Energy prices remain volatile as tensions rise in the Middle East and demand concerns linked to slowing global growth persist.In the background several AIM companies with material exposure to natural gas have issued significant announcements in the last week.On 17 June shares in Reabold Resources (RBD:AIM) and Union Jack Oil (UJO:AIM) gushed higher after drilling on their West Newton site in...

On 5 January it emerged that the Planning Inspectorate had unexpectedly upheld a decision to block the development of the Wressle oil discovery in North Lincolnshire.The operator of the field, Egdon Resources (EDR:AIM) and its partners Union Jack Oil (UJO:AIM) and Europa Oil & Gas (EOG:AIM) all suffered big share price falls. In particular, Egdon fell 1.44p to 6.7p in the immediate aftermath...

Investors in onshore UK oil and gas firms are reeling after the Planning Inspectorate unexpectedly upholds a decision to block development on the Wressle oil discovery in Lincolnshire.The companies behind the project, Egdon Resources (EDR:AIM) (operator with a 25% stake), Union Jack Oil (UJO:AIM) and Europa Oil & Gas (EOG:AIM) are all sharply lower on the news. Egdon sinks 16.6% to 6.8p, Union...

London stocks sour on opening with blue-chip oil majors wilting alongside crude prices on heightened fears the global supply glut will last longer than expected. Multiple financials, especially banks on PPI worries, and leisure outfits are on the back foot. European markets are down around 2%.Repeating the theme which has dominated 2016 so far the oil and gas sector is again under pressure on...

London stocks make modest declines again on Tuesday amid the release of UK gross domestic product data that, as expected, show economic growth slowing in the third quarter. Analysts had anticipated a slowdown in UK economic growth from 0.7% in the second quarter to 0.6%, although the figures are worse, GDP actually edging just 0.5% ahead.That weighs on investor sentiment, the FTSE 100 index...

UK investors are in mean mood in early trade on Thursday after sell-offs overnight on Wall Street and Asian markets, and a smattering of corporate news disappointment. The benchmark FTSE 100 index slides around 17 points, or 0.25%, to 6,333.Builders merchant Travis Perkins (TPK) leads the blue-chips lower, its 7% slump to £18.23 topping the Footsie loser board as management confirm ongoing...

UK shares are closing in on a two-month high in early trading, rising for the third-straight day, as investor optimism dominates as US markets re-open after a long weekend break. The FTSE 100 is trading is around 20 points higher at 6,845.FTSE 100 engineer Weir (WEIR) heads the blue chip leaderboard with a 3.6% advance to £27.34 after a big upgrade from analysts at Credit Suisse. The...

Investor appetite for UK shale stories is reflected in a stellar rise for Union Jack Oil (UJO:AIM). The counter is up 43.6% to 0.44p as a technical report outlines gross potential of 5.4 billion barrels and 2.7 trillion cubic feet of gas in the northern section of its 10%-owned PEDL201 licence.Yet these numbers should be approached with caution. The report contains no risk factors or valuation...

It's time to bid farewellto failed smart metering minnow Bglobal (BGBL:AIM) which has struck its second deal this year to sell an operating division. The disposal of Utiligroup will give Bglobal £16.1 million cash, the bulk of which will be returned to long-suffering shareholders, most likely in the form of special dividends up to the total value of 11p. While this is considerably higher than...