Any thoughts on the company?


Red line 200 MA

24 Mar 2015 "Deutsche Bank cuts Centrica to 'sell' from 'hold', target cut from 280p to 225p"

when E xxon and others start fracking the price of gas will decline rapidly in UK as it is in the US.

Halifax, I think fracking operations in the UK will be very limited, we are too densely populated and fracking can cause land disturbance as is well known.

A good rise today, hopefully this is going to take us out of the last month's trading range into new high ground.

Seymour Pierce has retained its 'buy' rating and 403p target price for Centrica after the energy giant revealed on Monday that it would not be proceeding further in nuclear build in the UK and would be launching a buy-back programme.

"This announcement removes some uncertainty around Centrica’s investment intentions, confirming some recent press speculation. The share buy-back is small, but its impact should be modestly enhancing; and given the group’s very strong underlying cash flow, it retains its firepower with respect to other investment options, along with the potential for further capital returns."

Final Results

STRONG PERFORMANCE ALLOWS US TO CONTRIBUTE OUR FAIR SHARE

Adjusted earnings up 5% to £1,406 million; 27.1 pence adjusted basic earnings per share

After a warm 2011, cooler weather saw average domestic gas consumption increase by 12%

Centrica Energy and Direct Energy benefiting from enhanced scale; adjusted operating profit in the UK up by 2%, adjusted operating profit from non-UK operations up by 78%

Adjusted Group tax charge of £1.1 billion, £773 million relating to the UK; 44% Group effective tax rate

Share repurchase of £500 million announced and full year dividend up 6% to 16.4 pence per share, benefiting over 700,000 individual shareholders and pension funds

Societe Generale Buy 360.15 355.10 371.00 400.00 Upgrades

CNA moving into higher territory, that 400 may not be long from here,
although one hic up could be going x/d on the 24th

....and it was a hiccup.
Look forward to Monday now for the IMS, it could well set us back on track for 400.

Interim Management Statement

Against a backdrop of sustained cold weather and periods of higher commodity prices, Centrica has performed well in the year to date. This strong performance enables the business to continue to invest in customer service and price competitiveness and full year earnings growth is expected to be in line with market expectations. We have also made good progress towards our refreshed strategic priorities, having announced a North American LNG export agreement with Cheniere in March and the acquisition of Canadian natural gas assets from Suncor in partnership with Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) in April.

Downstream in the UK, our residential energy supply business has had a good start to the year, with the number of accounts increasing by 28,000 over the first four months. This reflects a competitive pricing position and continued good levels of customer service, leading to higher levels of customer retention. We also continue to lead the industry in ensuring our energy proposition is simple, fair and transparent, and our unique, proactive ‘Tariff Check’ gives customers confidence that they are on the right tariff for them.

As a result of the unusual period of extended cold weather, average residential gas consumption was 18% higher in the first four months of 2013 than in the same period in 2012, and average residential electricity consumption was 3% higher. Recognising the economic pressures facing many of our customers, the Board has determined that any benefit arising from the exceptionally cold weather will be used to maintain our price competitiveness. As a result of this decision, we expect the residential energy supply business to deliver an operating profit for the full year in line with expectations, weighted towards the first half.

Not a nice looking chart today.
Possible the potential buy is upsetting the market:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-28/centrica-said-to-pick-citigroup-for-irish-power-company-bid-help.html

CNA bought 1.2m of their own shares @ an average price of 392p, which means a paper loss for shareholders of £168k how clever of them! Don't they watch the markets?

More cash for the buy backs, or will it go to possible the Irish power bid?


31 May 2013

Centrica sells 50% interest in Braes of Doune onshore wind farm

Centrica plc has reached an agreement to sell its 50% interest in the 72MW Braes of Doune onshore wind farm in Stirlingshire, Scotland, for £59 million in cash. The stake has been acquired by the Hermes GPE Infrastructure Fund, which is managed by Hermes GPE LLP. Centrica will continue to receive 100% of the wind farm�"s output under a power purchase agreement (PPA).

The sale is in line with Centrica�"s strategy to release capital from operational wind assets to enhance returns. Following completion of the transaction, Centrica will retain equity interests in four operational wind farms, and also retains interests in potential offshore wind farm projects at Race Bank and in the Round 3 Irish Sea Zone.

selling out of unpopular wind farms very sensible.

Centrica in talks to buy Lancashire shale gas stake - report

Fri Jun 7, 2013 5:17am BST
(Reuters) - Centrica (CNA.L) is in talks to buy a stake in shale gas-driller Cuadrilla Resources' Bowland Shale licences in Lancashire, England, the Financial Times reported, without citing sources.

Centrica and Cuadrilla were not immediately available for comment.

