The Energy And Market Page, T+18 -- February 18, 2018

South Australia spot price for electricity this afternoon (link here): $10,100 / MWh.

I don't know if folks have noticed but except for a few outliers (like XOM), oil companies are reporting record profits; are providing great guidance; and, are increasing dividends. See below.

Disclaimer: this is not an investment site. Do not make any investment, financial, job, travel, or relationship-related decisions based on anything you read here or think you may have read here.

The headlines:

• Pioneer Natural boosts dividend fourfold after profit surges: link here.
• Anadarko raises dividend fivefold, share buyback program: link here; and here.
• Statoil and three other top-ranked oil firms raising dividends: link here; and, here.
• Rio Tinto announces huge dividend: link here.
• Total shows growing confidence with pledge to boost dividend: link here.
• Suncor reports boost in fourth-quarter profit: link here.
• ExxonMobil beats upstream earnings estimates in Q4: link here.
• ConocoPhillips had a great quarter, but cautious optimism is warranted: link here.
• Even MDU Resources posts a profit: link here.

Other headlines of note:

• surging Chinese energy demand draws record crude imports in January; near-record for gas: link here.
• US natural gas output, demand seen rising to record highs in 2018: link here. 
• Ineos: Forties Pipeline is safe -- link here. 
• ExxonMobil announces Baytown ethane cracker milestone; mechanically "ready": link here.

And perhaps the most interesting headline of the week: oil world turns upside down as US sells oil in Middle East: link here.

Jobless claims: link here. Incredible report; unexpected plunge in first time unemployment claims; near 45-year low;

Buzz: I haven't watched television business news (or any television for that matter except TCM classic movies) since last Thursday (February 1, 2018), so I do not know what "the buzz" is. I won't check back in until the Dow goes back over 26,000, or maybe 27,000. I haven't decided. I assume the hot topics on CNBC throughout the morning hours: GE; cryptocurrency; Greece; Tesla; volatility.

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China's Independent Refiners

Imports rise 20% year-over-year (January, 2018, vs January, 2017)

The source of the crude oil may be interesting, but what caught my attention was the absolutely increase (20%, year-over-year), and it appears the bulk of it is coming from Russia and Angola.

The Congo had the biggest increase on a percentage basis, but it was coming from a very low amount last year to a more significant amount this year. Angola, the #1 supplier, was also #2 in percentage increase. Russia? Pretty much stable