BP discovers new oil and gas reserves in the North sea.

Another stock that i think will do well in the long term is BP. here is one reason why.

BP plc BP recently announced that it has made two new oil and gas discoveries in the U.K. North Sea. The energy major named one discovery in Block 29/4e Capercaillie, which is located in the central North Sea. The other one, Achmelvich, is in Block 206/9b, west of Shetland.

About the Findings

The drilled depth of the Capercaillie well was 3,750 meters. It contains light oil and gas-condensate in its reservoirs of Cretaceous and Paleocene ages. At 2,395 meters depth, Achmelvich well contains oil in its reservoirs from the Mesozoic age.

Transocean Ltd.'s RIG harsh environment semi-submersible, Paul B Loyd Junior rig was used to drill both the wells in the summer of 2017. The findings will be added to the list of the company's major North Sea assets that include Quad 204, Clair Ridge, Culzean field, and others. The evaluation processes of the data, gathered from the new wells, are still on, which will help BP to consider future options. The size of the discoveries is yet to be disclosed.

Owners of the Discoveries

While BP is the full owner of Capercaillie, with 52.6% stake, it is the operator at the Achmelvich well. The other partners in the Achmelvich well are Royal Dutch Shell plc RDS.A and Chevron Corporation CVX with 28% and 19.4% stake, respectively.

Importance of the Findings

The new discoveries are expected to take the pressure off BP, especially after its failure to find success at Ravenspurn well in North Sea at the beginning of the year.

Moreover, it will support the company's plans to boost production in the North Sea – which has witnessed a gradual decline lately – beyond 2050. The company expects the new discovery will enable it to double production in the region to 200,000 barrels a day by 2020.

About BP

London-based BP is among the leading integrated energy players in the world. The firm has a portfolio of major upstream projects like Clair Ridge, Juniper and Mad Dog Phase 2 developments that are expected to fetch significant cash flows. The company anticipates the projects to add 800 Mboe/d to net production capacity by 2020, once they are online. It is to be noted that 90% of these upstream developments are either under construction or are completed.

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. the information here is for entertainment and educational purposes only.

Direct Line Insurance Group (DLG)

With the final results of Direct line insurance group (DLG) looking promising. we could well see a rise in this stock sooner rather than later when this promising update reaches the market which will be (27/02/2018). also after looking at stock market charts over the past 5 years. there has been a steady rise in the price of this stock. although past performance can not be a guarantee of future performance. direct line insurance group has peaked in the month of august in the last 3 years. locating patterns for any one who studies charts is usually a positive indication. for this reason i will be taking a keen interest in direct line insurance group on the run up to august 2018. the company its self seems to be going from strength to strength and payed out around 5% in dividends in 2017. lets hope this continues in 2018 as i hold this stock as an income stock. it would be nice to see a bit of growth thrown in for good measure in 2018. fingers crossed.



Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. the information here is for entertainment and educational purposes only.

Marston's Plc My One to Watch 2018

Another company i am expecting to do well is Marston's Plc (MARS.L) i last bought shares in this company in 2017 when the share price was around the £1 mark. with a glowing update to the market the shares hit £1.18 which was the right price for me to sell. i have been tracking Marston's Plc for some time now with the intention of watching for a buying opportunity. which will hopefully appear sometime in 2018. but for me this company is one of my one's to watch. Marston's Plc even in these difficult economic times is expanding. planning to open around 18 new establishments in 2018. if this company has survived the economic down turn and is expanding. just imagine how profitable it will be when the economy picks up. marston's Plc is a gamble but then again so are any investments you put your money in to. for me with a good strategy in place which there is at Marston's Plc to grow the business and expand. The future looks good to me regarding Marston's Plc. lets face it beer loving Brits who like a bite to eat could well make this company very profitable in the future. the company also boasts a nice 6% dividend. so you could well watch your investment grow and get paid 6% in the mean time.


Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. the information here is for entertainment and educational purposes only.

Oil prices set to rise in 2018. Oil companies set to make more money in 2018.

The world's top oil companies are expected to generate more cash in 2018 than at any other time this decade after three painful years of cuts, but it isn't party time yet.

The shift in sentiment has been rapid as crude prices have risen by more than 50 percent over the past six months to reach $70 a barrel (LCOc1), a level not seen since the crash year of 2014, thanks to global supply cuts led by OPEC.

Only a year ago, many investors still fretted over the sustainability of the sector's lavish dividend payouts in a weak energy market. Now the focus on company boards is gradually switching from slashing jobs and investment to boosting shareholders' returns and growth.

With memories of the 2014 price collapse still fresh and oil forecast to recover only slowly, frugality remains high on the agenda of boards and investors to ensure that the energy majors produce enough cash to pay dividends while reducing debt that ballooned during the downturn.

