06.02.2012
Dow Chemical's quarterly profit and revenue missed Wall Street's expectations as demand for electronics, plastics and coatings plunged, causing the company to slash production and aggressively discount some products.
The results sent shares of Dow, the largest U.S. chemical maker by revenue, down as much as 3% before they pared back losses following positive comments from executives about first-quarter demand for electronic products.
more02.02.2012
W.R. Grace posted a higher-than-expected fourth-quarter profit on Wednesday as the chemicals maker raised prices on catalysts and construction products, helping lift its stock to an all-time high.
The results came after Grace said on Tuesday night its reorganization plan had been approved by a district court, clearing a major hurdle for it to emerge from decade-long bankruptcy protection.
more02.02.2012
Exxon Mobil reported quarterly earnings that narrowly beat expectations, on higher oil prices and asset sales of about $1 billion, but the company's shares dropped nearly 2% as its oil and gas production fell short of estimates.
Exxon, the world's largest publicly traded oil company, said fourth-quarter production dropped 9%, which Barclays Capital analyst Paul Cheng found "disappointing" even after accounting for reduced European natural gas sales due to warm weather.
more20.01.2012
ThyssenKrupp, Germany's largest steelmaker, denied market speculation it would issue a profit warning and reiterated guidance for the first quarter.
"We deny the profit warning speculation," a spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday after several traders said there was talk that ThyssenKrupp might issue a warning.
"We are reiterating our guidance for the first quarter that Materials would be difficult and Technologies would be stable," the spokesman said.
more20.01.2012
Novozymes , the world's biggest industrial enzymes producer, posted earnings at the low end of expectations on Thursday and warned of uncertainties in the global economic outlook, sending its shares to a near two-month low.
The Danish company, whose enzymes are used to produce consumer goods from detergent to biofuel, said its profits were held back by higher raw material costs, currency conversion effects and slack sales of bioenergy enzymes.
more09.12.2011
AkzoNobel said it intends to issue a €800 million bond with a seven year maturity, at a coupon of 4%. The announcement of the bond was well received by the market with an order book exceeding €3 billion.
more21.11.2011
Fertilizer and specialty chemicals maker Israel Chemicals (ICL) posted sharply higher third-quarter net profit, boosted by strong demand, price increases and acquisitions and sees European fertilizer demand picking up in early 2012.
more21.11.2011
Finland's Kemira warned full-year profit could fall as demand for chemicals from its paper industry and municipal water authority customers weakens.
The company said it now expected full-year core operating profit to be at the same level or slightly lower than the €162 million reported in 2010. It had previously forecast an increase.
more14.11.2011
PTT, Thailand's top energy firm, reported a 0.4% fall in quarterly net profit on Friday, held down as expected by foreign exchange losses, lower gas sales volume and weaker profits from its refinery and petrochemical businesses.
more14.11.2011
Brazil's Braskem, the largest petrochemical company in the Americas, booked a steep third-quarter loss as Brazil's tumbling currency drove up the cost of its foreign debts.
Braskem posted a net loss of 1.046 billion reais ($588 million) compared to a 532-million-real profit a year ago.
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