The latest Market Talks covering Energy and Utilities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.
0757 GMT - European energy stocks fall on higher oil prices due to uncertainty over a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran, and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. London's BP and Shell trade 0.8% and 0.2% lower, respectively, while France's TotalEnergies and Italy's Eni are down 0.65% and 0.7%, respectively. Brent crude is up 2.5% to $105.19 a barrel, while WTI futures are up 2% to $98.25 a barrel. (ian.walker@wsj.com)
0247 GMT - Energi Mega Persada's Bentu gas-producing asset has a promising outlook, UOB Kay Hian says in a research report. The asset benefits from having secured long-term gas offtake agreements with Indonesian government-owned PLN as well as industrial customers, they say. It also benefits from shared infrastructure with the Korinci Baru field that supports operational efficiency and lower costs. Its key short-term drivers include the development of the Central East Napuh field and the start-up of the North Segat Deep condensate separation plant. The brokerage raises the stock's target price to 1,870.00 rupiah from 1,700.00 rupiah to reflect valuation roll-over, with an unchanged buy rating. Shares are 2.5% higher at 1,250.00 rupiah. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0157 GMT - CSE Global's earnings growth drivers are likely still intact, led by an expected 1.5 billion U.S. dollars worth of orders from Amazon.com over the next five years, RHB Research's Alfie Yeo says in a note. The technology company continues to grow its electrification segment by strengthening its position in data centers through the addition of new industrial space, purchase of property, and construction of buildings. RHB Research raises the stock's target price to 1.94 Singapore dollars from S$1.48 to partly reflect a valuation roll-over and maintains a buy rating. Shares are 8.4% higher at S$1.68.(ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
1943 GMT - Crude futures settle lower in an up-and-down session with conflicting expectations for an agreement to end the U.S.-Iran stalemate. Prices spiked early on a report that Iran insists on keeping its enriched uranium, but hopes for a deal were rekindled late in the session with Pakistani mediators in Tehran for meetings. Talk of an imminent deal has proven false on several occasions, sending oil prices back up, Ritterbusch & Associates says in a note. "This scenario could continue to play out in the coming weeks until some framework of a deal is achieved that could, at least, provide for a partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz." WTI settles down 1.9% at $96.35 a barrel and Brent falls 2.3% to $102.58 a barrel. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)
1421 GMT - Canada as a net oil exporter typically benefits from higher crude prices, though research by Scotiabank indicates that may have limits. Modelling director Olivier Gervais says higher oil prices remain a net positive for activity in Canada at current levels, but the macro payoff diminishes as prices rise. He finds evidence that once oil prices move into the US$120-US$130 range they no longer provide a statistically meaningful boost to Canadian activity. Gervais cautions against seeing this as a precise tipping point, but instead considers it an indicative zone where the positive relationship becomes markedly less clear. (robb.stewart@wsj.com; @RobbMStewart)
1323 GMT--The public utility company Ameren is positioned to be one of the firms to benefit from the massive artificial-intelligence data center buildout, JPMorgan analysts write in a note, upgrading the stock to overweight from neutral. The regulatory environment in Missouri, where Ameren is based, is steady and constructive for data centers, without an impending gubernatorial election to generate political risk. "With data center datapoints piling up, we have higher confidence in the company's growth outlook and see the potential for the EPS CAGR to inflect higher," they write. "We find AEE a compelling story that should command a top tier premium amidst positive catalyst execution and lack of political/regulatory downside risk that afflict many peers." (elias.schisgall@wsj.com)
1255 GMT - Crude futures turn higher as a report that Iran insists on keeping its enriched uranium lowers expectations for a deal to be reached with the U.S. A Reuters report that Iran's supreme leader says the uranium must stay in Iran "effectively kills the idea that we are anywhere near a peace plan that will end this mess," Scott Shelton of TP ICAP says in a note. The turnaround follows price declines after President Trump said the negotiations were in the final stages. WTI is up 2.4% at $100.62 a barrel, and Brent gains 1.8% to $106.91 a barrel. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 22, 2026 04:20 ET (08:20 GMT)
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