to shipowners this coming year. Data from Kpler, an analytics firm, showed that crude exports from the Middle East will exceed 18 million barrels a day in September, for the first since April 2023. This is after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, a collective known as OPEC+ agreed to increase oil production. The robust Asian demand will also force tankers to travel further distances due to the arbitrage supply. Indian refiners, for example, increased their U.S. crude purchase in October and November while Chinese independent refiners buy oil from Brazil and West Africa. Sentosa Shipbrokers said that the main reason for the September surge was the arbitrage between U.S. Gulf and East Asia flows, as well as the tightness caused by the vessels' commitment to these long-haul journeys. Anoop Singh, global director of shipping research for Oil Brokerage, says Saudi Arabia exports more oil because the demand for burning crude for electricity generation in summer has ceased, while arbitrage opportunities are wide open due to high Dubai crude prices. He said that the short-term forecast is for the momentum in Dubai prices to continue through the end of this year and into the first quarter of next year. The strength could be amplified further if the medium-quality crude supplies, like those from Russia, are reduced due to geopolitical tensions. U.S. president Donald Trump stated on Saturday that he was willing to impose new energy sanctions against Russia, provided all NATO countries stopped purchasing Russian oil.
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Egypt's billboard explosion strains the eyes, but increases profits
Cairo's roads are not for the weak-hearted. They have potholes and obstacles like donkey carts. Now, drivers are faced with a new hazard - a proliferation of mismatched and flashy billboards that compete for their attention. According to AdMazad a media and advertising analytics company, the number of billboards that line Cairo's streets has increased by more than twofold in six years. This is more than 30 ads per square kilometre, and that's without counting the digital flashing ads which have increased more than ten-fold in the past decade to reach more than 300. Ahmed Adel, a resident of Cairo, said that there was no place on the streets without ads as he drove past one of the high-end commercial and residential districts. Advertising is booming in Egypt, largely due to the rapid expansion and modernization of Egypt's transportation network. Since Abdel Fattah al-Sisi took power in 2014, he has invested billions of dollars to build new roads and bridges that now criss-cross Cairo. These ads, which line the roads, promote a variety of products, including detergents, fast foods, and real estate developments. They are often accompanied by bright LED displays, which, according to Adel, strain drivers' eyes at night. Ahmed Afify is the head of MOT Investment and Development (a Transport Ministry investment firm), and he says that this industry has become an important source of revenue for the state. AdMazad's data indicates that revenues from "out of home" advertising (billboards, transit ads and other outdoor media) will grow by over 50% between now and 2024 to reach about 6.3 billion Egyptian Pounds ($130 million). Afify stated that the money is largely transferred to the state's treasury by the Transport Ministry and its affiliate entities. He said that ad prices are affected by the location, and can increase when competing brands compete for prime spots. Those stuck in traffic may find them amusing or a marketing tool. Others find the billboards a stress-inducing addition to their commute. Khaled Salaheldin, a psychotherapist in Egypt, has pointed out the mental toll that people can take when they are under financial stress. This is a reality Egypt is increasingly experiencing after years of inflation. He said: "When I'm constantly exposed to advertisements and idealized lifestyles it leads to comparisons that make me feel inadequate and insecure." Egypt's prime minister Mostafa Mahbouly convened a meeting on Wednesday to discuss standards for ads and billboards. He said there should be stricter regulations to ensure that ads "preserve urban fabric," "uphold societal norms" and "uphold aesthetic value." Reporting by Jaidaa TAHA and Heba FOUAD in Cairo. Editing by Alexander Dziadosz & Andrew Heavens
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French unions strike against austerity, pressuring Macron
Teachers, train driver, pharmacists, and hospital staff all went on strike in France, and teenagers blocked high schools as part of a protest day against budget cuts. The unions want the fiscal plans of the previous government scrapped. They also want more public spending, higher taxes for the wealthy and an end to the unpopular rule that made people work longer for a pension. Many metro lines in Paris were scheduled to be suspended throughout the day, except during morning and afternoon rush hours. Some students gathered at the entrance of some schools to block them. A student raised a placard in front of Lycee Maurice Ravel in Paris, France. The message read: "Block Your High School Against Austerity." Social unrest occurs as President Emmanuel Macron, and newly appointed Sebastien lecornu, face a political crisis in order to control finances and bring the second largest economy of the eurozone under control. Workers Angry Over Fiscal Plans According to a source in the Interior Ministry, 800 000 people are expected to participate in protests and strikes. The main unions in the country said that "the workers we represent are furious" in a statement where they rejected the fiscal plans of the previous government, which were "brutal" as well as "unfair". Lecornu, who relies on other parties for legislation to pass, will have to fight a political battle in order to get a budget approved by the parliament for 2026. Francois Bayrou was Lecornu’s predecessor. He was voted out of office by the parliament for his plan to squeeze the budget by 44 billion euros. Lecornu hasn't yet stated what he plans to do with Bayrou’s plans. However, he has said that he is open to compromises. Sophie Binet, the CGT union's chief after meeting Lecornu in early this week, said: "We will continue mobilising as long as there are no adequate responses." "The budget decision will be made on the streets." PROtests Hit Schools, Trains The FSU-SNUipp trade union reported that one in three primary school educators were on strike. Officials said that the strike had a major impact on regional trains, but the majority of high-speed TGV lines in the country will be operating. Protesters blocked traffic near Toulon, a city in the south-east of France. Data from EDF showed that nuclear production was down by 1.1 gigawatts on Thursday morning, after workers reduced power output at Flamanville 1. Confederation Paysanne, the farmers' union has also called for mobilization. Pharmacists have been angry about changes that affect their businesses. The USPO pharmacists union conducted a survey among pharmacies and found 98% of them could close the next day. Early on Thursday, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau informed reporters that some blockades had been removed by police in the Paris area. He said that up to 8,000 people could "sow chaos" and fight with the police. He said that 80,000 police officers and gendarmes would be on duty throughout the day. There will also be riot units, drones, and armoured cars. Reporting by Zhifan LIu, Makini BRICE, Dominique Vidalon Mathias de Rozario Juliette Jabkhiro Gus Trompiz Writing and editing by Ingrid Melander
Guyana's choice of brand-new US startup faces hurdles to tap vast gas reserves
Doubts are growing over Guyana's choice of a littleknown U.S. startup to craft and establish jobs to monetize its vast untapped natural gas resources that could cost as much as $30 billion.
