* Forties bid at dated Brent minus 25 cents * Two Suezmax shipments to U.S. Gulf Coast spied * Total of 6 May Forties cargoes now advanced LONDON, April 23 (Reuters) - North Sea Forties crude pricedifferentials were a little firmer on Tuesday, supported by twopotential Suezmax shipments to the U.S. Gulf Coast, although Maycargoes continued to advance up the loading programme asproduction remained strong. Shipping fixtures showed that BP had nominated a 130,000tonne Suezmax called the Achilleas to take crude oil from theTeesside oil terminal to the U.S. Gulf Coast on April 29. Some traders said this could be Ekofisk crude as thepipeline from the Ekofisk oil reservoir comes ashore there andU.S. Gulf Coast refineries sometimes choose to run it. In addition, U.S. oil trader ATMI has been linked to apossible Suezmax fixture leaving Hound Point with Forties forthe U.S. Gulf Coast on May 1. Atlantic Trading & Marketing,based in Houston, Texas, is one of Total's indirectsubsidiaries. A total of six Forties cargoes loading in May have now beenadvanced, trade sources said, as output from the key Buzzardoilfield has remained strong throughout April. Parcels F0515, F0512, F0503 and F0517 were all newlyadvanced by between two and four days, traders said, adding tothe previously advanced F0502 and F0509. FORTIES * No cargoes traded. Shell was offering Forties loading onMay 8-10 at dated Brent minus 10 cents, unchanged from its lastoffer on Monday. * Total was bidding for Forties cargoes loading around May5-9 at July cash BFOE minus $1.05 and for Forties loading aroundMay 15-20 at dated Brent minus 25 cents. * This was slightly firmer than its last bid on Monday atdated Brent minus 30 cents. * Monday's trade came at dated Brent minus 30 cents forForties loading May 3-5. SWAPS * The swaps curve remained in contango, reflecting theabundant supply of crude at the front end: 29-03/5 Jul -83 07-10/5 Jul -69 13-17/5 Jul -57 20-24/5 Jul -47 28-31/5 Jul -45 03-07/6 Jul -43 DATABASE
Shell announces $4bn share buyback as Q3 profits beat expectations
(Sharecast News) - Oil giant Shell announced a $4bn share buyback on Thursday as it posted better-than-expected third-quarter profits.
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