“ Spare a thought, amid the oil price rout, for beleaguered Centrica, trying to flog its oil and gas exploration assets in a world where buyers have evaporated. The owner of British Gas “paused” its search for a buyer for its 69% stake in Spirit Energy a fortnight ago, but bowing to the inevitable has merely highlighted the financial strain across the group.
Everything is going wrong at once. Power usage in the UK has plunged as offices and factories have shut. Bad debts will inevitably rise among small businesses and British Gas consumers. “Material headwinds are ahead,” said Jefferies’ analysts on Wednesday as they slashed their estimate of Centrica’s earnings by a mighty 30% for this year, 2021 and 2022.
The broker’s more alarming line was the one about “acute stress” on Centrica’s credit rating. A downgrade would be serious since there’s a direct line between the rating and the collateral required for the trading business to buy energy on decent terms.”
British Gas owner needs more than cost-cutting and energy prices prayer | Nils Pratley | Business | The Guardian
Have you taken any profits yet?
Everything is going wrong at once. Power usage in the UK has plunged as offices and factories have shut. Bad debts will inevitably rise among small businesses and British Gas consumers. “Material headwinds are ahead,” said Jefferies’ analysts on Wednesday as they slashed their estimate of Centrica’s earnings by a mighty 30% for this year, 2021 and 2022.
The broker’s more alarming line was the one about “acute stress” on Centrica’s credit rating. A downgrade would be serious since there’s a direct line between the rating and the collateral required for the trading business to buy energy on decent terms.”
British Gas owner needs more than cost-cutting and energy prices prayer | Nils Pratley | Business | The Guardian
Have you taken any profits yet?
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