Energy Matters

Archive for January, 2008

From Citgo’s Pockets To PDVSA’s Programs

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Despite the fiscal policies of parent PDVSA’s de facto chief executive Hugo Chavez, refiner Citgo Petroleum Corp., Houston, has an amazing BB corporate credit rating from Standard & Poor’s Ratings ... Read more..

New Competition Among U.S. Energy Credit-Rating Services

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

There’s a new credit-rating agency in the energy space. Canada-based DBRS Ltd., an international and long-time credit-quality analyst, has added research of several oil and gas producers’ debt capacity, including ... Read more..

The New Fed Funds Target: 4.25%

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Great news for energy debt issuers: the FOMC has lowered its target fed funds rate to 4.25% and the target discount rate to 4.75%. With energy companies’ strong financial profiles, ... Read more..

Which Way Today For The FOMC? Here’s A Forecast

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

The Federal Open Market Committee meets Tuesday (Dec. 11), its last regular meeting of the year. At its past two meetings, it has lowered the fed funds rate a total ... Read more..

Dan Pickering Et Al….And The ElfYourself Contest

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities Inc. has added “Holt” just this week, as Maynard Holt of Goldman Sachs has signed onto the TP team. The firm’s party at the ... Read more..

Connecticut’s Imports: Money, Natural Gas, Money

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

It was surprising this September that the governor of Connecticut, Jodi Rell, would complain about U.S. natural gas industry leaders shutting in some production to protect their investors’ profit margins. ... Read more..

The BCS of Upstream M&A: It’s Bowl-Game Season

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

The 2007 Upstream M&A Season is nearing a close. What was the No. 1 deal this year? There are many stand-outs: Plains’ purchase of Pogo; Linn Energy’s overnight deal for ... Read more..

Are You Excellent?

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Are you excellent? Know a company or individual who is excellent? We’re taking nominations for the fifth annual Oil and Gas Investor Excellence Awards. Nominate yourself. Nominate your deal. Nominate ... Read more..

An Addendum: Two More Greens

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Here are two more greens to add to those in the “Light Green and Other Greens” posting: Gore Green: It’s the color of money. Gore’s honorarium was $160K prior to winning ... Read more..

The FOMC Meeting Minutes…Are These From the Real World?

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

I get the FOMC meeting minutes and other push e-mail from the Federal Reserve. For many months now, I’ve wondered what the FOMC is thinking. The meeting minutes are “All ... Read more..