UBS is flagging the prospect of volatility in the oil market as the United States ramps up pressure on countries still buying Russian crude, but the bank sees any price spikes as likely to be short-lived thanks to spare capacity and a looming surplus.
With an 8 August deadline set by President Trump for a Ukraine ceasefire, the US has vowed to penalise buyers of Russian energy, focusing on India and China, and threatening fresh sanctions on shadow fleets that help Russia move oil.
A group of small-cap oil and gas firms have a novel plan to make the best of a politically challenged project, onshore, in Yorkshire, with the help of Bitcoin.
Partners in the West Newton field, operated by privately owned Rathlin Energy and backed by London-listed Union Jack Oil PLC (AIM:UJO, OTCQB:UJOGF) and Reabold Resources PLC (AIM:RBD), have inked a deal with American group 360 Energy.
BP PLC (LSE:BP.) new discovery offshore Brazil could be worth somewhere between $10 billion and $20 billion, according to analysts at Citi.
The American bank’s early view of the Bumerangue find, which BP earlier this week described as its best for 25 years, would see it worth the equivalent of 11 to 22% of the oil major’s market capitalisation.
The outlook for Tullow Oil PLC (LSE:TLW) is “pretty bleak”, that’s according to analysts at Panmure Liberum, repeating a ‘sell’ recommendation and nudging lower its target price.
Pitching a new bearish target price of 7.8p (from 9p) the broker sees quite significant downside to the current share price of 11.3p.
Harbour Energy PLC (LSE:HBR) shares moved strongly higher in Thursday’s early deals after it reported a positive first half of 2025, with increased production and improved financials.
The company, in today’s half year results, said it generated $1.36 billion in free cash flow during the period, up from $0.38 billion in the same period last year.
Helium One Global Ltd (AIM:HE1, OTCQB:HLOGF) confirmed it has raised £1 million through an oversubscribed WRAP Retail Offer, with the offer closing early amid strong demand.
It will now issue some 185.185 million new shares, priced at 0.54p each.
Union Jack Oil PLC (AIM:UJO, OTCQB:UJOGF) has updated on the West Newton gas discoveries, in Yorkshire, where the venture partners as now assessing early monetisation, via Bitcoin mining.
Project operator Rathlin Energy has completed a feasibility study evaluating early monetisation through on-site cryptocurrency mining.
BP PLC (LSE:BP.) will evidently need more than expectation-beating results and a giant oil discovery to impress Royal Bank of Canada.
In a note, it repeated its ‘sector perform’ rating (in other words, a ‘meh’ rating), albeit the bank’s target price nudges up to 470p from 450p.
Helium One Global Ltd (AIM:HE1, OTCQB:HLOGF) shares strengthened on Wednesday after the small-cap further bolstered its coffers with a £1 million raise.
It has launched a retail offer to raise up to £1 million via the Winterflood Retail Access Platform.
Tullow Oil PLC (LSE:TLW) shares slumped in Wednesday’s early deals, as the oiler reported a $61 million first-half loss.
It compares to a $196 million profit for the same period a year ago.
Investors shouldn’t overlook BP PLC (LSE:BP.) Bumerangue discovery in Brazil, not according to analysts at Citi.
The American bank, in a note, commented that the market reaction to the Bumerangue result - described by BP as its best discovery ‘in decades’ – had been muted.
BP PLC (LSE:BP.) shares rose over 2% to a four-month high after the company beat quarterly profit expectations, ruled out a listing move to the US and said it plans to go further on reshaping the company.
The oil giant reported adjusted profits of $2.35 billion for the second quarter that were significantly higher than the $1.75 billion that analysts expected, despite dropping 15% compared to last year.
Serica Energy PLC (AIM:SQZ) interim financials reflect a period impacted by downtime, with the North Sea firm’s Triton floating production vessel offline since January.
It reported a loss after tax of $43.1 million for the six months to 30 June, down from compared with a $82.5 million profit a year earlier.
BP PLC (LSE:BP.) beat expectations for second-quarter earnings and unveiled a larger-than-expected dividend and a new $750 million share buyback.
The oil producer reported adjusted earnings per share of 15.03 US cents for the second quarter of 2025, up from 8.75 cents in the first quarter, down compared to 16.61 cents a year ago and above the consensus estimate of 11.71 cents.
Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX:WDS, LSE:WDS, OTC:WOPEF) has secured a position among the top 50 most valuable oil and gas brands globally, with a brand valuation of A$3.5 billion, according to Brand Finance’s inaugural Energy 100 report for 2025.
The report tracks the most valuable and strongest oil and gas as well as utility brands. Woodside’s 8% year-on-year uplift reflects the company’s growing brand strength and influence on the international stage.
Mosman Oil and Gas Ltd (AIM:MSMN) told investors it expects key permitting approvals for its Sagebrush and Coyote Wash helium projects in Colorado by mid-August.
At Sagebrush, where Mosman holds an 82.5% working interest, the company is advancing a 3D seismic acquisition programme and planning an extended production test at the Sagebrush-1 well.
Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) Plc (AIM:EOG) shares jumped in Monday’s early deals, as it announced a non-binding agreement for a farm-out of its EG-08 production sharing contract offshore Equatorial Guinea.
A heads of terms agreement with “a major energy company” tees up a partnership to drill the Barracuda, which is estimated to host nearly 800 billion cubic feet of gas.
BP PLC (LSE:BP.) has announced its largest oil discovery in 25 years, in the Bumerangue block offshore Brazil.
Well 1-BP-13-SPS was drilled around 400 miles from Rio de Janeiro, in the Santos basin, in a water depth of 2,372 metres.