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This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

BP (NYSE:BP) is reportedly starting the process to sell stakes in 2 major Gulf of Mexico projects, giving new CEO Meg O'Neill an early chance to reshape the company's capital plans.

Reuters reported that BP has begun exploring stake sales in Kaskida and Tiber, 2 of its most important U.S. Gulf prospects. The size of the stakes is not yet known, but the company has reportedly weighed selling minority interests for more than a year. Each project is estimated to be worth billions of dollars to BP.

Warning! GuruFocus has detected 8 Warning Signs with BP. Is BP fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator.

The assets still matter strategically. Kaskida is expected to start production in 2029, while Tiber is expected to follow in 2030. Each project is designed to produce about 80K barrels per day of oil, helping BP push toward its goal of roughly 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day from the U.S. upstream business by 2030.

this looks less like BP walking away from the Gulf and more like a funding move. Selling minority stakes could help share development costs while keeping BP involved in major long-term oil projects. The next thing to watch is how much BP sells and who steps in as a partner.

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Shell plc SHEL has reportedly taken a significant step in re-establishing its presence in Venezuela by signing five agreements with the Venezuelan government to advance strategic oil and gas projects. The agreements mark a new phase in the relationship between the energy giant and the South American nation, highlighting the company's growing role in Venezuela's efforts to revitalize its energy sector and attract foreign investment.

The latest deals build on preliminary agreements signed earlier in the year and reinforce Shell's position as one of the first major international energy companies to capitalize on the country's renewed investment opportunities.

Loran Gas Field Takes Center Stage

At the heart of the agreements is Shell's participation in the Loran offshore gas field, a massive reservoir estimated to hold approximately 7 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas. The field extends across maritime boundaries shared by Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, making it one of the region's most strategically important gas developments.

Venezuelan officials described the agreement as a historic milestone, as it advances the first phase of the Loran field's development plan. The project is expected to play a critical role in unlocking Venezuela's vast offshore gas resources and strengthening regional energy cooperation.

Supporting Venezuela's Gas Export Ambitions

The Loran project, alongside the 4.2-Tcf Dragon gas field in which Shell is also involved, is expected to pave the way for Venezuela's entry into offshore gas exports. Initial supplies are expected to be transported to Trinidad and Tobago, where the gas can be processed into liquefied natural gas (LNG) for international markets.

This development could create a new revenue stream for Venezuela while helping monetize the country's substantial untapped gas reserves. For Shell, the projects offer access to significant long-term gas resources in a region with growing export potential.

Broader Energy Cooperation Beyond Gas

The agreements extend beyond offshore gas development. Shell and Venezuela also reached a technical alliance aimed at expanding production from oilfields in Monagas North. Another pact focuses on procuring equipment and parts designed to reduce gas flaring, supporting operational efficiency and environmental performance.

Additionally, increased oil production linked to Shell's activities is expected to improve the availability of diluents used in producing Venezuela's flagship Merey crude blend and supplying domestic refineries.

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Broader Industry Implications

The agreements come amid broader geopolitical and economic shifts, including efforts to revitalize Venezuela's energy sector. They are among the first major expansion deals following reforms aimed at attracting international capital.

At the same time, BP p.l.c. BP is also expected to participate in the Loran gas field and the adjacent Cocuina-Manakin offshore gas project under separate agreements signed with the Venezuelan government in April. BP already has exposure to the region through its Manakin-Cocuina exploration and production license, awarded in 2024. However, U.S. approvals were revoked, prompting BP to lobby for reinstatement.

Chevron Corporation's CVX joint ventures with PDVSA are already producing approximately 260,000 barrels per day — about a quarter of Venezuela's total output. In April, CVX also signed an asset swap agreement with PDVSA, expected to support a potential 50% increase in production over the next two years within its existing footprint.The restructuring also positions Chevron to compete more effectively as Venezuela opens its energy sector to increased foreign investment following regulatory reforms.

A Strategic Win for Shell

The latest agreements elevate Shell, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), to one of the most important partners of Venezuela's state-owned energy company, PDVSA. Having previously scaled back operations and closed offices in the country, Shell is now emerging as a key participant in some of Venezuela's most significant energy projects.