Cuadrilla's part owner, Australian company AJ Lucas Group (AJL.AX), said in January that it was in talks with energy investors to sell a stake in the shale gas explorer, amid media speculation that Centrica was a key contender in the discussions.

Perhaps this will give us a boost in the morning:

17 June 2013
17:41
Centrica Energy Norway awarded first Barents Sea license

Stavanger, Norway - Centrica Energy has been awarded a 50% operating share in the Scarecrow licence, its first in the Barents Sea.

The Norwegian government on 12th June awarded the licences that form part of the 22nd round on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). Centrica Energy was awarded an operatorship and 50% ownership in the Scarecrow licence, block 719. This block opens up a new area for Centrica, and marks the beginning of a new venture for the Norwegian upstream business as it looks to grow its business further in Norway.

Dag Omre, Regional Director, Centrica Energy Norway, said: "We are delighted to be awarded this licence, which represents an important step forward in our plans of continuing to grow the business. We are already one of the fastest new entrants in Norway, and look forward to becoming a strong player on the Norwegian Continental Shelf".

Centrica Energy was established in Norway in 2006. To date, the company has been awarded 36 licences out of 40 applications. Centrica Energy will operate the Scarecrow licence in partnership with Lukoil (30%) and North Energy (20%

Half Yearly report

ROBUST FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

Adjusted earnings up 2% to £767 million; 14.8 pence adjusted basic earnings per share
Total adjusted tax charge rises 21% to £690 million; effective tax rate of 47%, up from 43%
British Gas Residential operating profit marginally higher than in 2012, with significantly higher environmental and commodity costs offsetting the impact of increased consumption due to prolonged cold weather
Full year British Gas Residential operating profit expected to be broadly in line with 2012
Challenging market conditions in UK business energy; implementing new systems to help improve service and reduce costs
Direct Energy benefiting from enhanced scale downstream, offsetting pressure on margins from rising commodity prices
Higher international upstream gas and oil production and profitability; continued good nuclear performance; UK gas-fired generation loss making in weak market conditions

INVESTING FOR GROWTH, ENERGY SECURITY AND JOBS

Acquisition of Energy Marketing business of Hess Corporation makes Direct Energy the largest B2B gas supplier in the Eastern US
Agreement with Cheniere to export LNG from the US; 20 year £10 billion contract, taking our total supply commitment to around £60 billion
Announced £650 million Canadian gas asset acquisition, in partnership with Qatar Petroleum International
Acquired 25% stake in Bowland shale exploration licence, a potentially important source of gas for the UK
Organic investment of over £700 million in the first six months of 2013
First gas from York development in Southern North Sea and Rhyl project in East Irish Sea
1,000 apprentices currently in training with British Gas; 200 new apprenticeships announced in June

DELIVERING FOR OUR CUSTOMERS

56,000 British Gas residential energy accounts added, reflecting competitive pricing and innovative products
‘Tariff Check’ launched, proactively helping British Gas customers to choose the best deal for them
Over 500,000 vulnerable and elderly customers received £130 Warm Home Discount last winter
Over 1 million smart meters installed in UK homes and businesses
Launching ‘Free Electricity Saturdays’ in Texas; Bounce Energy acquisition enhances online capabilities

DELIVERING FOR OUR SHAREHOLDERS

All cash interim dividend up 6% to 4.92 pence per share, representing 30% of the prior year’s dividend, in line with established practice
Over £240 million of shares bought back to date under £500 million share repurchase programme
“With our customers using more gas to stay warm during the unusually cold winter, we’re doing everything we can to help them keep their energy costs under control and make bills simpler and clearer. We are also delivering for our shareholders, enabling us to continue to grow the business and invest to secure energy supplies for the future.”

Nice one ED!

The heat is on: Miliband's energy price pledge knocks £950m off Centrica shares

Shares in Centrica tumbled nearly 5 per cent today, wiping £950m off the market value of the British Gas-owner, as the market reacted to Labour leader Ed Miliband’s shock announcement yesterday that he would freeze energy prices if elected in 2015.

On hearing the news, the group warned yesterday that it “would simply not be economically viable for Centrica to continue to operate” in the face of such a freeze.

Investors took Centrica’s comment to heart today, sending its shares down by 18.6p to 378.1p. SSE, the utility formerly known as Scottish & Southern Energy, also suffered, as its shares fell by 83p, or 5.3 per cent, to 1,497.0p.

why doesn't Ed take his communist ideas back to Poland where his family come from.

"Nice one ED!" possible profitable recovery play here so I agree on this occasion.. Nice one ED.

Can't see this lot staying down for much longer after today's RNS. can you? http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=4688948