REFINING: Corpus Christ West Shuts Exchange Unit After Fire

May-18 14:26

Valero’s Corpus Christi West refinery has shut an exchanger unit as a result of an earlier fire.

  • Most of the motor fuels made at the refinery comes from the 290,000 bpd West Plant.
  • The extent of the damage or return are not clear at present.

Historical bullets

EU: Negotiators Reach Political Agreement On Chip Subsidy Programme

Apr-18 14:15

The Swedish presidency of the Council of the European Union has stated that "negotiators have reached a provisional political agreement on the European Chips Act. The Chips Act will boost the European ecosystem for semiconductors and play a vital part in strengthening the EU’s competitiveness at the global level."

  • A European Chips act will see a subsidies programme implemented in order to boost supply chain security, and also to boost competitiveness with the US following the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act 2022.
  • Reuters reports that the EUR43bn programme, "...aims to double the bloc's share of global chip output to 20% over the next decade". According to Reuters, "...the Commission had originally proposed funding only cutting-edge chip plants, EU governments and lawmakers have expanded the scope to cover the whole value chain, including older chips and research and design facilities,"
  • The EU Chips act is set to maintain the EU efforts to 'derisk' supply chains for critical components such as semiconductor microchips from China, as well as Taiwan given Western concerns of a future military attack on the island.

EQUITIES: EU Bank call spread

Apr-18 14:01

SX7E (19th May) 113/121cs bought for 1.10 in 10k

EURIBOR OPTIONS: Longer dated call fly

Apr-18 13:53

ERU4 99.50/100.00/100.50c fly bought for 1 in 5k