With the Loran and Dragon developments moving forward, the company is positioning itself to benefit from future gas exports while strengthening its presence in a resource-rich region undergoing a gradual energy-sector revival. The agreements underscore Shell's commitment to pursuing attractive growth opportunities and expanding its role in the evolving global energy landscape.

You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Nachdem der Präsident Donald Trump geplante Angriffe auf den Iran abgesagt hatte, öffneten europäische Aktienindizes höher an. Dies folgt dem Trend in US- und asiatischen Märkten.

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FTSE 100 jumps 162 points to 10,466 Brent crude futures fall then rise UK economy contracts 0.1% in April Housebuilders show strong recovery

4.17pm: SpaceX and US consumer confidence

The Footsie is heading towards sealing its strongest session in a while, with a gain over over 160 points currently.

British Aiways owner IAG is top of the leaderboard, up 6.7%, followed by miners and banks.

Both the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 are up over 1.5%, with mid-cap gains led by miners, air travel stocks and Ceres Power.

Oil prices are softening again, with Brent crude down below $85 a barrel now, 3.5% lower on the day and $10 a barrel below highs at the start of the week.

The SpaceX indicative price is still falling but remains well above the issue price.

Latest was $160 apiece, which would be around a 19% premium to the IPO price.

Elsewhere, the US consumer sentiment has improved this month, with the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index rose to 48.9 in June from 44.8 in May, above the consensus forecast of 46.0.

Grace Zwemmer at Oxford Economics says: "Easing gas prices helped lift consumer sentiment this month. However, consumers are still broadly anxious about the health of the economy.

"Both measures of inflation expectations ticked down in June but remain higher than their pre-war levels. Stability in inflation expectations could help the Federal Reserve view the oil price shock to inflation as a one-off."

3.41pm: SpaceX indicated opening price is higher, but falling

The indicative opening price of SpaceX is falling, but still well above the $135 issue price.

Trading may begin around 12:30pm ET (5.30pm UK) or maybe earlier.

Shares are indicated to open at just $168.75 each, a gain of around 25%.

First it was a $174, then $171 then $170, and now below that.

An extra nugget within the SpaceX story is that Elon Musk, who owns about 42% of SpaceX, is going to become the first dollar trillionaire if the price is much above the issue price.

3.21pm: Iran deal based on performance, says White House insider

A White House official is leaking more information on the Iran deal, presumably to counter the "fake news" statements from Tehran.

Reports citing a senior US administration official stress that any sanctions relief would be strictly conditional on Tehran meeting its commitments.

According to the official, the deal would immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz, easing the blockage for global energy.

There will be "no money" released to Tehran "until they perform", the reports say, suggesting sanctions relief and access to frozen funds would be tied to verified compliance.

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The official also said Iran's nuclear material would be "destroyed and removed" and that the country's nuclear programme would be dismantled under the agreement. In addition, the deal would require Iran to cease funding terrorist groups.

What do markets make of it? Brent crude is up above $86 a barrel again, down 1.1% on the day.

The FTSE is striding higher, led by coppper miners Antofagasta and Anglo American, sandwiching British Airways owner IAG, all up over 5.5%.

Next are banks, precious metals miners, and Rolls-Royce. SpaceX investors Scottish Mortgage is up 3.6%, while fellow big tech investor Polar Capital Tech Trust is up 4.3%, catching up with last night's gains.

There are only nine London blue-chjp names in the red, with losses for BP and Shell trimmed slightly, to 2.2% and 1.9%.

3.10pm: SpaceX price expected at 29% premium

Newswire reports suggest the SpaceX IPO attracted more than $350 billion of total investor demand, including over $250 billion from institutional investors alone, making it one of the most heavily oversubscribed offerings in market history.

Institutional allocations appear to have been skewed towards long-term investors, with around 70% of shares sold to institutions allocated to long-only funds and sovereign wealth fundsm, Reuters reported.

The reports confirm that retail investors received about 20% of the shares sold in the IPO, while lower than the mooted 30% is far larger allocation than is typical for a US mega-cap flotation.

According to pre-market indications, SpaceX shares are set to open at around $174, compared with the IPO price of $135, implying a gain of almost 29% on debut.

If that pricing holds, SpaceX's market value would surge well above the $1.75 trillion valuation established in the offering, nearer $2.3 trillion, just shy of Amazon's $2.5 trillion market cap.

