Consolidation in the solar power sector
December 12, 2011
During the recent rush to renewable energy sources, solar has taken it on the chin. This is perhaps deserved, particularly in the U.S., where there have been several economic and technical disasters.
Boom, Gloom and the New Normal
August 13, 2011
This Time, Maybe the U.S. Is Japan | online.wsj.com
The USA and other Western nations are following the path of Japan's economy post-1990 and the ending of its housing/stock market boom. Our detailed new analysis, Boom, Gloom and the New Normal - how the Western BabyBoomers are Changing Global Demand Patterns, Again shows why. It argues, contrary to conventional economic opinion, that demand is falling in the West due to the ageing of the BabyBoomers. 29% of the Western population is now 55+, and older people spend less, and save more.
Q2 Chemicals Results raise Concerns about the Outlook
August 5, 2011
History shows that a sustained rise of oil prices to current levels has always led to a recession.Chemical company results for Q2 do nothing to suggest that 'this time is different'.
European Petchem Cracker Margins at 'Top of Cycle Levels' on Supply-Side Issues
July 27, 2011
European petchem cracker margins are at top of cycle levels. But they have been driven by a series of positive impacts on the supply side, not by strong European demand. This makes the outlook more unstable than most investors may realise.
Sinopec's Petrochemical Business 1998 - 2010
July 13, 2011
Chinese company Sinopec will be the world’s largest ethylene producer by 2014. Our new report (available via GLG Research), based on in-depth analysis of its historical performance, demonstrates that its key role is instead to maximise domestic employment by being a reliable supplier of raw materials to manufacturers down the value chain. It is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand how ‘the China factor’ will impact Asian and global petrochemical markets over the next few years.
Western BabyBoomers are Changing Chemical Demand Patterns, Again
June 29, 2011
Economists and demographers have failed to talk to each other over the past 20 years. If they had, we would all understand why global growth has recently been slowing. My new eBook, Boom, Gloom and the New Normal – How Western BabyBoomers are Changing Chemical Demand Patterns, Again will help investors make up for lost time.
Nuclear is mostly dead but it has little to do with Japan
May 27, 2011
Nuclear Power is Dead - Parts 1 & 2 | www.energycentral.com
The costs for new nuclear plant construction were non-economic well before TEPCO's Fukushima disaster. Clearly most new USA generation will be gas fired combined cycle turbines. Renewables continue improve economically. However, they will only be niche contributors do to poor capacity factors and ancillary infrastructure costs (ie; transmission and back up power). ERCOT Texas will be an interesting early test of these dynamics.
Oil price volatility will challenge chemical company profits
May 8, 2011
Many analysts have taken Q1 chemical company results as an excuse to upgrade their full-year forecasts. This flies in the face of history, which shows that whilst companies do well initially as oil prices rise, they then pay a severe penalty in terms of future profits and volume. With oil prices now under pressure, the rest of 2011 could therefore prove a lot more difficult than expected.
Chemical companies need to warn on the outlook
April 15, 2011
Rising oil prices can lull investors into a dangerous sense of complacency.They appear to lead to a sustained period of robust chemical demand, as buyers rush to protect supplies. This creates a '13 month' year in terms of volumes and profits. But when oil prices stabilise, or fall, this trend reverses, and we have an '11 month year', as buyers destock again.
Misguided Call for Oklahoma Oil Regulator Market Intervention
April 1, 2011
Cushing oil storage glut causes concern for producers | newsok.com
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission should let free market forces work rather than intervene as requested Thursday by Domestic Energy Producers Alliance and Oklahoma Independent Producers Association.
Chesapeake Energy bites the natural gas bullet
January 25, 2012
Flurry of newbuild drilling rig deliveries in 2012 may dampen rig rates
January 20, 2012
Talisman joins the ranks of cautious E&P companies
January 12, 2012
Early signs of caution begin to cloud frontier exploration and production
January 4, 2012
It's too early in the game to write off Shtokman
December 8, 2011