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Commodities

Australia-Based Woodside Dismisses Exxon Acquisition Proposal News, Calls it Media Speculation

Australia-based Woodside Energy (WDS) issued a statement on Monday, saying that it was "not aware of any proposal" concerning US energy giant Exxon Mobil's (XOM) intent to acquire the company.Calling it "media speculation," the Perth-based oil and gas production company confirmed that it had not held any discussions regarding any such potential transactions, while noting that it would "continue to comply with its continuous disclosure obligations."Rumors of the deal already faced opposition from Australian authorities, with West Australian Premier Roger Cook saying that he would oppose any deal that would involve the company relocating its headquarters from Perth, where it has been based since 1990."Overseas interests have sought to acquire Woodside before and the reasons it was previously defeated have not changed," Cook said in a statement to Reuters over the weekend.

$WDS$XOM
Sectors

Sector Update: Energy Stocks Higher Late Afternoon

Energy stocks rose late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index increasing 0.6% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 0.7%.The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index shed 0.1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index rose 0.9%.Oil prices fell following media reports that the US and Iran are nearing a potential peace deal, just days after the two sides exchanged strikes in a sharp escalation of tensions since a ceasefire in April.US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said about 7 million barrels of daily oil and fuel shipments are flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, or about half the volumes stranded at the start of the war with Iran, Bloomberg reported.West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 3.7% to $84.51 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent dropped 3.8% to $86.99 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 1.3% to $3.13 per 1 million BTU.In corporate news, Exxon Mobil (XOM) is studying potential takeover targets, including Woodside Energy (WDS), as the energy giant looks to increase its presence in the liquefied natural gas sector and in Asian markets, Bloomberg reported. Exxon shares rose 0.2%, and Woodside jumped past 6%.Shell (SHEL) said Friday it has suspended its ongoing $3 billion share buyback program. The suspension, effective Friday through July 14, is related to securities law requirements following publication of the shareholder circular by ARC Resources, Shell said. Separately, Shell is planning to begin the sale of its offshore wind farms for over $1 billion by the end of this year as the company prioritizes its fossil fuel business, Bloomberg reported. Shell shares were 0.4% lower.BP (BP) started a process to sell minority stakes in its Kaskida and Tiber projects in the Gulf of Mexico, Reuters reported. BP shares were fractionally higher.Venture Global (VG) shares were rising 2%. The company and Greece-based Atlantic-SEE LNG Trade said late Thursday they expanded their existing sales and purchase agreement for US liquefied natural gas. Venture Global also said late Thursday it closed an offering of $1.13 billion of 6.375% senior secured notes due Dec. 15, 2034, and $1.13 billion of 6.625% senior secured notes due June 15, 2036.

$BP$SHEL$VG$WDS$XOM
Sectors

Sector Update: Energy Stocks Advance Friday Afternoon

Energy stocks rose Friday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index gaining 0.7% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 0.9%.The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index eased 0.1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index rose 0.6%.Oil prices fell following media reports that the US and Iran are nearing a potential peace deal, just days after the two sides exchanged strikes in a sharp escalation of tensions since a ceasefire in April.US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said about 7 million barrels of daily oil and fuel shipments are flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, or about half the volumes stranded at the start of the war with Iran, Bloomberg reported.West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 3.4% to $84.76 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent dropped 3.6% to $87.17 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 1.2% to $3.13 per 1 million BTU.In corporate news, Exxon Mobil (XOM) is studying potential takeover targets, including Woodside Energy (WDS), as the energy giant looks to increase its presence in the liquified natural gas sector and in Asian markets, Bloomberg reported. Exxon shares rose 0.5%, and Woodside jumped 6.3%.Shell (SHEL) is planning to begin the sale of its offshore wind farms for over $1 billion by the end of this year as the company prioritizes its fossil fuel business, Bloomberg reported. Shell shares eased 0.1%.BP (BP) started a process to sell minority stakes in its Kaskida and Tiber projects in the Gulf of Mexico, Reuters reported. BP shares rose 0.2%.

