End of Month Window-Dressing: Dave's Daily

Markets overall closed little changed after being down nearly 150 points.

Enel appoints banks for green business IPO

Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and Mediobanca to list minority stake in renewable energy unit
Read more [Financial Times Energy News]

CKI snaps up EDF Energy Networks

Asia's wealthiest man is to buy the UK electricity distribution business of France's EDF for £5.8bn in what is set to be the biggest European investment by Hong Kong companies on record
Read more [Financial Times Energy News]

Will Tony Hayward Please Be Quiet?

Tony Hayward has some harsh words for his detractors on Friday, yet the BP CEO might be better off keeping his mouth shut.

Chevron gains from higher energy prices

Improved refining margins help push profits up at the second-largest US oil company, which has launched big projects and ramped up production in the US, Brazil and Kazakhstan
Read more [Financial Times Energy News]

China's Renewable-Energy Clout

In wind and solar industries, Chinese producers are rivaling Western ones.
Read more [Forbes - Energy News]

CKI drawn by UK's regulatory framework

The energy and water group controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing says the UK's regulatory environment has been a significant factor in its approach for EDF's electricity networks business in the UK
Read more [Financial Times Energy News]

BP CEO: I'm a 'villain for doing the right thing'

Tony Hayward, who resigned as chief executive of BP in the wake of the Gulf oil spill, has said that he was turned into "a villain for doing the right thing."
Read more [MSNBC Oil & Energy]

UK Gov't Department of Energy and Climate Change Pathways 2050 report - July 30

-2050 Pathways Analysis
-UK energy scenarios: working with a flawed model
-DECC publishes plans for achieving 2050 targets
-DECC lays out six possible futures for low-carbon energy

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First Results from Transition Together evaluation

"Transition Together", the street-by-street behaviour change programme developed by Transition Town Totnes and now being piloted in 10 other communities, has just completed analysing the data that has come back from the first 4 groups, comprising 32 households in Totnes. They have completed all 7 of the sessions set out in the workbook, and the data offers a fascinating first look at whether the process works or not. The results from the other 31 groups currently underway are expected this Autumn. Here, Fiona Ward of Transition Together shares the results that have emerged.

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Nature stunner: Global warming blamed for 40% decline in the ocean's phytoplankton

Scientists may have found the most devastating impact yet of human-caused global warming — a 40% decline in phytoplankton since 1950 linked to the rise in ocean sea surface temperatures. If confirmed, it may represent the single most important finding of the year in climate science.

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ODAC Newsletter - July 30

Another week on and there has been no further leak from the BP Macondo well. Officials are now "optimistic" about preparations for a new attempt at a, with the initial step of pumping mud into the top of the well likely to begin as soon as Sunday. With the leak apparently under control, BP chose this week to announce the inevitable departure of its CEO Tony Hayward, whose replacement by the American Bob Dudley was vital for the company’s damage limitation efforts in the US...

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How long will the Chinese put up with coal?

Exxon Mobil today issued an impressive second-quarter earnings report, with much of the good news again involving a surge in liquid natural gas production from Qatar. It's further proof that Exxon -- along with the rest of Big Oil -- has made a big bet that natural gas will be a growth engine for the company in the absence of opportunities in oil. Fast-growing Asia is the big market, with China leading the way.

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Total's Second-Quarter Profit Rises 43%

France's largest oil company said second-quarter net income rose 43% as upstream petroleum production increased 8%.

Anglo reinstates dividend after two-year break

The global mining group is resuming dividend payments after a two-year hiatus but warns that a key iron ore project in Brazil faces further capital expenditure costs and delays
Read more [Financial Times Energy News]

Li Ka-shing pays £5.8bn for UK utility

EDF Networks has low-voltage electricity distribution networks in the east and south of England, long-term contracts with businesses such as London Underground, Heathrow and Gatwick, and the Channel Tunnel
Read more [Financial Times Energy News]

KNOC set to complete bid package for Dana

Korea National Oil Corporation is close to arranging the loans needed to launch a formal £1.7bn offer for Dana Petroleum as the UK oil explorer battles to convince its shareholders to push for a higher offer
Read more [Financial Times Energy News]

First Solar Easily Beats, but Lacks a Rally

First Solar beats the Street on earnings and revenue, and ups its full year earnings guidance, but the devil is in the solar details as usual.

Big Swing Thursday: Dave's Daily

Featured earnings winner Thursday was Exxon but the stock closed lower, while other notable losers were Symantec and Nvidia.

Pipeline leak deals blow to Canada's oil sands industry

Canada's oil sands industry is trying to defuse a fresh public relations headache after a ruptured pipeline spilled about 4m litres of Alberta crude into waterways in southern Michigan
Read more [Financial Times Energy News]