MARKET CURRENTS
real-time news and commentary for investors
MARKET CURRENTS
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Thursday, May 23, 2013
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6:26 PM New Chesapeake Energy (CHK) CEO Doug Lawler will make more than $22M in 2013 - a cash salary of $1.25M plus a signing bonus, stock awards and other perks - according to an SEC filing. Predecessor Aubrey McClendon's 2012 compensation package totaled $16.9M, with a $975K cash salary. 8 Comments
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5:40 PM Kinder Morgan says it could eventually simplify its complex gaggle of companies, even though "we like having the two MLPs out there to accelerate dropdowns," CFO Kimberly Dang says. The dropdowns will wrap up next year, and a combination would have to "make economic sense. If the economics don’t work... we have no issue running two MLPs. [It] is not a huge administrative burden.” 6 Comments
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4:55 PM Occidental Petroleum (OXY) may consider selling its overseas assets or splitting into three separate companies to fund a stock buyback and improve its share price, CEO Steve Chazen reportedly told UBS analysts this week. "Chazen's commentary clearly implied that any restructuring strategy would likely focus on larger-scale restructurings with potential to 'move the needle' in terms of valuation," UBS writes. Comment!
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3:56 PM Devon Energy (DVN -1.4%) is downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at J.P. Morgan. Although DVN's decision on its midstream MLP is expected by the end of Q2 and other potential strategic changes by year-end, the firm is skeptical that any changes would be enough to cause mid- to long-term stock outperformance. Comment!
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3:44 PM Magellan Midstream Partners (MMP -0.7%) may build a pipeline extension connecting its network to its terminals in central Arkansas, where the imminent shutdown of Enterprise Partners' (EPD) 230K bbl/day distillate pipeline is raising concerns about supply in the state. EPD says flows on the line are too low to justify more spending, but Arkansas' AG is challenging the shutdown. Comment!
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3:15 PM ReneSola (SOL -5.3%) is downgraded to Underperform from Neutral with a lower $1.50 target price at Credit Suisse based mostly on rising costs including increases via outsourcing; SOL won't get much of a break in China, where wafer and module costs may slip only $0.01 in Q2 and may be flat in H2. Also, the firm doesn't expect progress in tariff talks between Europe and China. Comment!
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2:29 PM Sempra Energy (SRE -3%) digs out of session lows but remains the S&P 500's worst performer after cutting the top end of guidance for 2013 and offering a weak outlook for 2014. SRE says it is seeking to further optimize its capital structure through additional subsidiary debt and equity issuances, including a possible MLP using Cameron liquefaction as a foundation. Comment!
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2:06 PM The NYSE rules to let stand all trades in American Electric Power (AEP -1%) and NextEra Energy (NEE -1.2%) but prices for certain "aberrant" trades will be excluded from the high and low prices in data feeds. There were hundreds of trades early this morning in AEP at or below $46.03 and in NEE at or below $76.19, more than 50% below yesterday's closing prices. 9 Comments
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1:45 PM Hydrogenics (HYGS +13.3%) soars as SA Pro contributor Joe Springer calls it one of the most undervalued stocks in the market due to its first-to-market position in the power-gas arena. The article comes out of embargo tomorrow at 11 a.m. 5 Comments
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1:04 PM Halcon Resources (HK -9.4%) falls sharply midday as investors don't seem impressed with an operational update the company provided regarding its acreage in the Utica/Point Pleasant play. Updates were given on the Philips 1H, the Allam 1H, the Brugler 1H, the Yoder 2H, and the Kibler 1H wells. The company says the delineation process will be substantially complete by Q4. (PR) 10 Comments
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12:50 PM The defensive utility sector (XLU -1%) isn’t looking very safe at the moment, as the break below the 50-day moving average suggests further weakness in the days ahead. Technician Ralph Acampora sees the break as a short-term sell for the Dow Jones Utility index but also a longer-term positive for the broader market as investors rotate out of defensive sectors and into more economically sensitive stocks. 1 Comment
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11:59 AM Apache (APA -2.1%) should sell its assets in Egypt, which have dragged the company’s valuation by 20%-30% and is likely to get worse given the country’s "dysfunctional government, deteriorating economy, polarized society and exploding population," Oppenheimer says, adding APA should use the proceeds to buy back 15% of its shares and reduce debt. 1 Comment
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11:46 AM While controversy continues over the northern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline, construction of the $2.3B southern section connecting the Cushing, Okla., hub with the Texas coast is more than 75% complete and proceeding on schedule, TransCanada (TRP -0.7%) says. The 485-mile southern leg will be able to move 700K bbl/day of oil when completed. 1 Comment
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11:33 AM FMC Technologies (FTI -0.6%) receives what is likely to be a lucrative subsea contract from Shell (RDS.A) for work at its Stones field project in the ultra-deepwater Walker Ridge area of the Gulf of Mexico. Shell is targeting peak output of 50K boe/day under the first phase of development at the field, which holds ~2B boe and is believed by tShell to have "significant upside potential." Comment!
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11:20 AM Coal (KOL) has been gaining on natural gas in U.S. power generation, but coal producers aren't enjoying the benefits, buffeted by headwinds including increased regulations. Simmons analysts say most coal names do not screen as cheap, and the firm sees near-term volatility as investors trade around macro events; its sector favorites are Cloud Peak Energy (CLD) and Walter Energy (WLT). 9 Comments
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10:43 AM The fastest revenue growth in the oil industry is putting Papua New Guinea’s Oil Search (OISHF.PK) in line for Asia's largest-ever energy takeover, Bloomberg speculates. Its $19B PNG LNG venture with Exxon, sure to spin off lots of cash, starts shipments to Asia next year, and the 80%-complete project is supported by the government and local communities. XOM, TOT and Australia's Woodside could be interested. Comment!
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10:26 AM A year after Argentina expropriated Repsol's majority stake in YPF, there's little prospect of a deal on compensation even though both sides would rather avoid a costly, drawn-out legal battle. Argentina's lack of funds and its limits on the control private firms have over their investments, which could deter Repsol from accepting assets such as the Vaca Muerta shale field in any settlement, pose major obstacles. Comment!
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10:01 AM Approach Resources (AREX -3.6%) reports a temporary curtailment of production due to a power failure at the Phillips 66 Sweeny refinery; as a result, AREX expects Q2 production of 8.7M-9.1M boe/day vs. prior guidance of 9.3M-9.6M boe/day. Power has been restored to the affected fractionation units at Sweeny, and AREX expects a full return to service by the end of this week. Comment!
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9:52 AM Trading is temporarily halted in NextEra Energy (NEE) and American Electric Power (AEP) after early trades printed as low as $30.37 and $22.28, respectively. Yesterday's respective closing prices were $79.16 and $48.59. 6 Comments
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