NEW YORK, December 30, 2025, 01:45 ET — Market closed
- CNOOC Ltd shares rose about 4% in Hong Kong trade, tracking firmer oil.
- A filing showed an independent director resigned and board committees were reshuffled.
- Traders are watching Fed minutes later Tuesday and the next U.S. oil inventory update.
CNOOC Limited shares climbed 4.36% to HK$21.54 in Hong Kong on Tuesday, from a previous close of HK$20.64, as oil prices steadied after a sharp prior-session rise. PetroChina’s Hong Kong-listed shares were up 3.27% in the same window.
The move matters because upstream oil producers like CNOOC tend to move with crude, and the market is trying to price a tug-of-war between geopolitical risk and signs of ample supply heading into 2026.
Oil rose on Monday after investors weighed developments around Ukraine peace talks and fresh geopolitical tensions, helping lift energy-linked equities in Asia. Brent settled at $61.31 a barrel and U.S. WTI at $57.39 in that session.
On Tuesday, oil was little changed after that jump. Brent February futures were down 2 cents at $61.92 a barrel and U.S. WTI eased 5 cents to $58.03, Reuters reported, as investors watched for clarity on Russia-Ukraine negotiations and potential supply disruptions. “I think the markets are sensing that a deal is going to be very hard to come by,” Marex analyst Ed Meir said. Reuters
Supply-side signals have also kept a lid on bullish bets. Saudi Arabia is expected to cut its February official selling prices — monthly benchmarks used for term crude sales — to Asia for a third month, a Reuters survey of regional refining sources showed, underscoring weak spot market indicators and abundant supply.
U.S. inventory data has not helped the demand narrative. U.S. crude, gasoline and distillate stocks rose in the week ended Dec. 19, the Energy Information Administration said, with crude inventories up 405,000 barrels versus expectations for a draw.
Company-specific headlines also hit the tape. A Hong Kong exchange filing showed independent non-executive director Chan Chak Ming resigned effective Dec. 29 after accepting an appointment by the Hong Kong government, and the company reshuffled audit and remuneration committee memberships; the filing said Chan had no disagreement with the board.
The governance change is not an operating update, but it adds to the list of things investors scan in year-end positioning, alongside oil prices, dividends and policy signals.
CNOOC is listed in Hong Kong and Shanghai and is China’s largest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas, according to the company’s stock information page.
For Asian producers, softer Middle East pricing and shifting refinery economics can feed back into expectations for realized crude prices, even when headline benchmarks hold steady.
Before the next session, U.S. traders will parse the Federal Reserve’s minutes from its Dec. 9–10 policy meeting due at 2:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, an event that can move rate expectations and the dollar — both key variables for dollar-priced commodities.
Oil markets also have another inventory checkpoint close behind. The EIA’s Weekly Petroleum Status Report is typically released at 10:30 a.m. ET on Wednesdays, with holiday exceptions, and often drives short-term crude moves when it surprises expectations.
On the chart, CNOOC has traded between HK$20.78 and HK$21.70 on the day, within a 52-week range of HK$15.50 to HK$23.30. A sustained push through the day’s high would leave the stock’s next obvious reference near the annual peak.
Further out, the next major company catalyst is its full-year update. MarketScreener lists CNOOC’s Q4 2025 earnings release as projected for March 31, 2026, when investors will look for any shifts in production and spending priorities and the dividend outlook.