$BP$SHEL$WDS$XOM
Sectors

Sector Update: Energy

Energy stocks were higher Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 1.1%.The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was fractionally higher, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index rose 0.7%.Oil prices fell on Friday following media reports that the US and Iran are nearing a potential peace deal, just days after the two sides exchanged strikes in a sharp escalation of tensions since a ceasefire in April.The US and Iran are edging closer to an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing senior officials. The signing of the potential agreement could come on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit starting next week in France. The agreement would extend the existing ceasefire by around two months and open further negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, the report said.Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 3.6% to $84.59 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract dropped 3.6% to $87.14 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 1.3% to $3.13 per 1 million BTU.In corporate news, Exxon Mobil (XOM) is studying potential takeover targets, including Woodside Energy (WDS), as the energy giant looks to increase its presence in the liquified natural gas sector and in Asian markets, Bloomberg reported. Exxon shares rose 0.7%, and Woodside jumped past 6%.

$WDS$XOM
Wire

Market Chatter: Exxon Mobil Said to Explore Acquisition Targets Including Woodside Energy

Exxon Mobil (XOM) is studying potential takeover targets, including Woodside Energy Group (WDS), as the energy giant looks to increase its presence in the liquified natural gas sector and in Asian markets, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.Exxon and Woodside didn't immediately reply to requests 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: $147.75, Change: $+1.15, Percent Change: +0.78%

$WDS$XOM
Wire

Exxon Mobil Exploring Takeover Targets Including Woodside, Bloomberg Reports

Exxon Mobil Exploring Takeover Targets Including Woodside, Bloomberg Reports

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Commodities

Woodside Exercises Browse Pre-Emption Right

Woodside (WDS) has given notice exercising its right to pre-empt the sale of PetroChina International Investment Australia's 10.67% stake in the Browse Joint Venture to a subsidiary of Inpex, it said in a statement on Friday.The terms of Woodside's acquisition will reflect those of the CNPC/INPEX transaction including a payment to CNPC of $225 million plus refunding of CNPC's BJV cash call contributions between June 30, 2025 and the completion date, Woodside said.There will be a $175 million contingent payment to CNPC once the BJV takes a final investment decision to development all of the Brecknock, Calliance and Torosa fields on or before June 30, 2032.The Browse resource is Australia's biggest undeveloped conventional gas resource, potentially able to produce 11.4 million tonnes per annum of LNG, LPG and domestic gas, the statement said.It is located off the west coast of Australia and brings an opportunity to develop energy supply with increased demand coming from the Asia Pacific region and to provide a new source of gas for Western Australia.Woodside's CEO Liz Westcott said the interest in Browse, as seen in the CNPC/Inpex transaction and BP's (BP) announced transaction with GS Energy reinforce the quality and scale of the resource."Woodside's decision to pre-empt reflects our commitment to continue progressing the proposed Browse to North West Shelf development. We see this as a pathway to maximise long-term shareholder value," she said.Woodside will hold a 41.27% stake in the BJV after completion of the acquisition.

$BP$WDS
Commodities

Update: Workers Go on Strike at 2 Woodside Energy Natural Gas Facilities in Australia