2.52pm: Volatile US open after Trump slams Iran

US stocks opened higher but gains were immediately wiped out after some confusion emerged about the purported Iran peace deal.

The Nasdaq has dropped 0.7%, the S&P is down 0.3% and the Dow Jones is just above flat, having opened up around 0.6% higher in initial trades.

President Donald Trump posted on social media that terms Iran leaked out "have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing". He says Tehran's statement is "dishonourable" and "bears no relation to the truth" and that "they better get their act together, and FAST".

Oil prices have also spiked back to where they were at midnight, with Brent back up to $89 a barrel.

2.10pm: Scottish Mortgage and other trusts that have SpaceX stakes

Nasdaq has announced that the IPO of SpaceX is to be released for stock price quotes at 9:50am Eastern Time (2.50pm London time).

As well as the retail investors excited about the IPO, there are also several investment trusts that have been long backers of the rocket and satellite company, such as Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC (LSE:SMT), which invested as long ago as 2018.

SMT's stake was 21% of its portfolio value, according to an update last week.

Edinburgh Worldwide Investment and Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust, also managed by Baillie Gifford, have sizeable stakes, along with the Schiehallion Fund Ltd.

Schiehallion said it had 14.5% of its assets in SpaceX, Baillie Gifford USA 16.5% and EWI 22%.

Also, Google parent Alphabet owns a stake of around 4.9% of the $1.77 trillion company, having bought in over a decade ago.

Existing backers like Scot Mort and Alphabet are subject to a lockup period after the IPO, liquidity limits and a potential tax hit on an outright sale.

There is a staggered lock-up structure, with expiration at 180 days for general insiders, while Musk and other significant stakeholders subject to a longer 366-day lock-up. Musk is not expected to sell shares at this point, though.

1.44pm: Market scepticism recovering

Oil prices are creeping up again. Brent crude, having fallen from $95 on Thursday night to almost $86 a barrel this morning, is now back up at almost $88.

A report from Axios suggested that both sides have agreed the text, which has been cleared at high levels in Iran but may still lack approval from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

The two sides are said to have agreed the text of a proposed memorandum that would immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz, extend the ceasefire by 60 days and provide limited sanctions relief in exchange for Iranian commitments on its nuclear programme.

If signed, the agreement mediated by Qatar and Pakistan would be known as the Islamabad agreement.

"Markets are taking Trump’s latest declaration with a degree of caution", says market analyst Fawad Razaqzada at Forex.com.

Economist Kallum Pickering at Peel Hunt notes that President Trump has for the past two months "repeatedly signalled that a deal between the US and Iran to end the conflict and re-open the Strait of Hormuz is imminent".

"Each time, however, negotiations have broken down, or Iran has accused the US of making unjustified claims of a breakthrough."

After last night's announcement, "financial markets appear to be reacting as if a deal is underway"... though "let me emphasise, we have seen this before only for no breakthrough to emerge in the end".

Says Pickering: "If a deal is indeed reached, a big if, expect markets to raise expectations for growth in major economies as inflation worries ease, with expectations for further central bank rate hikes curtailed."

Razaqzada notes that while Trump's claim to have "ended the war with Iran" triggered an immediate risk-on reaction, with equities and bonds in demand as oil fell, "the follow-through remains surprisingly restrained for what would be a significant geopolitical breakthrough".

He adds that "there are still important hurdles to overcome", with Iranian officials have not publicly endorsed the reported framework, and questions remain over whether Tehran will seek additional concessions before signing any deal

1.07pm: US stocks to extend gains

Wall Street is heading for a firmer open, with futures ticking higher as investors weigh President Donald Trump’s sudden shift on Iran and turn attention to a blockbuster market debut.

Dow Jones futures are up over 0.7%, while those for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq futures are up nearer 0.6%, all extending the strong gains from last night.

That rally came after Trump said US military strikes on Iran were "cancelled" and suggested a peace deal could be close, as "discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved".

The Nasdaq jumped 2.5%, the Dow finished up 1.9% and the S&P gained 1.8% as risk appetite returned.

Today, geopolitics looks set to fade into the background, with all eyes are on the much-anticipated SpaceX IPO, for which many are holding their breath.

