Bloomberg China’s state-owned enterprise regulator has asked coal mining giant Shenhua Group Corp. and power generator China Datang Corp. to discuss a possible merger, according to people with knowledge of the situation. The talks are at an early stage and there’s no guarantee of a deal, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the information isn’t …

  Bloomberg Signs of growing US fuel demand are propping up oil above $49 a barrel, with more refinery purchases seen helping ease a glut in American stockpiles. Futures in New York were holding gains after rising 2.4 percent on Wednesday, when US government data showed that gasoline inventories dropped more than expected. Additionally, refineries boosted the amount of crude …

  Bloomberg As they guided Europe’s largest oil companies through the industry’s worst slump in two decades, the bosses of Royal Dutch Shell Plc and BP Plc had a simple message for investors: we’ll protect the dividend at all costs. Not everyone is convinced they’ll be able to keep their word. Even after they raised billions of dollars by cutting …