(Updates with Woodside statement from paragraphs 8 to 10 and CIMIC comment in the last paragraph.)Workers at Woodside Energy's (WDS) Karratha and Pluto gas facilities in Australia launched a strike on Wednesday, following failed negotiations with third-party maintenance contractor UGL over wage and working conditions, the Offshore Alliance workers' union said Wednesday."The end result of UGL's inability to negotiate or accept industrial standards is Protected Industrial Action. The UGL KGP-Pluto [enterprise bargaining agreement] negotiations are no different. PIA commences today at KGP-Pluto and will continue until our EBA is sorted," the union said in a social media post.According to its website, Offshore Alliance is a partnership between the Australian Workers' Union and the Maritime Union of Australia, and covers workers in the offshore oil and gas industry.As previously reported by, Woodside's Karratha gas plant has an export capacity of 14.3 million tons per annum. Pluto LNG currently exports about 5 mtpa, which could double to around 10 mtpa once the second train becomes operational.Earlier this week, Inpex's 9.3 million metric-ton-a-year Ichthys LNG facility in Darwin, northern Australia, was served with notice for protected industrial action commencing May 27.According to a Bloomberg report last week, the strike could affect LNG exports from these facilities, triggering a wider supply disruption, particularly as shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remain largely restricted.Australian LNG producers are already operating close to operational limits to increase supply, the news agency reported, as Asian buyers seek alternative cargoes in response to disruptions to energy flows resulting from the Middle East conflict, the Bloomberg report said.In a statement shared with, a Woodside spokesperson said the company was aware of the enterprise bargaining negotiations between UGL and its employees and added that they were strictly between the two parties and their representatives.Noting that while Woodside respects the contractor employees' rights to engage in PIA under the Fair Work Act, the company said its priority remains the safe and reliable performance of its operations."Any potential protected industrial action involving UGL employees will be managed by UGL in accordance with the requirements of the Act," the statement said.UGL parent company CIMIC declined to comment.

$WDS
Commodities

Update: Workers Go on Strike at 2 Woodside Energy Natural Gas Facilities in Australia

(Updates to add Woodside statement from paragraphs 8-10)Workers at Woodside Energy's (WDS) Karratha and Pluto gas facilities in Australia launched a strike on Wednesday, following failed negotiations with third-party maintenance contractor UGL over wage and working conditions, the Offshore Alliance workers' union said Wednesday."The end result of UGL's inability to negotiate or accept industrial standards is Protected Industrial Action. The UGL KGP-Pluto [enterprise bargaining agreement] negotiations are no different. PIA commences today at KGP-Pluto and will continue until our EBA is sorted," the union said in a social media post.According to its website, Offshore Alliance is a partnership between the Australian Workers' Union and the Maritime Union of Australia, and covers workers in the offshore oil and gas industry.As previously reported by, Woodside's Karratha gas plant has an export capacity of 14.3 million tons per annum. Pluto LNG currently exports about 5 mtpa, which could double to around 10 mtpa once the second train becomes operational.Earlier this week, Inpex's 9.3 million metric-ton-a-year Ichthys LNG facility in Darwin, northern Australia, was served with notice for protected industrial action commencing May 27.According to a Bloomberg report last week, the strike could affect LNG exports from these facilities, triggering a wider supply disruption, particularly as shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remain largely restricted.Australian LNG producers are already operating close to operational limits to increase supply, the news agency reported, as Asian buyers seek alternative cargoes in response to disruptions to energy flows resulting from the Middle East conflict, the Bloomberg report said.In a statement shared with, a Woodside spokesperson said the company was aware of the enterprise bargaining negotiations between UGL and its employees and added that they were strictly between the two parties and their representatives.Noting that while Woodside respects the contractor employees' rights to engage in PIA under the Fair Work Act, the company said its priority remains the safe and reliable performance of its operations."Any potential protected industrial action involving UGL employees will be managed by UGL in accordance with the requirements of the Act," the statement said.has also separately reached out to UGL parent company CIMIC for comments.Price: $23.05, Change: $-0.22, Percent Change: -0.95%