12.34pm: Fall in UK GDP 'won't alter BoE outlook', says Barclays

UK monthly GDP contracting 0.1% in April will not alter the Bank of England's thinking much, says economist Jack Meaning at Barclays.

The monthly contraction was in line with other soft Q2 data, he points out, with PMI data weakening, particularly in services, as well as weaker spending signals from Barclays spend trends data.

"We continue to expect the impact of the Middle East conflict to feed into more subdued activity in the next few months," he adds, retain his expectation of 0.1% quarter-on-quarter growth in Q2.

"For the Bank of England, we think the data today will validate their expectation of Q2 growth of 0.1% q/q heading into the meeting next week (18 June), and won't alter their outlook for GDP growth.

"We now look to BoE​/​Ipsos inflation expectations data (12 June), the May inflation data (17 June) and April labour market release (18 June) for any surprises.

"We think the bar for coming data to change the outcome of the June meeting is high, although it may, at the margin, affect the vote split and tone of individual paragraphs."

11.54am: Shell, BP and BAE weigh

Weighing on the index today are falls for energy and defence groups, some heavyweights among only 16 London blue-chips that are in the red currently.

Oil giants BP and Shell are down 4.4% and 3.25%. Defence group BAE Systems is down 1.9%, followed by energy suppliers Centrica and SSE, down 1.9% and 1%.

Next are Sage Group, Bunzl, National Grid, LSE and British American Tobacco.

11.22am: SpaceX UK investors own almost $364 million of the shares

Some more precise details are available on the scale of UK retail participation in SpaceX's record-breaking IPO.

Marex, which operated the UK retail offer through the Winterflood Retail Access Platform, said 2,696,175 shares were allocated to UK retail investors at the IPO price of $135 (£100.65) per share.

This means UK investors own almost $364 million of SpaceX shares.

Investors who applied for up to $2,700 worth of stock received their allocations in full, while larger applications were scaled back. No investor received more than 1,000 shares, Marex said.

Overall, 61% of retail investors received a full allocation, highlighting both the strong demand for the flotation and the relatively generous treatment of smaller investors.

As well as the $75 billion of shares sold in the IPO, underwriters also have the option to sell a further 83.3 million shares.

11.04am: SpaceX touching down

SpaceX’s much-anticipated IPO "has been a roaring success", says Kathleen Brooks at XTB, with huge demand for the shares.

The IPO has raised $75 billion, making it the largest ever, valuing the company at $1.77 trillion, the seventh largest firm on the US stock market.

Trading in New York's Nasdaq begins later, with the company worth more than JP Morgan, Meta, Eli Lilly, Berkshire Hathaway and Tesla, Brooks notes.

It's free float of $75 billion is more on a par with the market caps of Airbnb, Ross Stores and General Motors, though.

"Today comes the real test," says Brooks, as the shares trade on the open market for the first time.

"After Thursday’s stock market rally the scene is set for a strong start, but any sign of weakness on the main US tech exchange could send shivers across financial markets."

She notes reports that the allocation of shares to the retail market has been lower than originally reported at roughly 20% versus the mooted 30%.

"This is still far higher than the usual allocation to the retail trading community and suggests that institutional demand far outstripped supply.

"This signals that everyone wants a slice of SpaceX right now, which could lead to more shares coming to market, should the underwriters exercise their right to sell additional shares in the coming weeks."

10.30am: More market movers

The FTSE 100 has pared some of the morning's gains, and is now 141 points up at 10,445.02. Here's a look at some of the other stocks making big moves today.

Kier Group PLC (LSE:KIE) rose 3.8% after securing a £140 million contract extension with South West Water, part of Pennon Group PLC (LSE, OTC), running through to 2028. The deal extends a 20-year partnership and keeps Kier as sole contractor on the network services alliance. Read more

BSF Enterprise PLC (LSE:BSFA, OTC:BSFAF) plunged 42% after its first T-Rex Leather handbag failed to meet its reserve at a Paris auction. The €150,000 top bid fell short, leaving the item unsold. The company has now withdrawn it for private sale, but says interest in its bio-leather technology remains strong, with ongoing talks in the sportswear and automotive sectors. Read more