"The companies will need to demonstrate over time that lower capital spending can be sustained and that their dividends will remain fully covered," said Jonathan Waghorn, energy fund manager at Guinness Asset Management, which holds shares of Chevron (CVX.N), Total (TOTF.PA) and BP (BP.L).

"We are cautiously optimistic on their ability to do this, given the dramatic cost reductions in the industry."

Oil majors responded to the crisis by transforming their businesses, nearly halving spending, culling tens of thousands of jobs and diluting share value.

In 2017, most companies showed they can adapt to a world of lower prices and even generate thin profits with oil at $50-$55 a barrel, without borrowing.

(Graphic for Oil majors cash flow, click http://reut.rs/2Ducysb)

This year, when prices are expected to hold around $60 a barrel, the majors will generate more cash than they did in 2011 when a barrel of crude traded at an average of $112, according to BMO Capital Markets analyst Brendan Warn.

Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) appears the strongest performer among the group in terms of organic free cash flow - money available to return to shareholders in dividends and share buybacks after deducting capital spending, excluding revenue from disposals.

Shell alone will account for a quarter of the roughly $80 billion of organic free cash flow that the top seven oil majors are expected to generate in 2018, Warn said.

This follows the Anglo-Dutch company's scrapping at the end of last year of its scrip programme. These allow investors to opt to receive dividends in shares, saving the companies cash upfront but diluting their earnings per share.

Shell's organic free cash flow yield, the ratio between cash flow and market capitalisation, is set to double in 2019 from 2011-2014 to 8.84 percent, according to BMO.

The comparative yield for Exxon (XOM.N), though a larger company than Shell, will be only 5.39 percent, BMO forecast. BP's yield will rise in 2019 to 6.55 percent while that of Chevron will reach 7.16 percent.

GROWTH

The priority for boards and many investors is boosting share value through buying back stock, reversing the years of dilution caused by the scrip programmes. For Exxon and Chevron the focus will be more on boosting dividends.

"With the scrips coming off and share buybacks to commence, we expect an uplift in shareholder distributions by around $24 billion, led by Shell," Warn said

Executives will also try to reduce debt levels that soared in recent years as companies borrowed to maintain dividends.

"The best use of excess fund flow now would be a little further debt reduction for those companies that need it, and then an end to the scrip dividend," said Darren Sissons, partner and portfolio manager at Toronto-based Campbell, Lee & Ross Investment Management.

With whatever is left, Sissons expects boards to invest a "small but increasing allocation to growth initiatives" such as exploration for new oil and gas resources, renewables and chemicals.

Despite the past cuts in exploration budgets, the majors' output will increase until 2020 as projects approved during the boom years earlier in the decade come on stream. Thereafter, the outlook is less certain but chief executives have made clear their current focus is on raising returns, not volume.

Forecasts of a sharp rise in electric vehicle purchases have weighed on the long-term outlook for the oil companies, many of which are increasingly focusing on supplying gas to the power sector as well as making small investments in renewable.

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. the information here is for entertainment and educational purposes only.

New River Retail (NRR) 5% up today.

With a great market update today New River Retail saw its share price jump 18p or 5%.  This stock is a great dividend earner at around 5% and with the positive outlook in the recent update to the market. New river retail looks set for a Good 2018. With a target price of £3.70 new river retail looks a good buy to me. with 97% of it floor space rented out new river looks on very steady ground. i have bought this stock and expect a good return in 2018. at £3.16 on (18/1/2018) and with a target price of £3.70. this stock looks to me to have lot of potential upside in 2018. plus a nice 5% dividend thrown in as well.

NewRiver REIT occupancy at 97%

18th January 2018 09:49 | NewRiver Retail Ltd

NewRiver REIT's occupancy remained at a record level of 97% in the third quarter, with average rents of £12.70 per square foot.

Footfall across the shopping centre portfolio increased on a like-for-like basis by 0.5% in the third quarter, outperforming the UK benchmark by 270bps.

Footfall in December rose by 1.9% on a like-for-like basis, outperforming the UK benchmark by 450bps.

The third quarter ordinary dividend is up 5% to 5.25 pence per share.

Paul Roy, chairman, said: "Looking ahead, our conservatively geared balance sheet is strongly positioned to exploit accretive opportunities over the coming months and we remain confident in our ability to deliver growing and sustainable cash returns to our shareholders from our convenience-led, community-focused portfolio." 

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. the information here is for entertainment and educational purposes only.