$WDS
Commodities

Workers Go on Strike at 2 Woodside Energy Natural Gas Facilities in Australia

Workers at Woodside Energy's (WDS) Karratha and Pluto gas facilities in Australia launched a strike on Wednesday, following failed negotiations with third-party maintenance contractor UGL over wage and working conditions, Offshore Alliance workers' union said Wednesday."The end result of UGL's inability to negotiate or accept industrial standards is Protected Industrial Action. The UGL KGP-Pluto [enterprise bargaining agreement] negotiations are no different. PIA commences today at KGP-Pluto and will continue until our EBA is sorted," the union said in a social media post.According to its website, Offshore Alliance is a partnership between the Australian Workers' Union and the Maritime Union of Australia, and covers workers in the offshore oil and gas industry.As previously reported by, Woodside's Karratha gas plant has an export capacity of 14.3 million tons per annum. Pluto LNG currently exports about 5 mtpa, which could double to around 10 mtpa once the second train becomes operational.Earlier this week, Inpex's 9.3 million metric-ton-a-year Ichthys LNG facility in Darwin, northern Australia was served with notice for protected industrial action commencing May 27.According to a Bloomberg report last week, the strike could affect LNG exports from these facilities, triggering a wider supply disruption, particularly as shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remain largely restricted.Australian LNG producers are already running close to operational limits to increase supply, the news agency reported, as Asian buyers seek alternative cargoes in response to the disruption to energy flows resulting from the Middle East conflict, the Bloomberg report said.has separately reached out to Woodside Energy and UGL parent company CIMIC for comments.

$WDS
Commodities

Update: Woodside Energy Gas Plants Face Industrial Action; Supply Risks Emerge

(Updates with Woodside Energy's comments in sixth paragraph.)Workers at Woodside Energy's (WDS) maintenance contractor UGL will take industrial action from May 20 at Karratha and Pluto gas facilities in Australia over a wage and working conditions dispute, the Offshore Alliance union said on Friday.Inpex's Ichthys LNG facility is also facing the prospect of industrial action, with labor unions considering issuing a strike notice if an agreement is not reached at some point on Friday, according to multiple media outlets.Exports of liquefied natural gas from these facilities could be affected, triggering a wider supply disruption, particularly as shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remain largely restricted, Bloomberg said.Australian LNG producers are already running close to operational limits to increase supply, the news agency reported, as Asian buyers seek alternative cargoes in response to the disruption to energy flows resulting from the Middle East conflict.Woodside's Karratha gas plant has an export capacity of 14.3 million tons per annum. Pluto LNG currently exports about 5 mtpa, which could double to around 10 mtpa once the second train becomes operational. Inpex's Ichthys LNG plant adds another 9.3 mtpa to global supply.Woodside toldthat its "priority remains the performance of its operations in a safe and reliable manner," while it "respects the rights of contractor employees to engage in protected industrial action under the Fair Work Act."Inpex, meanwhile, did not immediately respond to' request for comment.In 2023, strikes at Chevron's (CVX) facilities in Australia had resulted in LNG price spikes in Europe and Asia, due to the prospect of reduced gas exports, Bloomberg reported.Price: $22.46, Change: $+0.15, Percent Change: +0.65%

$CVX$WDS
Commodities

Woodside Energy Gas Plants Face Industrial Action; Supply Risks Emerge

Workers at Woodside Energy's (WDS) maintenance contractor UGL will take industrial action from May 20 at Karratha and Pluto gas facilities in Australia over a wage and working conditions dispute, the Offshore Alliance union said on Friday.Inpex's Ichthys LNG facility is also facing the prospect of industrial action, with labor unions considering issuing a strike notice if an agreement is not reached at some point on Friday, according to multiple media outlets.Exports of liquefied natural gas from these facilities could be affected, triggering a wider supply disruption, particularly as shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remain largely restricted, Bloomberg said.Australian LNG producers are already running close to operational limits to increase supply, the news agency reported, as Asian buyers seek alternative cargoes in response to the disruption to energy flows resulting from the Middle East conflict.Woodside's Karratha gas plant has an export capacity of 14.3 million tons per annum. Pluto LNG currently exports about 5 mtpa, which could double to around 10 mtpa once the second train becomes operational. Inpex's Ichthys LNG plant adds another 9.3 mtpa to global supply.The companies did not immediately respond to' requests for comment.In 2023, strikes at Chevron's (CVX) facilities in Australia had resulted in LNG price spikes in Europe and Asia, due to the prospect of reduced gas exports, Bloomberg reported.