Year-old Fulcrum LNG deals with financing hurdles that might thwart its selection. Ultimately, the South American country may wind up relying on a consortium led by Exxon Mobil, which controls all the production in the new energy hotspot. So far the top U.S. oil producer has focused on oil.
Guyana has been pushing Exxon to come up with a plan to convert its about 16 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves into important exports such as melted natural gas (LNG), or give up locations where gas has been found so they can be established by others.
When Fulcrum was picked in June, its creator and previous Exxon executive Jesus Bronchalo stated on LinkedIn he was happy and honored to be selected to style, financing, construct and run the necessary gas facilities.
Since then, Fulcrum has actually not recognized any financial backers, casting doubt over its ability to pull off the work, and leading government authorities to now describe its selection as tentative.
No task has been awarded to anyone. We're in an exploratory stage, Guyana's Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo informed Reuters last month.
That is a modification from the ministry of financing's description of the awarding of the agreement as among its financial accomplishments this year. Guyana's president, who revealed the award, stated an arrangement, that might or might not include Exxon, was anticipated next year.
On the other hand, the opposition Individuals's National Congress celebration is hesitant about the award.
Fulcrum LNG does not have requisite experience and a demonstrated capability to raise the kind of multi-billion dollar finances needed, stated Elson Low, an economic expert and advisor to the PNC.
FULCRUM'S LEVERAGE
Guyana selected Nevada-registered Fulcrum LNG, which it stated offered the most extensive and technically sound proposition, amongst the 17 bidders, including China's third-largest oil company CNOOC, U.S. gas pipeline huge Energy Transfer , and the No. 4 U.S. LNG exporter Endeavor Global LNG.
Individual retirement account Joseph, an LNG market professional and senior scientist at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy, said it would be extremely difficult for a startup to raise the funding for a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure task.
Why isn't Exxon developing the LNG plant itself? It is really hard to raise that kind of cash to make a task work, ( Guyana) would have to bring in among the huge gamers like TotalEnergies or Shell, Joseph said.
Besides coupling with U.S. oil service Baker Hughes and construction contractor McDermott, Fulcrum's. proposal would consist of financing from the U.S. Export-Import. Bank and the involvement of personal equity firms and an. ecological partner, the federal government stated.
The U.S. Export-Import Bank and McDermott did not respond. to ask for comment, and Baker Hughes referred concerns to. Fulcrum.
Bronchalo - who is Fulcrum's CEO, secretary, treasurer,. director and president - and the just other person associated. with the company, the technical director, did not respond to. requests for details.
Fulcrum's site does not determine any prior jobs, however. claims comprehensive experience in origination of brand-new chances. to gain access to and capture international LNG markets.
Guyanese authorities now say they picked Fulcrum without initially. identifying whether it could raise the cash to tap the massive. gas reserves.
The technical committee that chose Fulcrum was positive. it could raise cash for the projects, Jagdeo told Reuters. They represented they had the capability to raise the cash.
Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat stated. Bronchalo's proficiency, having worked at Exxon in Guyana and Asia. for 20 years assisting to negotiate agreements, swung the. selection in his favor.
We don't have the knowledge and capability in government,. especially when it pertains to gas ... we expect Fulcrum will have. the capability and experience, he said in an interview in. October.
COLLABORATION OR CONFLICT
Exxon's consortium with Hess and CNOOC has. discovered more than 11 billion barrels of oil off Guyana's. Caribbean coast given that 2015, and produced 500 million barrels of. crude from its Stabroek block since 2019, turning the tiny. country overnight into a considerable international oil producer.
Up until now, Exxon's only scheduled usage for the gas is a little. gas-to-power job.
The task to develop gas separately was conceived as a. way for Guyana to produce a new profits stream apart from the. oil, which is totally exported. Gas would establish the country's. production and food sectors and assist make it a local. energy powerhouse.
In 2015, the nation's draw from royalties and charges was. $ 1.6 billion, compared to $6.33 billion in profit that went to. the consortium.
Exxon's Guyana nation manager Alistair Routledge informed. Reuters the company would decide on tapping more recent. discoveries consisting of primarily gas by mid-2025.
Fulcrum may have better data and more understanding than the. government to press Exxon because instructions, stated Guyana's vice. president.
Jagdeo stated Guyana desires Fulcrum to work with Exxon, however. would press forward with or without it.
If, nevertheless, Exxon does not act on the discoveries or. auction the acreage to others happy to establish the gas, Guyana. could claw back some overseas land, he stated.
The oil major, on the other hand, thinks it alone can. choose how to utilize that gas, an individual familiar with the business's. position said, mentioning the contract it has with Guyana.
Exxon did suggest that they have an interest in the. development of gas, but as the talks continue, we will see how. much commitment exists in regards to gas, Minister Bharrat. stated.
(source: Reuters)