WNN - A statement of intent to strengthen cooperation on fast neutron sodium-cooled reactors has been signed between the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). The partners have also a statement of intent to begin cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence.

TRANSCANADA - TransCanada Corporation (TSX, NYSE: TRP) (TransCanada or the Company) announced net income attributable to common shares for first quarter 2018 of $734 million or $0.83 per share compared to net income of $643 million or $0.74 per share for the same period in 2017. Comparable earnings for first quarter 2018 were $870 million or $0.98 per share compared to $698 million or $0.81 per share for the same period in 2017. TransCanada's Board of Directors also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.69 per common share for the quarter ending June 30, 2018, equivalent to $2.76 per common share on an annualized basis

ENI - In the first quarter of 2018, Eni's consolidated adjusted operating profit of €2,380 million increased by 30% from the first quarter of 2017. The improvement was driven by a robust performance in the E&P segment (up by €0.67 billion or 47%) due to an ongoing recovery in crude oil prices, partly offset by a weaker dollar (the Brent benchmark in euro terms was up by 8%), as well as production growth. The G&P segment reported an adjusted operating profit of €0.3 billion, unchanged from the first quarter of 2017.

CHEVRON - Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) reported earnings of $3.6 billion ($1.90 per share – diluted) for first quarter 2018, compared with $2.7 billion ($1.41 per share – diluted) in the first quarter of 2017. Foreign currency effects increased earnings in the 2018 first quarter by $129 million, compared with a decrease of $241 million a year earlier. Sales and other operating revenues in first quarter 2018 were $36 billion, compared to $32 billion in the year-ago period.

TOTAL - Oil prices continued to rebound in the first quarter 2018. Brent rose to an average of $67 per barrel, supported by strong demand, OPEC-non-OPEC compliance and geopolitical tensions. Conversely, as a result of this increase, refining margins were weaker (-34%). In this context, the Group's adjusted net income and DACF continued to increase, achieving growth of 13% and 16%, respectively, compared to a year ago, in line with announced sensitivities. Cash flow after organic investments increased to $2.8 billion, up by more than 50% from a year ago, thanks to good operational performance and continued spending discipline. Return on equity was 10%.

STATOIL - Statoil reports adjusted earnings of USD 4.4 billion and USD 1.5 billion after tax in the first quarter of 2018. IFRS net operating income was USD 5.0 billion and the IFRS net income was USD 1.3 billion.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - В заключение заседания Александр Новак подчеркнул приверженность сконцентрированной работе, направленной на реализацию достигнутых договоренностей по совместным проектам сотрудничества. «Минэнерго России продолжит и дальше оказывать максимальное содействие проектам российско-японского энергетического сотрудничества. Главное – последовательно наращивать усилия наших министерств, сообща помогать бизнесу в осуществлении коммерческих инициатив», - резюмировал Министр.

МИНЭКОНОМРАЗВИТИЯ РОССИИ - «Энергетика остается наиболее масштабной областью российско-японского экономического сотрудничества», – сообщил Максим Орешкин. Он подчеркнул, что Россия является надёжным партнёром для Японии в области СПГ. В последние годы доля российского газа в общем объеме поставок на рынок Японии находится на уровне не ниже 8%. При этом в январе текущего года Россия поставила на рынок Японии около 667 898 тонн СПГ, заняв пятую строчку среди основных экспортеров СПГ в эту страну, рассказал министр.

REUTERS - Schlumberger had initially planned to buy 51 percent in EDC, but decided to scale down its bid. The deal has faced difficulties as relations between Russia and the United States have deteriorated.

REUTERS - Brent crude futures LCOc1, the international benchmark, had dipped 50 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $74.14 a barrel by 0633 GMT. Prices climbed as high as $75.47 last week, levels not seen since November, 2014. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were at $67.82 a barrel, down 28 cents, or about 0.4 percent, from their last settlement.

BP - “We have delivered another strong set of results. Our safe and reliable operations and strong financial delivery have continued into 2018. Underlying profit was up 23% on the previous quarter and was our best quarterly result in three years. With rising output from our new major projects and excellent reliability, Upstream production was 9% higher than a year earlier.

EIA - In February 2018, for the ninth consecutive month, dry natural gas production increased year-to-year from the same month a year ago. The preliminary level for dry natural gas production in February 2018 was 2,203 billion cubic feet (Bcf), or 78.7 Bcf/day. This level was 7.1 Bcf/day (10.0%) higher than the February 2017 level of 71.5 Bcf/day. The average daily rate of dry natural gas production for February was the highest for the month since EIA began tracking monthly dry production in 1973.

ROSATOM - On 28 April, 2018, the world's only floating nuclear power unit (FPU) ‘Academik Lomonosov’ has left the territory of Baltiyskiy Zavod in St. Petersburg, where its construction had been carried out since 2009, and headed to its base in Chukotka.

U.S. DOE - U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 13 projects to receive approximately $60 million in federal funding for cost-shared research and development for advanced nuclear technologies.

PLATTS - Vietnam is estimated to have produced 1.01 million mt (246,777 b/d) of crude oil in April, down 11.8% from the same month last year, according to data released Sunday by the General Statistics Office.

PLATTS - Japanese imports of crude oil from Saudi Arabia in March rose 3.4% month on month to an average of 1.29 million b/d, preliminary data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry released Friday showed.

REUTERS - Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were up 31 cents at $73.44 a barrel by 0900 GMT, after falling nearly 3 percent on Tuesday to its lowest in two weeks. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 50 cents to $67.75 per barrel.

REUTERS - Saudi Arabia has projected a budget deficit of 195 billion riyals ($52 billion) in 2018, or 7.3 percent of GDP, down from 230 billion riyals last year. It plans to balance the budget by 2023.

FRB - In view of realized and expected labor market conditions and inflation, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 percent. The stance of monetary policy remains accommodative, thereby supporting strong labor market conditions and a sustained return to 2 percent inflation.

WNN - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced the successful testing of a uranium-fuelled Stirling engine for use in possible future missions to Mars. Testing of the Kilopower reactor - which could be used to provide power to missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond - began at NASA's Nevada National Security Site in November 2017 and was completed in March.