-- S&Pグローバル・レーティングは、中東紛争の影響で中国の大手石油会社に対する信用リスクはまちまちになるとの見通しを示した。 S&Pは、原油価格の上昇は上流企業の収益を押し上げる一方、原料供給の制約や価格統制は下流企業に打撃を与えるだろうと指摘した。 同格付け機関によると、中国は中東への依存度が高く、同地域は中国の石油輸入総量の半分を占めている。 投資家の懸念は、ホルムズ海峡の混乱による需要への影響から、中国国営石油会社の信用力まで多岐にわたると、同格付け機関は述べている。
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Oil & Energy
Energy Efficiency Could Protect Australia From Ongoing Diesel Supply Crunch, Says IEEFA
Australia's heavy reliance on diesel imports is leaving it vulnerable to the current global supply shock and price increases resulting from the Middle East conflict, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis said on Tuesday.The world's largest diesel importer has come under mounting pressure in recent weeks, given heavy reliance on imports for roughly 87% of supply, with the fuel underpinning key sectors of the country's economy.Amandine Denis-Ryan, the CEO of IEEFA Australia, highlighted significant scope for demand-side adjustments nonetheless.This included measures such as eco-driving, improved maintenance, and logistics optimization, which could cut diesel use by 10% to 20% across key sectors within weeks.Similarly, in mining, agriculture and railways, the report highlighted the need for improving idle-time, payloads and driver behaviors, to deliver savings of up to 40%, which can be critical during periods of increasing tight supplies like the past few weeks.The report also flagged Australia's geographic isolation from major fuel exporters as a key vulnerability, warning that it could leave the country with a fuel crunch that could potentially last longer than other countries with energy supply vulnerabilities.
International
Corporate Earnings Nudge European Bourses Higher Midday
European bourses tracked modestly higher midday Tuesday as traders monitored the corporate earnings season and weighed news reports regarding the still-closed Strait of Hormuz.Oil and bank stocks led gains on continental trading floors, while property shares lagged.BP stock was up 3% midday after the company reported higher Q1 underlying replacement cost profit and sales.Investors also eyed Wall Street futures in the red amid mostly lower closes overnight on Asian exchanges.In economic news, continental consumers in March expected inflation in the next 12 months to log at 4%, up from the 2.5% rate in February, the European Central Bank reported.The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.1% mid-session.The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was down 0.8%, while the Stoxx 600 Banks Index advanced 1.3%.The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index rose 1.6%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index edged 0.8% higher.The REITE, a European REIT index, declined 0.7%.On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.2%, and the FTSE 100 in London gained 0.3%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.3%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lifted 1%.Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 3.07%.Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 3.1% at $104.83 a barrel.The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1% at 23.72, still indicating above-average volatility for European stock markets in the next 30 days, a negative signal. A reading above 20 indicates choppier markets ahead, while below 20 suggests calmer exchanges.
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Mining & Metals
VersaBank Renews Its Normal Course Issuer Bid
VersaBank (VBNK.TO, VBNK) received approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) to renew its normal course issuer bid (NCIB) for its common shares, it said Tuesday.The company may buy back for cancellation up to 2-million of its common shares representing about 9.14% of its public float. As of April 16, the public float comprised of 21.9-million common shares and 32.2-million issued and outstanding common shares in total.The purchases may start on April 30, 2026, and will cancel on April 29, 2027, or such earlier date as VersaBank may complete its purchases pursuant to the NCIB.U.S.-listed shares of the company were last seen down 0.9% at US$18.10 in pre-market trading.
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