Thursday, 1 October 2026

Energy-sector shares fell slightly as oil prices stayed near elevated wartime levels, according to MarketScreener.

WTI crude oil rose 30% in the third quarter and has gained 57% year-to-date, according to data from FactSet cited by MarketScreener. Brent crude advanced further, gaining 42% in the quarter and 70% year-to-date.

The elevated crude prices are supporting Suncor Energy's profitability, according to Kalkine Media.

CleanChoice Energy secured over USD 166 million in financing for two solar projects, according to a GlobeNewswire release.

The portfolio covers the roughly 27 MWdc Dolan solar project in New York and the roughly 28 MWdc Kylertown project in Pennsylvania.

Investec Bank served as lead arranger and agent for a USD 105 million construction loan facility supporting the projects. Advantage Capital committed USD 61 million in tax equity for the portfolio.

Norwegian battery materials specialist Vianode is looking for a partner to support its next expansion phase, according to electrive.

The company is weighing options that range from a partnership to a full acquisition, electrive reported.

Vianode has engaged JP Morgan to assist with the partner-search process, according to electrive.

Vianode hopes to secure a partner by the end of this year, electrive reported.

IWS Fleet has ordered four Skywalker-class commissioning service operation vessels for a combined firm yard price of about USD 301 million, equivalent to EUR 260 million, according to Offshore Engineer OEDigital.

The order expands IWS Fleet's owned fleet from six to 10 CSOVs, per Offshore Engineer OEDigital.

Nantong Rainbow Offshore & Engineering Equipment will build the four vessels under fixed-price turnkey contracts, with deliveries set for 2029 and 2030. Each vessel is priced at around USD 75 million, or EUR 65 million, according to the same report.

IWS Fleet also secured options for another four vessels at the same firm prices, with deliveries scheduled for 2030 and 2031, subject to adjustments for foreign exchange rates and key sub-suppliers, Offshore Engineer OEDigital reported.

Indian photovoltaic manufacturer Vishakha Renewables has filed for an initial public offering, according to pv magazine.

The offering pairs a fresh equity issue of up to INR 1,250 crore (USD 129.9 million) with an offer for sale of up to 1.82 crore shares from selling shareholders, pv magazine reported.

The company said it may also undertake a pre-IPO placement of up to INR 250 crore, which would cut the size of the fresh issue if completed, per pv magazine.

Vishakha Renewables proposes to use INR 900 crore of the net proceeds to repay or prepay certain borrowings, with the remainder going to general corporate purposes, according to pv magazine.

Former investors in Argentina's state oil company YPF SA asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower-court ruling that overturned a USD 16 billion judgment in their favor, according to World Oil.

The investors characterized the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling as "egregiously wrong, wholly unprecedented, and extremely consequential," World Oil reported.

The federal appeals court said the judge who ordered Argentina to pay the judgment had misinterpreted Argentine law by allowing the case to proceed.

Serica Energy plc completed its acquisition of a portfolio of Southern North Sea assets from Spirit Energy Ltd. and certain affiliates, according to Oil & Gas Journal.

The deal adds a 15% non-operated working interest in the Cygnus field and a 25% non-operated working interest in the Clipper South gas field, along with further positions across other Southern North Sea assets. Oil & Gas Journal reported the acquired portfolio totals 18.7 MMboe of 2P reserves and 3.4 MMboe of 2C resources.

The transaction brings around 10,000 boe/d to Serica Energy's production, according to Oil & Gas Journal.

Serica Energy made a net payment of GBP 33 million, equivalent to USD 43 million, to Spirit Energy under the terms of the sale and purchase agreement.

Magnolia Oil & Gas Corp. sold non-core assets in Dimmit and Zavala counties, Texas, for USD 47.5 million and received 616 net acres in Gonzales County, according to Oil & Gas Journal.

The transaction increased Magnolia's average operated working interest to 98% in a consolidated Karnes-area acreage block, Oil & Gas Journal reported.

Wärtsilä has transferred its global energy storage business to Valo, a joint venture it owns equally with RCT Solutions, according to ESS News.

Valo launched on Oct. 1 as a utility-scale battery energy storage system integrator, after the two companies closed the joint venture, ESS News reported. The new company incorporates Wärtsilä's Energy Storage business.

Wärtsilä expects Valo to lose money in 2026, according to ESS News. The company projects Valo to turn positive toward the end of 2027.

Major Wall Street banks raised their oil-price forecasts for this year and early next, citing stalled efforts to end the Iran war that leave the market exposed to fresh supply shocks despite a rebound in Middle East crude exports, according to a survey compiled by The Wall Street Journal.

The survey, which includes projections from Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley, puts Brent crude at an average of USD 90.22 a barrel in the fourth quarter.

West Texas Intermediate is seen at USD 85.47 a barrel over the same period, according to the survey.

Eversource set out a more optimistic view of its business, pointing to improved regulation in Connecticut, larger investment opportunities and major cash recoveries, according to Investing.com.

Management highlighted a five-year capital plan of USD 26.5 billion that could be expanded by new projects, Investing.com reported.

Kinder Morgan told the same conference circuit that it is seeing one of the strongest natural gas infrastructure markets in decades, according to Investing.com, while cautioning that some of this year's outperformance may not repeat.

Chief Financial Officer David Michels said the company is benefiting from rising power demand, especially in the Southeast, while keeping funding capacity in a range that supports a large organic growth program, according to Investing.com.