Record oil price hits refiners, airlines
13/8/2005 9:23
Leo Zhang/Shanghai Daily news
Shares in Shanghai
yesterday dived for the first day in six led by oil refiners and airlines after
crude futures rose to a record on overseas markets. The Shanghai Composite
Index, which covers yuan-denominated A shares and foreign-currency B shares,
lost 1.32 percent to 1,167.92. The A-share Index shed 1.36 percent to 1,227.12
while the B-share Index added 1.88 percent to 67.43. "Rising oil prices will
dent earnings of users as they may fail to pass on the increased costs to
customers," said Li Zhi, a Hualin Securities Co analyst. China Petroleum
& Chemical Corp, Asia's biggest oil refiner and also known as Sinopec, dived
2.60 percent to 4.49 yuan (55.4 US cents). Sinopec Yizheng Chemical Fibre Co,
the country's largest chemical fiber maker, lost 2.01 percent to 2.44 yuan. Qilu
Petrochemical Co, 82 percent-owned by Sinopec, fell 2.48 percent to 7.09
yuan. Crude oil for September delivery grew as much as 0.5 percent to
US$66.13 on the New York Mercantile Exchange in early trading. The figure was
the peak for a contract nearest to expire since futures started trading in
1983. The rise in the oil price hit airlines over concerns mounting jet fuel
costs may erode earnings. China Southern Airlines Co, the country's biggest
carrier by fleet, closed at 2.82 yuan, down 1.74 percent. China Eastern Airlines
Corp, the third largest, plunged 2.30 percent to 2.55 yuan.
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