North Sea ‘still a tax target’
An oil and gas industry analyst yesterday said the industry could still be a taxation target for the chancellor.
Markets
European offshore rig count down
European offshore rig counts fell in January to 37, compared to 54 in the same month last year and 42 in December, according to Baker Hughes' monthly data.
Footsie down slightly amid worries for Greece
The FTSE 100 Index slid 1.9 points to 5,890.3 today as uncertainty over the outcome of talks between Greece and its creditors saw traders ditch riskier stocks and move to more defensive investments
Surge in value of Cosalt shares
Cosalt shares more than doubled in value yesterday in a twist which could put a questionmark over chairman David Ross's chances of taking the engineering firm private.
Market comment: Earnings better than rival Shell’s for first time in a year
BP narrowly exceeded earnings expectations in the fourth quarter of 2011, with a 14% rise in adjusted net profits to £4.8billion, compared with £3.5billion for the corresponding three months in 2010.
Energy giant ‘on right path’
BP is on the right path, chief executive Bob Dudley said yesterday when he announced the global oil giant's annual results.
BP earmarks £1.7billion for North Sea
Oil giant BP will spend £1.7billion on North Sea projects in 2012, the most in a decade, it said yesterday.
Share options
Nautical Petroleum said yesterday it had granted 632,500 share options to its directors including 150,000 to chief executive Stephen Jenkins.
Xcite renegotiates Bentley drilling contract
Aberdeen-based oil explorer Xcite Energy said today it had made changes to a drilling contract with British American Offshore for work at the Bentley field.
Petrofac and BG lead FTSE fallers
London's leading shares index exploded into life today after US jobs figures smashed expectations and boosted recovery hopes for the world's largest economy.
Shell signs up for Greenland seismic
Energy giant Shell has launched plans to carry out seismic survey work offshore Greenland as interest increases in the region.
New finance boss at OEG
Aberdeen-based OEG Offshore said yesterday it had appointed a new finance director, Tom Boyle.
Profits fall at Diamond Diamond Offshore
Drilling, which has a UK operation based in Aberdeen, has reported a fall in annual profits.
Cairn India boss cashes in shares
The boss of Cairn India, in which Scottish oil explorer Cairn Energy retains a minority stake after selling much of the business to Vedanta Resources, has sold over half of his own shareholding for £6.64million.
Footsie spurred on by positive signs in the US
The FTSE 100 Index rose 5.4 points to 5,796.1 today after US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said the world's largest economy had recently shown signs of improvement.
TWMA in top 10 for fast growth
Aberdeen-based integrated drilling-waste and environmental service company TWMA has been ranked in the top 10 private-equity-backed firms in the UK.
Nautical to take 25% stake in Hydra prospect
Oil and gas explorer Nautical Petroleum said today it had entered into an agreement with First Oil Expro to buy a 25% stake in a North Sea block containing the Hydra prospect.
Banking stocks drive strong FTSE gains
Banking stocks led strong gains on the London market yesterday as optimism surrounding the global economic outlook strengthened.
Cosalt investors set to vote
Cosalt shareholders are expected to meet soon to decide the company's future.
Weak US data fails to stop FTSE 100 advance
The FTSE 100 Index closed 10 points higher at 5,681.6 today despite weak economic data from the US.
FTSE 100 pushes ahead on hopes for Greek deal
Rising hopes that Greece will avoid default by thrashing out a deal with lenders pushed London's leading shares index to a six-month high today.
Centrica ups Statfjord stake with £142million investment
UK operator Centrica said yesterday it had signed a £142million deal to more than double its stake in a North Sea development.
Plexus and Xcite shares rise, EnQuest among fallers
Greece's failure to reach a concrete deal with creditors to avoid a default depressed world markets today.
London’s main market hits six-month high
The revival of talks to restructure Greece's debt mountain helped push the FTSE 100 Index to a fresh six-month high today.
Fears of Greek tragedy weigh on the FTSE 100
Fresh fears that Greece and Portugal will sink under the weight of their debts saw London's leading shares index fall further from a six-month high yesterday.