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.

0731 GMT - European oil companies trade up in opening trade after getting a boost from rising oil prices. Brent crude prices are up 0.8% at $70.08 a barrel as seasonal travel demand provides some support to prices, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown Derren Nathan writes. In London, BP trades up 1.5% and Shell rises 1.2%. France's TotalEnergies rises 0.9%; Italy's Eni, Spain's Repsol and Portugal's Galp rise around 1%. Consumption in July is edging slightly above last year's levels to 105.2 million barrels a day, Nathan writes. However, tariff uncertainty and the prospect of a glut of oil supply means markets haven't managed to fully erase losses seen earlier in the week, he adds.(adam.whittaker@wsj.com)

0541 GMT - Bangchak Corp.'s "market" gross refining margin is likely to improve in 3Q, CGS International's Amornrat Cheevavichawalkul says in a research report. The Asian diesel crack spread has rebounded in July from June, thanks to robust import demand from Europe, the analyst notes. Diesel, which accounts for 55% of the energy company's refined product output, should remain a key support for the company's "market" GRM over the next three months, the analyst says. Also, Ebitda contribution from its subsidiary OKEA is expected to improve in 3Q amid a pickup in sales volume and an absence of impairment charges. The brokerage raises the stock's rating to hold from reduce and the target price to THB32.00 from THB30.50. Shares are 3.9% higher at THB33.25. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

0227 GMT - S-Oil's expected 2Q operating loss could be wider than markets expected, Hyundai Motor Securities analyst Kang Dong-jin writes in a note. Weaker refining margins and a bigger inventory-value loss amid lower oil prices likely weighed on the South Korean oil refiner for the April-June quarter, Kang says. The company's petrochemical segment likely continued to remain in the red for the June quarter, largely due to narrower paraxylene spreads, the analyst adds. He expects S-Oil to post an operating loss of 345 billion won in 2Q, likely missing the market consensus forecast of a KRW231 billion loss. (kwanwoo.jun@wsj.com)

1918 GMT - Oil futures rebound after three days of losses, supported by better-than-expected U.S. retail sales and a delayed response to yesterday's report of a 3.9 million barrel U.S. crude stock draw. The crude inventory data was overshadowed by large gasoline and diesel inventory builds. "The next move in the petroleum complex might be diesel generated," says Phil Flynn of the Price Futures Group, noting that even after last week's 4.2 million barrel build, stocks are 21% below the five-year average and at their lowest for the time of year in three decades. Nymex diesel futures rise 3.3% to a nearly one-month high. WTI settles up 1.7% at $67.54 a barrel and Brent gains 1.5% to $69.52. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

1656 GMT - Oil futures press higher after a cautious start and look set to snap a three-day losing streak. Prices are supported by economic resilience in key oil consuming countries like the U.S. and China, and a resurgence of Middle East risk premium after drone attacks on oil infrastructure in Iraq's Kurdistan region, Pepperstone's Quasar Elizundia says in a note. "However, the market remains sensitive to trade policy and OPEC+ output decisions." WTI is up 1.6% at $67.46 as barrel and Brent rises 1.2% to $69.37.(anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

1320 GMT - Crude oil futures are holding up after three days of moderate declines. Downward pressure on prices this week has been limited despite underlying concerns about increased output by OPEC+ and an eventual economic impact on demand from U.S. tariffs. "Obviously, as we progress to the latter half of the year, more supply is going to come into the market from OPEC, but ultimately I don't think demand is going to be as bad as had been feared," says Fawad Razaqzada of Forex.com. "There's going to be more sideways chop for the rest of the year than a trend emerging." WTI is up 0.3% at $66.59 a barrel, and Brent is flat at $68.52. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

0829 GMT - SSE's first-quarter performance update was in line with expectations, analysts at J.P.Morgan write. Quarterly renewables output at the U.K. energy group was down 4% from last year due to unfavorable weather conditions. Consensus expectations for fiscal 2026 are likely to modestly decrease on the back of the lower renewables output, the analysts write. Overall, shares have significant potential to rise, JPM says. The analysts keep an overweight rating on the stock. Shares trade flat at 1844.5 pence.(adam.whittaker@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 18, 2025 04:20 ET (08:20 GMT)

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