Is it time to buy utilities. Centrica (CNA)

After the recent dip in the price of Cenrtica (CNA) due to the UK governments intention to bring in an energy cap in 2018. This stock could be just what investors are looking for in 2018. with a price/book of of £3.07 and a share price today trading at £1.43 this stock looks a bargain. for those investors looking for a nice high divided yield of 8%. it looks to me that Centrica is well worth the risk. i also feel that the UK prime minister Theresa Mays energy cap plans could well be on shaky ground as i feel she will not be in power long enough in 2018 to implement her price cap plan in the UK energy market. usually conservative governments are reluctant to interfere in an UK domestic markets. with that in mind. any new incoming conservative leader could well scrap this energy cap plan. which could see centrica's share price rocket in 2018. for those who like a gamble and are prepared to pick up a 8% dividend yield in the mean time. this stock could be for you. As the Guru King Investor warren buffett said. “Be Fearful When Others Are Greedy and Greedy When Others Are Fearful” going against the tide can sometimes reap the Greatest rewards. i honestly can not see centrica folding. something says to me this stock will recover. my investor's instinct tells me to buy now. so that i can be sat on a big pile of cash in the future. who dares wins.

Tough times for utilities

Elsewhere in the sector, National Grid (LSE: NG) is trading on a forecast yield of 5.2%, Pennon (LSE: PNN) 4.9%, and British Gas owner Centrica (LSE: CNA) 8.6%.

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. the information here is for entertainment and educational purposes only.

Vodafone (VOD)

Vodafone has a trading statement due on 01/02/2018. I expect this trading statement to be very positive when Vodafone updates the market. If last time Vodafone updated the market is anything to go by. i expect this stock to rise considerably.  analysts are recommending this stock as a Buy and also expect the price to rise. this is why i have bought this stock recently as this ties in with my own opinion. this stock for me is a long term hold as i see a lot of up side potential to this stock in the years to come. the thing i like about Vodafone is that the company is global with subsidiary's established in most modern western countries. with that in mind Vodafone is  breaking in to new markets around the globe,the middle east and south america are just to name a few. i feel very confident regarding this stock and with a 6% dividend yield to boot. can you afford not to own Vodafone. in my opinion get on this boat before it leaves port. or you might get left behind.

The future is exciting. Ready?

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. the information here is for entertainment and educational purposes only.

New River Retail (NRR)

New River Retail could be a stock to watch and buy in 2018. at its current price of £3.05 (15/1/2018) new river retail looks like a good investment in 2018. brokers seem to be indicating this stock has a lot of potential upside. personally myself. i think new river retail will hit its £3.70 high again in 2018. this is a stock i own and intend to own in 2018. with a nice dividend yield of 6% as well. this stock looks very attractive. i have a diverse portfolio made up of stocks from many different sectors. new river retail is my choice when it comes to investing in the retail sector in 2018.

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. the information here is for entertainment and educational purposes only.

Oil looks Good to me in 2018.

In my view. another stock with good potential is BP. the price of oil could reach $75 a barrel as oil producing countries cut back oil production in 2018. this is good news for BP and myself as i hold this stock and will continue to do so in 2018. i also picked up some valuable information while watch a IG report on Youtube. a lot of the big financial institutions are positioning themselves in oil in 2018. so with that in mind i decided to do the same. lets see if it pays off.



Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. the information here is for entertainment and educational purposes only.

Buying Vodafone (VOD)

After doing a bit of research. Vodafone look to be a good price to invest. so i decided to buy today. i also came across an articul  which confirmed what i was already thinking.

I last tipped telecoms colossus Vodafone Group (LSE: VOD) as an income stock worth buying ahead of November’s half-year statement. And the strength of the update shows that my optimism was well placed.

The FTSE 100 business announced back then that organic group service revenues increased 1.7% to €20.6bn during April-September, while organic adjusted EBITDA rose 4.2% year-on-year to €7.4bn. And as a result, Vodafone hiked its full-year earnings estimates. It now forecasts a 10% improvement in organic adjusted EBITDA, up from its prior forecast of growth of between 4% and 8%.

Once again, the company continued to enjoy solid demand growth across both developed and emerging economies. On an organic basis service revenues in Europe and its Asia, Middle East and Asia Pacific (AMAP) territories leapt 0.8% and 7% respectively in the first fiscal half.

And sales are likely to keep on rising in my opinion thanks to Vodafone’s massive infrastructure investments and busy M&A drive, not to mention soaring demand for voice and data services and particularly so from far-flung developing markets. These factors mean that I would be very happy to buy and hold the Footsie star for many years to come.

What’s more, Vodafone continues to make significant progress in slashing operating costs under its ‘Fit4Growth’ efficiency programme, a scheme designed to bolster earnings still further by advancing the efficiency of its sales and office processes.



The future is exciting. Ready?

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. the information here is for entertainment and educational purposes only.