$CVX$WDS
Commodities

Australia's Proposed Browse to North West Shelf Project Holds Over 14 Trillion Cubic Feet of Gas Resources

The proposed Browse to North West Shelf Project in Australia has an estimated contingent resource of 14.4 trillion cubic feet of dry gas and about 411 million barrels of condensate, Australian energy company Woodside Energy (WDS) said on Monday.The project will require a capital investment of about AU$48.7 billion ($38.3 billion) over its lifetime, the company said in a statement, citing an economic impact assessment by Deloitte Access Economics.Woodside Energy, as an operator for the Browse Joint Venture, has proposed to develop the Calliance, Brecknock and Torosa natural gas fields in the offshore Browse Basin, about 425 kilometers north of Broome, Western Australia."The project has a forecast production capacity of 11.4 million tonnes per annum (LNG, LPG and domestic gas) and a peak condensate production rate of 50,000 barrels per day," the statement said.The proposal includes the construction of two floating production storage and offloading facilities and an approximately 900 km pipeline to the Browse to North West Shelf Project's existing infrastructure, according to a statement by Woodside Energy. It also includes a carbon capture and storage system.The project can help ease the pressure on Western Australia's energy system, with its contingent resource equal to almost 38 years of the region's forecast domestic gas consumption in 2026 if used only for domestic gas supply, the statement said.The proposal is currently in the concept definition phase.Woodside Energy, Woodside Energy (North West Shelf), BP's (BP) BP Developments, Chevron (CVX) unit Chevron Australia, Japan Australia LNG (MIMI), and Shell's (SHEL) Shell Australia hold a 16.67% interest in the project each.

$WDS
Commodities

Update: Woodside Energy Faces Pricing Headwinds for Louisiana LNG

(Adds Woodside's comments)Australia-based Woodside Energy (WDS) is struggling to secure buyers for its planned Louisiana LNG export facility, Reuters reported Thursday.The primary obstacle is the company's insistence on liquefaction fees, the cost added to the base price of gas to process it for transport, that exceed current US market averages, according to the report.While these fees have risen globally due to labor shortages and construction costs, Woodside's high entry point may have identified a pricing ceiling for US LNG exports, it said.As per the report Woodside initially sought fees exceeding $2.80 per million British Thermal Units, significantly higher than the typical US range of $2.40 to $2.50.For comparison, industry leader Cheniere Energy (LNG) charges about $2.60, while Venture Global (VG) sits at the lower end at roughly $2.30."As publicly announced, approximately 10.5 mtpa of Louisiana LNG capacity has been committed. This includes Woodside's intention to take around 8 mtpa into its global LNG portfolio, a 1.0 mtpa FOB LNG sale and purchase agreement with Uniper, and equity aligned offtake obligations equivalent to around 1.5 mtpa to Williams," a Woodside spokesperson said in an email to."Woodside is confident in the contracting momentum at Louisiana LNG and will continue to provide updates through its normal market disclosures," the spokesperson said.(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.)

$LNG$VG$WDS
Commodities

Market Chatter: Woodside Energy Faces Pricing Headwinds for Louisiana LNG

Australia-based Woodside Energy (WDS) is struggling to secure buyers for its planned Louisiana LNG export facility, Reuters reported Thursday.The primary obstacle is the company's insistence on liquefaction fees, the cost added to the base price of gas to process it for transport, that exceed current US market averages, according to the report.While these fees have risen globally due to labor shortages and construction costs, Woodside's high entry point may have identified a pricing ceiling for US LNG exports, it said.As per the report Woodside initially sought fees exceeding $2.80 per million British Thermal Units, significantly higher than the typical US range of $2.40 to $2.50.For comparison, industry leader Cheniere Energy (LNG) charges about $2.60, while Venture Global (VG) sits at the lower end at roughly $2.30.Woodside did not respond to' request for comments.(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.)

