-- 週二,倫敦富時100指數收盤上漲0.11%,投資人密切關注各大企業公佈的第一季財報。 石油巨頭英國石油公司(BP.L)股價上漲1.12%,此前該公司公佈截至3月31日的三個月內歸屬於股東的利潤同比增長至38.4億美元,高於去年同期的6.87億美元,這主要得益於更高的利潤率和石油交易業務的貢獻。 加拿大皇家銀行資本市場表示:「BP今天上午公佈的業績強勁,淨利潤超出市場預期20%(比RBCe高出7%)。從業務板塊來看,下游業務表現最為亮眼,BP公佈的煉油和交易業務數據遠超市場預期,比我們此前的季度預期高出約2億美元,這主要得益於其出色的石油交易業績。」 可口可樂歐洲太平洋合作夥伴公司 (CCEP.L) 股價上漲 1.89%,此前該公司公佈第一財季營收為 50 億歐元,高於去年同期的 46.9 億歐元。這家裝瓶公司也重申了 2026 財年的業績預期,預計營收成長 3% 至 4%,營業利潤成長 7%。 可口可樂歐洲太平洋合作夥伴公司執行長達米安·加梅爾 (Damian Gammell) 表示:“儘管消費環境依然充滿挑戰,中東局勢的全面影響也尚不明朗,但我們擁有強大的韌性。” 經濟方面,英國零售商協會 (BRC) 表示,英國 4 月商店價格通膨率年比小幅下降至 1%,低於 3 月的 1.2%。此前市場普遍預期 4 月的通膨率為 1.5%。 BRC 執行長 Helen Dickinson 將價格上漲歸因於零售商為刺激消費而對部分復活節商品提供的折扣。 「燃油價格上漲已經導致通膨加劇,我們預計未來幾個月食品和非食品供應鏈也將受到類似影響,」消費者情報公司NIQ的零售商和商業洞察主管麥克沃特金斯表示。 “然而,由於消費者信心疲軟,通膨加速可能會對消費者支出產生負面影響,因此零售商會盡可能推遲提價。”
Related Articles
Update: WTI Rises as Progress on Ending the Iran War Stalls; the UAE Ends Its OPEC Membership
(Updates prices and adds UAE's Withdrawal from OPEC in the final two paragraphs.)West Texas Intermediate (WTI) closed higher on Tuesday, with the U.S. benchmark price flirting with the US$100 per barrel for the first time in three weeks as hopes for an end to the war on Iran fade and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.WTI crude oil for June delivery closed up US$3.56 to settle at US$99.93 per barrel as it failed to hold the US$100 mark it topped during the session, while June Brent oil was last seen up US$2.58 to US$110.81.Weekend talks expected to be held in Pakistan between Iran and the United States failed to take place, while a Monday proposal from Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in return for lifting a U.S. blockade of its ports and deferring talks over its nuclear program was rejected by President Trump.Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel launched attacks on the country on Feb. 28. The Strait is the chokepoint for 20% of daily global oil demand supplied by Persian Gulf nations and its closure has produced the largest-ever supply shock, pushing up oil prices by 49% since the start of the war."Oil extended its rally ... amid no signs of progress toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz, where US and Iranian blockades have reduced daily transits to near zero. Warnings over the severity of the global supply squeeze continue to intensify, with tightness in refined fuel markets already pushing diesel and jet fuel prices toward USD 200 per barrel," Saxo Bank noted.The closure of the Strait has pushed up spot price for oil, as the Asian nations that rely on Gulf producers compete for available barrels. Rising prices have heightened inflation and raises the risk of a global recession as the lack of supply forces demand destruction and chokes off economic growth."Alarm bells will ring loudly if the SoH (Strait of Hormuz) doesn't reopen during May. Spot crude and product prices will trade higher and higher. And if a decent reopening doesn't take place before June/July, then the risk is significant for a real crisis where the world may be forced to reduce its oil consumption closer to the level of availability," Bjarne Schieldrop, chief analyst commodities at SEB Research, wrote.Also on Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates, the No.3 OPEC producer and the No.7 global oil exporter, said it will withdraw from OPEC on May 1, freeing itself from the cartel's quota system that restricted its output well below its production capacity."We reaffirm our appreciation for the efforts of both OPEC and the OPEC+ alliance and wish them success. During our time in the organisation, we made significant contributions and even greater sacrifices for the benefit of all. However, the time has come to focus our efforts on what our national interest dictates and our commitment to our investors, customers, partners and global energy markets," the country's government said in a release.
Market Chatter: Apple Plans Revamp of Built-in Photo Editing Features
Apple (AAPL) is planning a complete redesign of the built-in photo editing features for its products in a move to rely more on artificial intelligence-powered tools, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.The company is working on a new suite of tools that are powered by its Apple Intelligence platform for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, which are set for release this fall, the sources told the media outlet.The new tools will permit users to extend, enhance, and reframe images using AI models that are on the device, with processing typically taking a few seconds, according to the report.With the move, Apple is aiming to better compete with Android devices, which have offered AI-photo editing capabilities for years, according to the report.Apple did not immediately reply to a request for comment from.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)Price: $270.27, Change: $+2.65, Percent Change: +0.99%
UFP Expands Pallet Manufacturing Network With Acquisition
UFP Industries (UFPI) said Tuesday it has acquired the operating assets of Berry Pallets, for about $20 million.The purchase, including real estate, of the pallet maker in Waseca, Minnesota, expands its footprint and strengthens its ability to serve customers in the upper Midwest, UFP said.The acquisition adds about $23 million in annual sales, the company said. It expects to close the transaction May 18.Price: $95.66, Change: $-0.33, Percent Change: -0.34%