The Bank of England will no longer accept thermal coal-linked bonds as collateral for loans to commercial banks starting October, citing financial risks from the shift to net zero. Climate campaigners hail the move as a victory, hoping it pressures banks to divest from polluting assets.
James Evans, a Reform UK MS, has been appointed chair of the Welsh climate change, environment, sustainability and rural affairs committee, raising concerns among green groups due to Reform UK's anti-net zero stance. Evans pledges impartiality, while others await to see how he leads scrutiny.
Labour MPs and climate campaigners are reportedly softening their opposition to the controversial Jackdaw North Sea gas field ahead of a potential Andy Burnham premiership, while vowing to continue fighting the Rosebank oil field. The shift reflects a pragmatic approach to jobs and energy security, though it draws criticism from environmental groups and the Green Party.
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsClimate campaigners attack Shell over ‘windfall’ profits from Iran warThe Danish shipping giant Maersk has maintained its profit guidance for the year, even as it reported a spike in fuel costs and warned that traffic through the strait of Hormuz “remains at a near standstill”.The company, which transports goods around the world via sea, road, rail and air, said demand for shipping containers remained strong, but that war in the Middle East was ramping up costs.“The reopening of the strait of Hormuz, whether it happens in the days to come or the months to come, will have limited impact on cargo flows.What really are the most important factors to consider: first is our ability to mitigate the cost increases we have been suddenly faced with. And I would say so far we have been successful with both our cost measures and the revenue, the commercial measures that we have put in place to mitigate the impact of these increases to our financials.”“The secondary effect from this is actually whether these increased costs are eventually going to lead to inflation and demand destruction as a result, which could create a softened market environment in the second half of the year.” Continue reading...
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsClimate campaigners attack Shell over ‘windfall’ profits from Iran warThe Danish shipping giant Maersk has maintained its profit guidance for the year, even as it reported a spike in fuel costs and warned that traffic through the strait of Hormuz “remains at a near standstill”.The company, which transports goods around the world via sea, road, rail and air, said demand for shipping containers remained strong, but that war in the Middle East was ramping up costs.“The reopening of the strait of Hormuz, whether it happens in the days to come or the months to come, will have limited impact on cargo flows.What really are the most important factors to consider: first is our ability to mitigate the cost increases we have been suddenly faced with. And I would say so far we have been successful with both our cost measures and the revenue, the commercial measures that we have put in place to mitigate the impact of these increases to our financials.”“The secondary effect from this is actually whether these increased costs are eventually going to lead to inflation and demand destruction as a result, which could create a softened market environment in the second half of the year.” Continue reading...
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsClimate campaigners attack Shell over ‘windfall’ profits from Iran warThe Danish shipping giant Maersk has maintained its profit guidance for the year, even as it reported a spike in fuel costs and warned that traffic through the strait of Hormuz “remains at a near standstill”.The company, which transports goods around the world via sea, road, rail and air, said demand for shipping containers remained strong, but that war in the Middle East was ramping up costs.“The reopening of the strait of Hormuz, whether it happens in the days to come or the months to come, will have limited impact on cargo flows.What really are the most important factors to consider: first is our ability to mitigate the cost increases we have been suddenly faced with. And I would say so far we have been successful with both our cost measures and the revenue, the commercial measures that we have put in place to mitigate the impact of these increases to our financials.”“The secondary effect from this is actually whether these increased costs are eventually going to lead to inflation and demand destruction as a result, which could create a softened market environment in the second half of the year.” Continue reading...
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsClimate campaigners attack Shell over ‘windfall’ profits from Iran warThe Danish shipping giant Maersk has maintained its profit guidance for the year, even as it reported a spike in fuel costs and warned that traffic through the strait of Hormuz “remains at a near standstill”.The company, which transports goods around the world via sea, road, rail and air, said demand for shipping containers remained strong, but that war in the Middle East was ramping up costs.“The reopening of the strait of Hormuz, whether it happens in the days to come or the months to come, will have limited impact on cargo flows.What really are the most important factors to consider: first is our ability to mitigate the cost increases we have been suddenly faced with. And I would say so far we have been successful with both our cost measures and the revenue, the commercial measures that we have put in place to mitigate the impact of these increases to our financials.”“The secondary effect from this is actually whether these increased costs are eventually going to lead to inflation and demand destruction as a result, which could create a softened market environment in the second half of the year.” Continue reading...