$LNG$VG$WDS
Commodities

Woodside Reports Q1 Production Drop, Strong LNG Demand Supports Sales

Woodside Energy (WDS) reported Q1 earnings on Wednesday, showing total production volumes of 45.2 million barrels of oil equivalent for the quarter, down from 49.1 million boe/d a year earlier.Gas output averaged 1,578 million standard cubic feet per day for the quarter ended Mar. 31, compared with 1,841 MMscf/d a year earlier, the company said.Liquids production averaged 221,000 b/d in Q1, slightly down from 223,000 b/d a year earlier, the company said.Cyclone-related disruptions and seasonal impacts across Western Australia operations drove the decline in production, the company said.Total sales volumes reached 51.7 million boe/d for the quarter, up from 50.3 million boe/d a year earlier, Woodside added.Gas sales averaged 2,016 MMscf/d, rising from 1,968 MMscf/d a year earlier, while liquids sales increased to 218,000 b/d from 213,000 b/d, the company said.Woodside expects full-year production of 172 million boe/d to 186 million boe/d, maintaining prior guidance, while capital expenditure is projected at $4 billion to $4.5 billion, the company said.The company said the Scarborough Energy Project reached 96% completion and remains on track for first liquefied natural gas cargo in Q4 2026, with commissioning activities underway following installation of the floating production unit.Woodside advanced the Trion Project to 56% completion and targets first oil in 2028. The project includes the development of 24 subsea wells and is expected to support future production growth, the company said.The Louisiana LNG project reached 24% completion, with Train 1 at 31%, and remains on schedule for first LNG cargo in 2029, the company said.The company also completed its first ammonia cargo at Beaumont New Ammonia in February and assumed operational control in March, the company said.Price: $23.72, Change: $+0.46, Percent Change: +1.98%

$WDS
Equities

Woodside Energy Q1 Revenue Decreases; 2026 Production Guidance Maintained

Woodside Energy (WDS) reported Q1 revenue late Tuesday of $3.26 billion, down from $3.32 billion a year earlier.Two analysts polled by FactSet expected $3.29 billion.The company also maintained its 2026 production guidance of between 172 million and 186 million barrels of oil equivalent.Shares of the company rose more than 2% in recent premarket activity Wednesday.

$WDS
Commodities

US LNG Capacity Set to Top 30 Bcf/d by 2030 as Expansion Wave Accelerates

The US is poised to significantly expand its dominance in the global energy market as a massive wave of new liquefaction capacity is scheduled to come online through 2031, according to ananalysis, based on US Energy Information Administration data.US export facilities are currently operating at near-peak levels, with actual exports averaging around 18 billion cubic feet per day in March 2026. This exceeds the nominal baseload capacity of roughly 15.4 Bcf/d, as terminals often run above nameplate levels.In the remainder of 2026, the industry expects to add about 2 Bcf/d of new capacity, led by QatarEnergy and Exxon Mobil (XOM) as they ramp up the first two trains at Golden Pass, which will contribute nearly 1.4 Bcf/d.Cheniere Energy (LNG) is also completing the final units at its Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion, adding 0.6 Bcf/d. These additions are projected to bring total US nominal capacity to around 17.5 Bcf/d by year-end.The expansion accelerates in 2027, with approximately 5.4 Bcf/d of new capacity scheduled to enter service. This includes the third train at Golden Pass, adding 0.7 Bcf/d, and Venture Global (VG) commissioning Plaquemines Phase 2 in Louisiana, contributing 1.1 Bcf/d.Later in the year, two major greenfield projects are set to come online: Sempra (SRE) bringing Port Arthur Phase 1 online at 1.6 Bcf/d and NextDecade starting up the Rio Grande facility with 1.4 Bcf/d.Additional permitted increases at Plaquemines LNG and Elba Island LNG total 0.6 Bcf/d. These developments are expected to lift US capacity to about 22.9 Bcf/d by the end of 2027.Momentum carries into 2028, with an additional 2 Bcf/d of capacity additions. NextDecade is expected to complete additional units at Rio Grande, adding 0.7 Bcf/d, while Venture Global's CP2 LNG Phase 1 is slated to contribute 1.3 Bcf/d. These projects are projected to raise total US export capacity to approximately 24.9 Bcf/d by year-end.The current construction cycle is expected to culminate between 2029 and 2031, followed by another wave of expansions.Woodside Energy (WDS) is expected to add 2.2 Bcf/d from its Louisiana LNG project, alongside further expansions including Port Arthur Phase 2 at 1.6 Bcf/d, Rio Grande at 1.4 Bcf/d, and additional Venture Global capacity of 0.6 Bcf/d.Upon completion, total US LNG export capacity is forecast to exceed 30 Bcf/d, solidifying the US role as the world's leading LNG supplier.

