2025-02-18 07:59
Feb 18 (Reuters) - U.S. fund KKR (KKR.N) , opens new tab has signed an agreement with Italy's Eni (ENI.MI) , opens new tab to buy an additional 5% stake in Eni's biofuel business Enilive for 587.5 million euros ($614.17 million), bringing its total stake to 30%, the energy group said on Tuesday. KKR signed an agreement in October to buy a 25% stake in Enilive. The closing of the October deal is expected by the end of March. Eni said the additional 5% stake sale is based on the same overall valuation as the October agreement, equal to a consideration of 11.75 billion euros. The sale is part of Eni's so-called satellite strategy to bring in co-investors to growth businesses, seeking to raise funds to help the company to decarbonise its products. "KKR's additional investment confirms the attractiveness of Enilive to the market," Francesco Gattei, Eni's chief transition and financial officer, said in a statement. Mediobanca was Eni's financial adviser on the deal. ($1 = 0.9566 euros) Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/kkr-buy-additional-5-stake-eni-biofuel-business-2025-02-18/
2025-02-18 07:56
JOHANNESBURG, Feb 18 (Reuters) - South Africa's rand edged lower on Tuesday against a buoyant dollar, ahead of a highly anticipated national budget speech. At 1503 GMT, the rand traded at 18.4075 against the U.S. dollar , 0.15% weaker than its previous close. The dollar last traded about 0.22% firmer against a basket of currencies. Domestic investor attention will be on the national budget presentation by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Wednesday. Analysts anticipate the budget will focus on reforms, fiscal rules and private-sector inclusion. South Africa's official unemployment rate fell slightly in the fourth quarter of last year to 31.9%, helped by job gains in the finance and manufacturing sectors, statistics agency data earlier showed. On the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the blue-chip Top-40 index (.JTOPI) , opens new tab closed about 0.9% higher. South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond was marginally stronger, with the yield down 1.5 basis points to 9.125%. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/south-african-rand-weakens-ahead-unemployment-data-2025-02-18/
2025-02-18 07:46
Feb 18 (Reuters) - Consumer prices in France were up 1.8% year-on-year in January, statistics office INSEE said on Tuesday, in line with analysts' expectations and the preliminary reading. Analysts in a Reuters poll had on average expected a preliminary EU-harmonised inflation figure of 1.8% in January. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/french-consumer-inflation-confirmed-18-yy-january-2025-02-18/
2025-02-18 07:38
MADRID, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Spanish gas grid operator Enagas's (ENAG.MC) , opens new tab Chief Executive Arturo Gonzalo said on Tuesday the amount the company is due to receive in an arbitration process in Peru may increase. The company is disputing the amount, Gonzalo said in a conference call with investors and analysts, and said his company is open to discuss the payment with the Peruvian government. The company reported a 245.7 million euro capital loss related to the arbitration over its investment to build a natural gas pipeline in Peru, known as Gasoducto Sur Peruano (GSP). Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/enagas-ceo-says-amount-peru-arbitration-may-increase-2025-02-18/
2025-02-18 07:32
TOKYO, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Tuesday the sharp volatility seen in currency and stock markets last summer was mainly caused by investors' concern over weak U.S. jobs data and the risk of a slowdown in the U.S. economy. "We are aware, however, of criticism that our policy stance has not been clear enough and that was part of the reason for the market volatility," Ueda told parliament. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/bojs-ueda-blames-weak-us-data-last-summers-market-rout-2025-02-18/
2025-02-18 07:27
JAKARTA, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Indonesia is studying the implementation of a biodiesel blend that contains 50% palm oil in 2026, and is also looking at a 3% blend for jet fuel next year, energy ministry official Eniya Listiani Dewi told parliament members on Tuesday. The world's top palm oil producer this year increased the mandatory mix of palm oil in biodiesel to 40% (B40) from 35% to reduce reliance on imported diesel fuel. The state plantation fund is expected to distribute 35.47 trillion rupiah ($2.2 billion) to subsidise the country's mandatory biodiesel programme, she said. Around half of the 15.62 million kilolitres biodiesel expected to be sold this year will be subsidised, she added. ($1 = 16,280 rupiah) Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/indonesias-conducting-studies-implement-50-biodiesel-blend-2026-2025-02-18/