Virgin Wines UK PLC (AIM:VINO) fell 14% to 28.8p after warning of a swing to a £1.5 million pre-tax loss for 2026 despite modest revenue growth. Higher duties and weaker consumer confidence weighed on profits. The group still highlighted improving sales momentum and rising customer acquisition, alongside plans for a new £700,000 warehouse investment funded from cash reserves. Read more

MedPal AI plc (AIM:MPAL) surged 25% to a three-month high around 3.88p after UK approval of Novo Nordisk’s oral weight-loss drug boosted sentiment around its new clinic model. The company says the timing is ideal, with its New Health service launching just as demand for GLP-1 treatments expands. It expects oral options to widen uptake beyond injectables, supported by strong US prescription trends. Read more

Cizzle Biotechnology Holdings PLC (LSE:CIZ) shares jumped 10.9% to 3.05p after the company secured a US patent covering methods used to detect its CIZ1B lung cancer biomarker. The patent strengthens its position in a key market and supports plans with partner Cizzle Bio Inc to commercialise the test across North America and the Caribbean. Read more

9.20am: Footsie bounces higher

The FTSE 100 has extended its gains as the morning progresses, now up 148 points at 10,451.84 for a gain of close to 1.5%.

BA-owner International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (LSE:IAG) is now leading the pack, with a 5.5% gain, while Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LSE:RR.) has edged into second place, up 4.5%.

"Global equities are ending the week with a powerful relief rally as markets price a rising chance of a US-Iran diplomatic breakthrough," commented Tickmill Group's Patrick Munnelly. "President Trump said the US is nearing a deal with Tehran, raising hopes that a conflict which has driven volatility for more than three months could be moving toward resolution."

Munnelly pointed out that oil is the clearest expression of the shift in risk premia. Brent has fallen another 2% to around $88.50/bbl after President Trump softened military threats and pointed to high-level talks with Iranian officials.

"A formal signing ceremony could reportedly take place as soon as this weekend in Europe, with JD Vance expected to attend," he added. "The market is moving from pricing escalation risk to pricing de-escalation relief. That does not remove geopolitical uncertainty, but it materially reduces the immediate threat of a sustained energy shock."

9am: Housebuilders perk up

UK housebuilders surged on Friday as investors warmed to the prospect of lower interest rates and easing tensions in the Middle East.

Persimmon PLC (LSE:PSN) rose 3.9%, Barratt Redrow PLC (LSE:BTRW) gained 3.7%,Taylor Wimpey PLC (LSE:TW.) added 2.9%, while Vistry Group PLC (LSE:VTY) led the sector with a 5.1% jump.

The gains came despite data showing the UK economy shrank by 0.1% in April. Instead of spooking markets, the weaker GDP reading fuelled expectations that the Bank of England may cut rates sooner rather than later to support growth. The BoE's rate-setting committee meets next week.

Hopes of a peace agreement in the Middle East also lifted sentiment. Oil prices retreated on the prospect of fewer supply disruptions, easing inflation concerns and reducing pressure on policymakers to keep rates higher for longer.

Government bond prices rose, and yields fell as investors increasingly priced in rate cuts rather than hikes. For housebuilders, cheaper borrowing costs could mean more affordable mortgages and stronger demand, helping a sector that has struggled under the weight of higher interest rates.

8.15am: Footsie bounces at the open

The FTSE 100 jumped at the open, gaining 89 points to 10,392.88 in the first 15 minutes of trading on hopes that an end to the conflict in the Middle East is near.

Antofagasta PLC (LSE:ANTO) led the gainers, with a 5.3% gain as copper prices surged on the potential end to the war. Fresnillo PLC (LSE:FRES) was close behind, up 4.9%, while housebuilder Persimmon PLC (LSE:PSN) rose 4.5% after a report suggesting that recent buying activity had been brisk. International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (LSE:IAG) added 4.4% as oil prices fell below $90 a barrel.

BP PLC (LSE:BP.) and Shell PLC (LSE:SHEL, NYSE:SHEL) have come under pressure due to the lower oil prices, down 3.3% and 2.4% respectively.

"The FTSE100 rode on the coattails of improved global investor sentiment, with a strong open which built on a resilient performance in the previous session," commented interactive investor's Richard Hunter. "The gains came despite the oil majors following the oil price south, with a broad rally which included the housebuilders after a report suggesting that recent buying activity had been brisk."

