Nomadic Shipping News

The All Share Index in Oslo lost a further 4.2 percent in April, and as in March the main reason for the fall was international repricing of technology stocks. However, shipping and offshore companies were not providing any help for the market, as the Shipping Index fell a solid 5.8 percent during the month. Det Søndenfjeldske (SFJ), Ocean Rig (OCR) and Stolt Comex Seaway (SCS and SCSA) all fell between 14 and 19 percent, leading the way down for offshore stocks. The share price of Det Søndenfjeldske has dropped almost 25 percent during the last two months. Also Smedvig A (SME), Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) and TGS Nopec (TGS) saw their market values fall in April. The three stocks fell 1.1, 5.4 and 5.7 percent respectively.

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.

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.

Offshore shares on the Oslo Stock Exchange continued to rise in November, buoyed by the continuing high oil price and expectations of increased level of activities from oil companies in the year 2000. After a few dismal months, offshore shares regained the positive position they have occupied for most of the year. Other maritime shares fell during November so it was offshore and cruise that carried the Shipping Index to a 1.9 percent rise for the month and the rise of 36.2 percent for the year so far. TGS Nopec Geophysical Company (TGS), a seismic operator with a market cap of about NOK 2 billion, was up 33 percent in November. TGS, one of the most heavily traded shares in Oslo, both within the offshore sector on the exchange and throughout, is up 164 percent so far this year.