$LNG$NEXT$SRE$VG$WDS$XOM
Asia Markets

Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Lower Pre-Bell Thursday as Fragile Middle East Ceasefire Lifts Oil Prices

The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was down 0.4% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.3% lower in Thursday's premarket activity as doubts over the durability of a Middle East ceasefire lift oil prices.US stock futures were also lower, with S&P 500 Index futures down 0.4%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping 0.5%, and Nasdaq futures retreating 0.4% before the start of regular trading.US initial jobless claims rose to a level of 219,000 in the week ended April 4 from an upwardly revised 203,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a smaller increase to 210,000 in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.Personal income declined 0.1% in February following January's 0.4% gain, compared with the expected 0.3% gain in a survey conducted by Bloomberg as of 7:35 am ET.US economic growth, measured by gross domestic product, was revised lower to a 0.5% increase in Q4 from a 0.7% gain in the second estimate, compared with estimates for no revision in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:35 am ET.Wholesale inventory data for February are due to be released at 10 am ET, followed by weekly natural gas stocks data at 10:30 am ET.In premarket activity, bitcoin was down by 0.3%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.2% lower, Ether ETF (EETH) fell 1.5%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was flat.Power Play:ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) retreated marginally by 0.01%, while the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was 0.01% higher, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was up 0.5%. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) lost 0.1%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was 1.3% lower.Simply Good Foods (SMPL) shares were down more than 19% pre-bell after the company posted lower fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and net sales.Winners and Losers:FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) retreated 0.6%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 1.7%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 1.9% higher.Whitestone REIT (WSR) shares were up more than 11% pre-bell after the company said it has agreed to be acquired by Ares Management (ARES) for $19 per common share or operating partnership unit in an all-cash deal valued at about $1.70 billion. Ares stock was 1.5% higher.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) retreated 0.2%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.1% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was down 0.1%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was inactive, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) declined by 0.3%.Aehr Test Systems (AEHR) shares were down more than 2% in premarket activity, a day after the company said it plans to sell up to $60 million of its common shares via an at-the-market offering.Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) retreated by 0.1%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was down 0.1%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was flat. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.7% lower.Novartis (NVS) stock was down more than 1% premarket after closing the prior session with a 2% gain. The company said Thursday it will expand its programs to find and treat patients with heart disease and cancer in "hard-to-reach" communities worldwide.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) declined by 0.7%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) gained 0.4% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was down 0.8%.American Airlines Group (AAL) stock was down more than 1% before the opening bell, a day after the Federal Aviation Administration said the airline should pay a $255,000 civil penalty for allegedly breaching drug and alcohol regulations.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was up 0.2%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) advanced by 0.5%.Occidental Petroleum (OXY) stock was up more than 1% before Thursday's opening bell after the company said it had discovered oil at the Bandit prospect, co-owned by Chevron (CVX) and Woodside Energy (WDS), in the Gulf of Mexico. Chevron stock was 0.8% higher, while Woodside advanced 0.5%.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose by 4.4% to $98.57 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas retreated by 0.2% to $2.72 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) was up by 2%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.3% lower.Gold futures for May were up by 0.1% at $4,781.00 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures declined by 1% to $74.60 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 0.4% higher, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) advanced by 0.03%.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAL$AEHR$ARES$BETH$BITO$CVX$EEM$EETH$EXI$FAS$FAZ$GLD$IBB$IGM$IGV$IPK$IVV$IWM$IYE$IYH$IYJ$IYK$IYW$NVS$OXY$PMR$QQQ$RTH$SLV$SMPL$SOXX$SPY$UNG$USO$VDC$VHT$VIS$WDS$WSR$XLE$XLF$XLI$XLK$XLP$XLV$XLY$XRT$XSD