While markets staged a strong recovery on hopes that the Middle East conflict could finally be coming to an end, Hunter noted that for the US there is only one show in town today.

"The highly anticipated SpaceX IPO will debut today after what has been an unusual run-up," Hunter said. "The price of $135 per share was announced in advance, Elon Musk reportedly negotiated special deals with Wall Street advisors, and the percentage of shares available to retail investors is much higher than would normally be the case. The offering will raise $75 billion for the company, which will be valued at $1.75 trillion."

7.55am: Fickle markets

Markets look set for a positive end to the week after President Trump made a massive about-turn on his plan to "hit Iran hard."

It's not the first time he's indicated a peace deal is at hand. According to a CNBC review of the president’s social media posts and public remarks, Trump has signalled or stated outright more than 30 times that a deal is nearly at hand. CNN puts it higher at 38 times since before April's ceasefire was announced.

"The past 24 hours has seen a sharp reversal in the trajectory of the US–Iran conflict, as mounting hopes of a deal have seen Brent crude fall -1.62% overnight, leaving it on track for a 3-month low of $88.80/bbl. So that’s led to a huge rally across bonds and equities, as lower oil prices have eased fears about a prolonged stagflationary shock," commented Deutsche Bank's Jim Reid.

"With oil prices coming down sharply, alongside hopes that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen, that’s seen investors price out the chance of rapid rate hikes this year. Indeed, as we go to press, markets are now pricing in just a 77% chance of a Fed rate hike by December, having been fully priced in earlier this week."

7.35am: Middle East conflict hits the economy

The UK economy hit a small bump in April, with GDP slipping 0.1% after solid growth in February and March. The monthly decline was largely down to a 0.2% drop in the services sector, while construction edged higher and production was flat.

The bigger picture, though, remains more encouraging. The economy expanded by 0.7% over the three months to April, marking the fifth consecutive period of three-month growth. Services continued to do much of the heavy lifting, with information and communication performing particularly well, alongside retail and professional services. Construction also made a strong contribution.

There were some headwinds. Businesses across sectors said conflict in the Middle East affected trading conditions, with some reporting weaker demand and higher energy and fuel costs.

Even so, GDP was still 1.2% higher than a year earlier, suggesting the UK's growth story remains intact despite a softer start to the second quarter.

FTSE 100 pre-market open

Stocks in London are expected to open higher after US President Donald Trump backtracked on a threat to "hit Iran hard" as he hinted at a major breakthrough in talks.

The FTSE 100 has been called 81 points higher, after closing Thursday's session 49 points up at 10,304. Brent crude has fallen 2% to $88.58 a barrel, while US WTI futures are also lower.

"What’s unbelievable is that after three months of this nonsense, markets still move on words that have little substance," commented Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya. "This morning, US crude is testing the $85pb level to the downside, its lowest level since the early days of the Iranian conflict. Yet there is no confirmation from Iranian media, and there is nothing to suggest that this time will be the charm."

Overnight, US stocks staged a powerful comeback, with investors piling back into risk assets after President Trump said he had cancelled planned military strikes against Iran and suggested a diplomatic agreement could be close at hand.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq led the advance, jumping 2.5% as traders reversed much of Wednesday's sharp sell-off. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1.9%, and the S&P 500 climbed 1.8%.

As Friday trade draws to a close in Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei is up 2.9%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng is 1.7% higher, and Shanghai's SSE Composite has gained 1.2%. In Seoul, the Kospi has rallied 4.4% after earlier trading 8% higher as foreign investors shifted to net buying for the first time in 25 trading days. Sydney's ASX 200 closed 2% firmer.

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BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) was among the stocks Jim Cramer discussed during Mad Money, as he highlighted a difficult backdrop for stocks. A caller sought Cramer’s opinion of the stock, and he replied:

If you want to own an oil company, I think it’s fine. I prefer Chevron on the large, and I prefer EQT on the nat-gas side.

Photo by Adam Nowakowski on Unsplash

BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) is an energy company that produces, refines, trades, and markets oil and gas. In addition, the company develops low-carbon energy solutions. During the April 6 episode, a caller asked Cramer if it was time to sell their position and take profits in the stock. The Mad Money host responded:

I think it is actually. I think you’ve had a really, really good move. It’s been a parabolic move. I say kaching kaching.

