Loki News

The All Share Index in Oslo was up 3.8 percent in May, and shipping and offshore stocks were leading the way as the Shipping Index surged 13.9 percent during the month. All but three of the offshore stocks listed on the OSE experienced positive share price movements in the period. Northern Offshore (NOF), announcing strong results for first quarter, was up all of 50 percent. Nortrans Offshore (NOL), Navis (NIS), Stolt Comex Seaway (SCS) and Smedvig (SME/SMEB) were all up between 33 and 20 percent. Polar Holding (POL) fell 26 percent in May as District Offshore (DOF) failed in it's attempt to acquire the company. Brøvig Offshore was down 17 percent, while DOF fell 3 percent. The two cruise operators both experienced a positive share price development in May.

The All Share Index in Oslo was up 3.8 percent in May, and shipping and offshore stocks were leading the way as the Shipping Index surged 13.9 percent during the month. All but three of the offshore stocks listed on the OSE experienced positive share price movements in the period. Northern Offshore (NOF), announcing strong results for first quarter, was up all of 50 percent. Nortrans Offshore (NOL), Navis (NIS), Stolt Comex Seaway (SCS) and Smedvig (SME/SMEB) were all up between 33 and 20 percent. Polar Holding (POL) fell 26 percent in May as District Offshore (DOF) failed in it's attempt to acquire the company. Brøvig Offshore was down 17 percent, while DOF fell 3 percent. The two cruise operators both experienced a positive share price development in May.

The All Share Index in Oslo was up 3.8 percent in May, and shipping and offshore stocks were leading the way as the Shipping Index surged 13.9 percent during the month. All but three of the offshore stocks listed on the OSE experienced positive share price movements in the period. Northern Offshore (NOF), announcing strong results for first quarter, was up all of 50 percent. Nortrans Offshore (NOL), Navis (NIS), Stolt Comex Seaway (SCS) and Smedvig (SME/SMEB) were all up between 33 and 20 percent. Polar Holding (POL) fell 26 percent in May as District Offshore (DOF) failed in it's attempt to acquire the company. Brøvig Offshore was down 17 percent, while DOF fell 3 percent. The two cruise operators both experienced a positive share price development in May.

The Shipping Index at the Oslo Stock Exchange performed well in the quite summer month of July, rising 2.7 percent, and thus again lifting the maritime sector of shipping, offshore and cruise shares above the levels of year-end 1999. Within the sector, 29 shares rose during the month, while only 12 decreased in market value. Among the offshore stocks, Nortrans Offshore (NOL) were again strong, as in May, after a 10 percent fall in June. With a rise of 23 percent it ended as the month's winner. Also Havila Supply (HAV) rebounded strongly from a rather poor June performance, while Northern Offshore (NOF) only continued its upward trend.

Following the record month of August, the All Share Index in Oslo fell by 3.7% in September. The index for Cruise, Shipping and Offshore stocks (the Shipping index) fared slightly better, falling 2.2% during the month. Oil prices continued to rise in the beginning of September, but fell back significantly at the end of the month. All but six of the OSE-listed offshore stocks, experienced negative share price movements in the period. Topping the offshore loser's list, Petrolia Drilling (PDR) and Northern Offshore (NOF) fell by 32 and 28% respectively. Ocean Rig (OCR), the best performing offshore stock in September, was up 7%. Nordic American Tanker Shipping (NAT), up 12%, and Frontline (FRO), up 4%, were among the few bright spots in September.

Offshore shares have been the winners in recent months on the back of a rapidly rising oil price. In September however, this sector dipped 5.9 percent to show the poorest price performance on the Main List. PGS's (PGS) price fall of 7.3 percent was the main contributor. Fred. Olsen Energy (FOE) and Smedvig (SME & SMEB) dropped 12.6 and 10.3 percent respectively. This was despite a continuing rise in the oil price resulting from OPEC discipline and declining oil stocks. Not since January 1997 has North Sea oil commanded such high prices as today. The SMB-listed Ocean Rig (OCR) almost halved its value during September, much due to a new issue that are being executed at a much lower price than expected.

A December rally on the Oslo Stock Exchange gave maritime shares an extra glitter and ensured a strong finish to an already strong year. Shipping and offshore shares performed marginally better than shares on the general Oslo market during 1999, rallying 8.6 percent in December to finish the year a solid 48.0 percent above last year's close. The All Share Index, which includes all shares on the Main List, was up 45.5 percent for the year, and shaking off the dismal record in 1998 when the index dropped 26.7 percent. The All Share Index is still 4.4 percent away from its all time high, while the Shipping Index is 24.4 percent below its top mark.

While the All Share Index dropped 2.1 percent during January, maritime shares were the best performing sector at the Oslo Stock Exchange as the Shipping Index rose 3.6 percent. Shares worth of NOK 54.2 billion changed hands in 196,710 trades in January. On average, 9,367 trades to a value of 2,582 million were transacted daily, compared with last year's figures of 5,292 trades and NOK 1,770 million respectively. As much as 90.3 percent of all trades were automatically matched in the now one year-old trading system. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and NCL Holding (NCL), the two cruise operators listed at the Exchange, experienced a good month as they climbed 12.3 and 11 percent respectively. Competitive bidding made NCL Holding the second most active share in Oslo.