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsClimate campaigners attack Shell over ‘windfall’ profits from Iran warThe Danish shipping giant Maersk has maintained its profit guidance for the year, even as it reported a spike in fuel costs and warned that traffic through the strait of Hormuz “remains at a near standstill”.The company, which transports goods around the world via sea, road, rail and air, said demand for shipping containers remained strong, but that war in the Middle East was ramping up costs.“The reopening of the strait of Hormuz, whether it happens in the days to come or the months to come, will have limited impact on cargo flows.What really are the most important factors to consider: first is our ability to mitigate the cost increases we have been suddenly faced with. And I would say so far we have been successful with both our cost measures and the revenue, the commercial measures that we have put in place to mitigate the impact of these increases to our financials.”“The secondary effect from this is actually whether these increased costs are eventually going to lead to inflation and demand destruction as a result, which could create a softened market environment in the second half of the year.” Continue reading...
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsClimate campaigners attack Shell over ‘windfall’ profits from Iran warThe Danish shipping giant Maersk has maintained its profit guidance for the year, even as it reported a spike in fuel costs and warned that traffic through the strait of Hormuz “remains at a near standstill”.The company, which transports goods around the world via sea, road, rail and air, said demand for shipping containers remained strong, but that war in the Middle East was ramping up costs.“The reopening of the strait of Hormuz, whether it happens in the days to come or the months to come, will have limited impact on cargo flows.What really are the most important factors to consider: first is our ability to mitigate the cost increases we have been suddenly faced with. And I would say so far we have been successful with both our cost measures and the revenue, the commercial measures that we have put in place to mitigate the impact of these increases to our financials.”“The secondary effect from this is actually whether these increased costs are eventually going to lead to inflation and demand destruction as a result, which could create a softened market environment in the second half of the year.” Continue reading...
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsClimate campaigners attack Shell over ‘windfall’ profits from Iran warThe Brent crude oil price is dropping this morning, towards the two-week lows hit yesterday.Brent is down around 3% at $98.30 a barrel, back below the $100 a dollar mark, following Donald Trump’s claim that it’s “very possible” will agree a peace deal.Oil fell sharply on Wednesday as markets priced a lower risk of prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, after the US reportedly sent a one-page proposal through Pakistan aimed at ending the conflict and gradually reopening the waterway. Iran is expected to respond in the coming days, with nuclear talks likely to follow later. Continue reading...
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsClimate campaigners attack Shell over ‘windfall’ profits from Iran warDanny Gross, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, says Shell’s profits are ‘indefensible’, after the company doubled its quarterly earnings to $6.9bn this morning.Gross says:“Once again, fossil fuel giants are pocketing monstrous profits while drivers are being squeezed at the petrol pump and households are set to pay higher energy bills.“Our fossil fuel-reliant energy system siphons money away from ordinary people to the rich and powerful.“In the twenty-first century we have cheaper, cleaner alternatives that we can use to power Britain without anybody being bombed. We don’t need to let the fossil fuel industry hold us to ransom and pass on the costs of endless wars and limitless pollution.The cost of living crisis, the climate crisis, the middle-east crisis, these are all oil industry operating costs. We need to stop subsidising them, introduce new taxes to make them pay and start taxing their obscene profits properly.”Adjusted Earnings, compared with the fourth quarter 2025, reflected higher contributions from trading and optimisation mainly impacting our Downstream, Renewables and Energy Solutions businesses, higher realised prices, higher refining margins, lower operating expenses and higher Lubricants margins, partly offset by lower volumes.“While people around the world struggle with soaring energy costs, Shell is raking in billions in added profit. The same crisis that is driving these windfalls is pushing millions closer to hunger and hardship.“Governments must act now to tax these excess profits and use the money to protect vulnerable households and expand affordable, homegrown renewable energy. Continue reading...
Firm benefits from conflict to rake in $6.9bn as higher energy prices turbo-charge profitsShell has reported better than expected profits of $6.9bn after its oil traders reaped the benefits of soaring energy prices during the war in Iran, angering climate campaigners.Higher oil and gas prices during the Middle East conflict helped Europe’s biggest oil and gas company post a 115% jump in first-quarter profits from the $3.2bn reported in the last three months of 2025, easily surpassing the $6.4bn forecast by City analysts. Continue reading...