While we acknowledge the potential of BP as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

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BP has announced plans to reorganise its operations into two primary business segments, Upstream and Downstream, effective from 1 July 2026.

The company stated that the move aims to simplify its organisational structure, improve performance and focus on value growth for shareholders.

The announcement comes shortly after the dismissal of Albert Manifold as BP's chair and director.

Last month, the company said Manifold was removed with immediate effect following "serious concerns" related to governance standards, oversight and conduct, a decision taken unanimously by the board. Manifold had served less than a year in the role.

Gordon Birrell will take over as executive vice-president for Upstream, while Richard Harding will serve as interim executive vice-president for Downstream.

A recruitment process is ongoing to select a permanent executive for the Downstream segment.

Both Birrell and Harding have extensive experience in operational leadership, according to bp.

The new two-segment structure will replace the current arrangement of three segments, namely production and operations, gas and low-carbon energy, and customers and products.

The Upstream segment will bring together bp's oil and gas regions, overseeing exploration, development and production activities.

It will also manage the company's upstream joint ventures and its renewable natural gas and carbon capture and storage businesses.

Downstream will include aviation, biofuels, the Castrol brand, hydrogen, mobility and convenience, pipelines, refining and terminals. This segment will align bp's activities relating to the production, transportation and sale of its products.

BP's Supply, Trading & Shipping function will continue to operate across both segments.

The company stated that this function connects the portfolio, optimises flows and supports value creation throughout the system.

BP CEO Meg O'Neill said: "Over the past two months, I have spent time with our teams, partners and investors around the world, and I am encouraged by the strong support for our strategic direction.

"Focusing bp around two distinct segments is an important step in accelerating delivery. It will reduce complexity and strengthen execution.

"BP has an incredibly capable team, with deep expertise across the oil and gas value chain. We are capitalising on opportunities across our portfolio, strengthening the balance sheet and unlocking sustainable growth. We are moving firmly towards a simpler, stronger and more valuable bp."

External financial reporting will continue under the existing three-segment model until 31 December 2026.

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The new framework for external reporting will begin from 1 January 2027.

Gas and power trading will fall under the Upstream segment, while oil and products trading will be included in Downstream.

The Technology function will be reported under Other Businesses & Corporate.

"BP announces two-segment overhaul to simplify operations" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.

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Der neue Chef von BP hat die Führung und Organisation der Öl-Riese als Teil der Bemühungen umzuändern, wie sie operieren. Die Überarbeitung wird dazu beitragen, Kosten zu reduzieren und das Portfolio zu vereinfachen. BP wird in zwei Geschäftsbereiche – Auf- und Abstrom – reorganisiert werden, ab dem 1. Juli. Der Aufstrom-Bereich wird Öl- und Gas-Locations umfassen, einschließlich Exploration und Produktionstätigkeiten, während der Abstrom-Betrieb Raffinerien, Terminals und Pipelines umfassen wird.

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SLB N.V. SLB announced that its OneSubsea joint venture has been awarded a contract by BP p.l.c. BP to provide a subsea boosting system for the Thunder Horse project in the deepwater Gulf of America. The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) award follows recent contracts for BP’s Kaskida and Tiber developments, demonstrating continued demand for OneSubsea’s standardized subsea boosting technology across multiple offshore projects.

The EPC contract includes engineering, procurement, construction, manufacturing, testing and project management services. By deploying a common supplier-led solution across several developments, SLB can improve execution efficiency, reduce delivery time and enhance operational reliability. These benefits are expected to generate higher project margins.

The growing adoption of subsea boosting systems can enhance SLB’s future cash flows as operators increasingly seek solutions that extend field life, improve recovery rates and maximize production from existing offshore assets. The latest contract award strengthens SLB’s subsea backlog, reinforces its business model and bolsters its competitive position in offshore production technologies.

Eni and BP currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

The business models of SLB and other players that provide equipment and services to companies are dependent on the capital spending by the upstream players. The upstream players such as Chevron Corporation CVX and YPF Sociedad Anónima YPF and BP are currently enjoying a favorable pricing environment as the West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) crude oil prices are trading around the $90-per-barrel mark, according to oilprice.com.

