A law passed by the legislature in 2007 (Protecting Florida's Investment Act, PFIA) required the state pension fund to sell off any assets in companies that do business with countries on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism - principally Iran and Sudan. So far the state pension fund has sold more than $1.15 billion in probited companies. Among the divestments were several major oil and gas companies, including Brazil's Petrobras ($206 million), Total of France ($214 million) and Royal Dutch Shell ($215 million).
January 26th, 2009:
Florida’s troubled state pension fund dumped $1 billion “prohibited” stocks, including Royal Dutch Shell
Hundreds of birds die in oil spill into Aniva Bay from the Sakhalin II plant
The oil spill is believed to have occurred on Sunday after a tanker left the liquefied natural gas plant which is still under construction. The plant is owned by Sakhalin Energy which is the operator and investor for the $20 billion Sakhalin II project.
Gloomy ConocoPhillips data set stage for severe cutbacks among rivals
Conoco scaled back $2.8bn in capital spending over last year, and reported a $34bn writedown. More details of its financial health will come on Wednesday when it reports earnings, the same day as Royal Dutch Shell. Some analysts warn Royal Dutch Shell will report its largest quarterly fall in profits for a decade because of the oil price fall.
National groups bear brunt of change in fortunes
Alexei Miller, chief executive of Gazprom, confidently asserted that within a decade the Kremlin-controlled gas monopoly he headed would be the world's largest energy company. What a difference a credit crisis makes.
More speculation over Exxon bid for all or part of Royal Dutch Shell
Recently, speculation has grown about whether ExxonMobil will make an acquisition. Among the rumored targets are Britain's BG Group (BG.U.K.) for its natural-gas assets. There has even been talk of a bid for all or part of Royal Dutch Shell, a deal that would face regulatory hurdles.
Shell profits to tank as oil price nears $40 a barrel
Shell declined to comment on the possibility that job cuts may be announced when the group reports its full-year results on Thursday.