Lou Gutheil

Independent oil & gas company, Afren plc (LSE:AFR), released its results for the first six months of 2012 much to the delight of its shareholders.  Although shares had risen only slightly by the end of the noon hour, the next few days ought to continue to bring a positive response to such a strong report. […]

The share price of Royal Dutch Shell (LSE:RDSA) moved modestly downward today, perhaps in response the company’s announcement that of its “swap” of natural gas assets with Chevron in Western Australia.  Shell opened the day at 2,259 and declined steadily to 2.238 by 1:00 pm. Summary of the Swap In the simplest of terms, according […]

The conflict at the Lonmin (LSE:LMI) Marikana platinum mine is nearing epic proportions.  Lonmin share price fell by 8% as the market opened, but staged a modest comeback to 636.00, down a more marginal 1.85% (12.00 pence) by early afternoon as investors try to cope with the increasing violence. How Bad Is The Violence? So […]

“What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” Was there a banking scandal in Sir Walter Scott’s day, or did he foresee one coming?  Whatever, the answer, he sure got it right.  The banking world is a mess.  It seems like Barclays has been in the headlines more often in the […]

A disappointing first half report, including a dismal forecast for the balance of the year, drove the share price of the Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation Plc (LSE:ENRC) down 29.50 pence from 414.70 to 385.20 this morning, a 7.11% decline.  Except for the past three weeks, the stock has experienced almost constant decline since mid-January when […]

It’s one thing to say that a company is in trouble.  It’s quite another to say that people are being killed.  Nine people have died since 10 August at a mine operated by Lonmin (LSE:LMI) in South Africa.  Lonmin’s share price was down 35.00 pence to 706.00, a decline of 4.72%.  Lonmin’s share price has […]

Over the last five days BP has announced either agreements for the sale or the consummation of sales of significant portions of its business.  By divesting of these units, cash is flowing into the company coffers to ensure that it can keep its commitments to pay some $20 billion in claims arising out of the […]

Barclays (LSE:BARC) can’t seem to stay out of the news, but some days that’s not all bad.  Last evening, 09 August, the bank announced that Sir David Walker had accepted its invitation to take over as chairman of the troubled institution.  A positive reaction from investors was indicated by a 3.32% increase in the bank’s […]

Randgold (LSE:RRS) took the opportunity to thump its chest today as it reported second quarter results that were, quite frankly, golden.  Regulatory reports are usually quietly reserved as though they had been prayed over before leaving the bean-counters’ offices.  Randgold’s report begins with a headline that says “RANDGOLD FIRES ON ALL CYLINDERS TO DELIVER ANOTHER […]

BTG (LSE:BTG) and AstraZeneca (LSE:AZN) share prices took it on the chin this morning on the London Stock Exchange.  BTG shares fell by 3.80p to 334.20, a 1.12% hit.  AstraZeneca suffered a bigger blow, losing 76.50p per share, falling by 2.48% to 3,006.50 by 1:30pm UTC.  Investors reacted as anticipated on news of the unsuccessful […]