May, 2020

• 2 May

  Facebook signals online ad pain set to worsen

  

  Bloomberg Facebook Inc.’s revenue held up better than expected in the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the company warned that the worst of the slowdown in ad spending isn’t over, raising the prospect of a bigger hit across the digital-advertising market. Chief Financial Officer Dave Wehner noted the “potential for an even more severe advertising industry contraction.” His …

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• 2 May

  Alphabet makes record stock buybacks

  Bloomberg Alphabet Inc. is defying political taboos with record stock buybacks as mass unemployment and economic uncertainty boosts scrutiny for the long-controversial practice. S&P 500 companies are set to reduce buybacks by an estimated 50% this year, according to Goldman Sachs. Yet, the Google parent company bought $8.5 billion of its own shares in the first quarter alone. That’s the …

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April, 2020

• 30 April

  Oil rises for second day as global output cuts deepen

  

  Bloomberg Oil jumped for a second day as global production cuts deepened and signs of a fledgling demand recovery emerged. Futures in New York rose by as much as 18%. Norway said it will participate in oil-output cuts for the first time since 2002, joining other major producers in reining in supply. Data on Wednesday showed a surprise surge in …

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• 30 April

  UAE reaffirms position on political solution in Libya

  ABU DHABI / WAM The United Arab Emirates has affirmed its commitment to achieving a political solution in Libya and called for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation emphasised the UAE’s support for a political solution to end the ongoing Libyan crisis in line with the outcomes …

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• 30 April

  China’s oil dream dims as state giants cut Capex by $19 billion

  

  Bloomberg Despite marching orders from China’s top leader Xi Jinping to maximize oil and gas production, the energy sector is bending to the reality of the coronavirus pandemic-fuelled market collapse. The nation’s three biggest state producers will slash their spending plans this year by a combined $19 billion, with PetroChina Co.’s 32% chop leading the way, the fattest among global …

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• 30 April

  Euro-area economy dips into record contraction

  

  Bloomberg The euro-area economy plunged into a record contraction, an outcome that will only add more urgency to controversial demands for joint government fiscal support. Output in the 19-country region shrank 3.8%, reflecting shutdowns to contain the coronavirus that have pushed businesses close to collapse, sent unemployment surging and forced governments to unleash billions of euros in emergency stimulus. Italy, …

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• 30 April

  Venezuela’s PDVSA new head is planning major overhaul

  

  Bloomberg New leadership at Petroleos de Venezuela SA is considering a major overhaul that could see the company streamlining its oil business and even forsaking decades of state monopoly, according to people familiar with the matter. The proposal, outlined in a document seen by Bloomberg and dated March 2020, was devised by newly appointed PDVSA head Asdrubal Chavez, who is …

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• 30 April

  S Africa maintains legal challenge to oil sale despite slump

  

  Bloomberg South Africa said it will proceed with a court case to invalidate the sale in 2015 of its strategic oil stocks, despite crude prices recently dropping below what traders paid at the time. The $280 million deal for 10 million barrels of South Africa’s reserves, criticised as a rip off when oil prices were in a slump, was sold …

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• 30 April

  Canadian oil town hit by flood on top of price crash, virus

  

  Bloomberg Four years after devastating wildfires burned down sections of Fort McMurray, the city in the heart of Canada’s oil sands is now grappling with two new emergencies at the same time: the coronavirus pandemic and flooding. Just as people were sheltering at home to avoid the virus, a 25-kilometre (16-mile) natural dam created by melting ice on the Athabasca …

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• 30 April

  Continental Resources sued over failed $200mn oil deal

  

  Bloomberg Continental Resources Inc is being sued by a closely held oil driller that accused the shale giant of walking away from a $200 million deal following an historic collapse in crude prices. Casillas Petroleum Resource Partners and Continental signed a so-called purchase and sale agreement on March 6, according to the lawsuit, one trading session before crude tumbled about …

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