CVX currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), while YPF sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

A major integrated energy giant, Chevron maintains a strong presence within the Permian Basin. Supported by excellent upstream performance and ongoing development across its resource base, CVX recorded an international net oil-equivalent output of 1.8 million barrels per day for the first quarter of 2026, up from the prior-year period.

Integrated energy company YPF is using its strong foothold in the Vaca Muerta formation to accelerate production growth. A projected increase in operational activity by YPF in the coming quarters is anticipated to yield higher oil and gas production by the second half of 2026.

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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SLB OneSubsea has received a contract from bp to supply a subsea boosting system for the Thunder Horse project, located in the deepwater area of the Gulf of Mexico.

The agreement covers the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the system, including project management, engineering, manufacturing and testing.

SLB OneSubsea is a joint venture between SLB, Aker Solutions and Subsea7.

The Thunder Horse contract follows similar awards by bp to SLB OneSubsea for the Kaskida and Tiber developments.

Each contract employs a standardised, supplier-led subsea boosting system solution. This approach is intended to support improved execution efficiency and reduce delivery timelines.

Details on the value or specific timeline of the latest contract were not disclosed.

SLB OneSubsea CEO Mads Hjelmeland said: "Subsea boosting is an important enabler for extending production from existing assets.

"Our standardised subsea solutions support faster deployment and improved efficiency, helping operators enhance production and recovery while optimising overall field performance."

The Thunder Horse oil and gas field is situated roughly 240km south-east of New Orleans, US.

Operated by bp, which holds a 75% ownership interest, the field is jointly owned by ExxonMobil, which holds the remaining 25%.

Production at the offshore field began in June 2008.

Thunder Horse has a reported peak capacity of 250,000 barrels of oil per day, in addition to 200 million metric cubic feet of gas per day.

The initial discovery well for Thunder Horse was drilled in 1999 at Mississippi Canyon Block 778, reaching a depth of 25,770ft.

The drilling operation, conducted by drill-ship the Discoverer 534, encountered 520ft of net pay across three separate intervals.

In March 2026, SLB OneSubsea secured an EPC contract from PTTEP Sabah Oil, a subsidiary of PTT Exploration and Production Public Company (PTTEP), for a deepwater project offshore Malaysia.

This contract expanded OneSubsea's role in providing integrated subsea production systems for PTTEP's deepwater projects in the region.

"BP awards SLB OneSubsea boosting contract for Thunder Horse" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.

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Oxfam wants CEO pay and dividends capped (Andy Buchanan)·Andy Buchanan/AFP/AFP

Europe's 100 largest companies pay out more than two-thirds of profits to shareholders on average, fuelling inequality and diverting cash which could be used for investment, Oxfam said on Tuesday.

The charity urged a cap on CEO pay and dividend payments to tackle the injustice.

"While public finances run dry, companies have more than enough resources to invest in our future and Europe's economic competitiveness, but they prefer to reward shareholders," said Alexandre Poidatz, Oxfam spokesperson on multinational regulation.

A European report by Oxfam shows the 100 largest European companies by turnover paid out an average of 70 percent of their profits to shareholders between 2022 and 2024.

The NGO added that some companies, including Telefonica, BP and the Zurich Insurance Group, paid out more to shareholders than they made in profits.

According to Oxfam's report, nearly half of the companies surveyed paid out 32 times more to their shareholders than they invested in green transition measures.

"When regulatory measures are in place, things work out, and when there aren't, everything goes haywire," Cecile Duflot, Executive Director of Oxfam France, told a press conference.

But Oxfam insists that "inequality is not inevitable: it is a choice. Europe's largest companies must stop choosing a model that benefits only a minority and start acting in the interests of the many".

Poidatz said that a better distribution of profits would produce a more "virtuous" long-term model which would, in his view, also prove "much more competitive in the medium term".

He added that "regulation is not a barrier to competitiveness. On the contrary, it is the framework for a desirable future. Ambitious nations cannot wait for Brussels to set things right".

Oxfam is recommending that European lawmakers and business leaders cap CEO pay at a maximum of 20 times the median employee's salary while limiting dividends paid to shareholders until "decent" wages can be guaranteed alongside an "ambitious climate strategy".

The NGO is also calling for the introduction of quotas to ensure women's representation in senior management roles.

jul/abb/cw/sbk

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