Despite a corruption probe and Brazil’s governance crisis, the oil giant has room to run, aided by factors including firmer oil prices and possible lower interest rates. By DIMITRA DEFOTIS/Barron's May 21, 2016 A Petrobras station in Rio de Janeiro Photo: Bloomberg News Emerging Markets The U.S.-traded shares of Brazil’s state-controlled oil company Petróleo Brasileiro... Continue Reading →
Brazil police widen Odebrecht probe with Angola contracts
May 20 Brazil's federal police on Friday said they widened a probe of construction conglomerate Odebrecht SA to investigate possible money laundering and influence peddling in contracts awarded for projects in Angola. At least one relative to former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was targeted by the operation that included four search and seizure... Continue Reading →
Brazil’s Financial Chief Says Economy Worse Off Than He Imagined
Brazil’s Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said the economy is in worse shape than he anticipated when joining the government one week ago. "In the numbers I see a worse situation than I expected," he said in an interview in Brasilia, referring in large part to the federal budget. Yet the current administration led by Michel... Continue Reading →
Brazil Stock Exchange Chairman Takes Petrobras CEO Job
Petroleo Brasileiro SA will be led by veteran business executive Pedro Parente, as the state-controlled oil producer struggles to reduce debt and navigate the fallout from the country’s biggest corruption scandal. Parente, who is currently the chairman of BM&FBovespa SA, the operator of Latin America’s biggest securities exchange, accepted an offer from Acting President Michel Temer... Continue Reading →
Back at the House of Cards – Brazil’s ousted House speaker flexes muscle, faces ethics panel
Brazil's suspended House speaker, Eduardo Cunha, defended himself before an ethics committee on Thursday, a day after the appointment of his ally as leader of the government coalition in the chamber showed the veteran lawmaker's enduring political sway. The Supreme Court indefinitely suspended Eduardo Cunha this month on charges of obstructing a corruption investigation, just... Continue Reading →
Technip to Merge With FMC in $13 Billion Oil-Service Company
Technip SA and FMC Technologies Inc. agreed to merge in an all-stock deal, creating a $13 billion oil-services company following the worst crude-market collapse in a generation. The combination will give Technip investors two shares in the new business for every Technip share held, while FMC investors will get one, the companies said Thursday. They... Continue Reading →
Brazilian judge sentences Lula’s ex-chief of staff to 23 years
Jose Dirceu (front R), former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's chief of staff, is escorted by a federal police officer as he leaves the Federal Police headquarters to give his testimony in a session of the Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry in Curitiba,... A one-time chief of staff for former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio... Continue Reading →
GE Looks to Power, Renewable Energy as Oil Slump Crimps Profits
General Electric Co.’s top executive sees power generation and renewable energy buoying profits as the industrial giant struggles with persistent challenges in the oil and gas market. The non-petroleum energy units could boost sales by at least 10 percent this year as the company sees “strong” order prospects for equipment and services, Chief Executive Officer... Continue Reading →
Apache Surges on Takeover Report Disavowed by Occidental
Apache Corp. jumped as much as 5.6 percent after a website reported Occidental Petroleum Corp. planned to acquire the oil and gas explorer. Occidental said it didn’t know anything about the report. Apache shares rose 3.8 percent to $57.23 at 10:06 a.m. in New York, after earlier reaching $58.21, the highest since July 1. The... Continue Reading →
Brazil’s Temer Said to Eye Privatizations to Plug Budget Gap
Brazil’s Acting President Michel Temer is studying the sale of state assets to shore up public accounts, as well as an audit of the country’s largest savings bank, said a government official with direct knowledge of the matter. A government task force will consider selling stakes in companies such as power utility Furnas Centrais Eletricas... Continue Reading →