
Argentine president Cristina Fernandez has sent a draft bill to her lawmakers in Congress that would allow the government to take a controlling stake in local oil and gas giant, YPF SA at the expense of its two largest shareholders, newspaper Clarin reported Thursday.

Brazilian judge denied an injunction seeking to bar oil company Chevron Corp and drill-rig operator Transocean Ltd from operating in Brazil after two offshore oil leaks, a federal court in Rio de Janeiro said this week.

Shares in Argentina's biggest energy company YPF plunged 5.6% in Buenos Aires on Wednesday while the company's US-listed shares were 5% lower in New York.

China National Offshore Oil Corporation, CNOOC, could prove to be the solution for the ongoing clash between the Argentine government and Spain’s Repsol which holds a majority stake in YPG, Argentina’s main oil and gas company.

The escalade between the Argentine government and the oil companies seems to have cooled off for a few hours on Tuesday following a meeting of Planning Minister Julio De Vido with top officials from Petrobras Argentina, and which was described as ‘productive’.

British oil giant BP will not be involved in exploration or production activities in the Falkland Islands, according to the Argentine Foreign Affairs ministry which just a few days ago sent threatening letters to oil industry and financial corporations which could be working or assessing in the disputed South Atlantic waters.

Repsol's chairman Antonio Brufau has asked for a meeting with officials from the Argentine government, which investors fear could seize control of the Spanish oil major's unit in Argentina, YPF.

Mexico’s presidential front-runner wants state oil monopoly Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) to emulate the success of Brazil’s Petrobras and ramp up private-sector involvement that could possibly pave the way for a stock listing in the future.

Brazilian oil giant Petrobras assured that it has complied with all terms of its Argentine Patagonia Neuquén province oil exploitation contract, following provincial governor Jorge Sapag's announcement of the termination of the concession contract in Veta Escondida area.

Argentina’s Planning Minister Julio de Vido denied a report by Buenos Aires newspaper Clarin that the government is working on a plan to use state-controlled pensions Anses to buy a stake in oil corporation YPF, he said in a statement.