BP plc (NYSE:BP) has announced the appointment of a new head to run its Canadian unit.

BP plc Signs Up Canada Head

Long-time BP plc (NYSE:BP) employee Christina Verchere has been appointed as the new head of its Canadian unit.

Verchere was previously based in Houston, where she managed the restructuring of BP’s upstream business.

In her new role, she will be responsible for discoveries in the Canadian Arcticand BP plc (NYSE:BP)’s growing oil sands business in the country.

BP plc (NYSE:BP) shares were at 42.05 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a -4.7% change in the stock price over the past 3 months.

BP plc (NYSE:BP) Analyst Advice
Consensus Opinion: Moderate Buy
Mean recommendation: 1.57
(1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell)
3 Months Ago: 1.71
Zack’s Rank: 3 out of 19 in the industry

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) has made two management appointments in its Americas Products division.

Chevron Corporation Makes Executive Changes

According to a report, Brant Fish has become the new vice president of Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)’s Americas Products West and George Wall has become vice president of Americas Products East & Latin America, based in Houston.

Brent Tippen, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) spokesman said, “In their new roles, Fish is accountable for the profit and loss of ChevronCorporation (NYSE:CVX)’s refining and fuels marketing activities and driving supply chain optimization value capture in the Western Continent plus Hawaii. George Wall is responsible for the profitability of the crude-to-customer value chain for the Eastern United States and Latin America fuels.”

Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX) shares were at 103.49 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a -4.0% movement in the stock price over the past 3 months.

Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX) Analyst Advice
Consensus Opinion: Moderate Buy
Mean recommendation: 1.4
(1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell)
3 Months Ago: 1.56
Zack’s Rank: 5 out of 19 in the industry

BP plc (NYSE:BP) has leased 84,000 acres of drilling land in northeast Ohio.

BP plc Leasing Ohio Shale Land

According to an announcement made by BP plc (NYSE:BP), it has signed an agreement to lease 84,000 access in Utica/Point Pleasant Shale in northeast Ohio for future oil-and-gas production.

However, financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed yet.

Tim Harrington, regional president of BP plc (NYSE:BP) North America Gas said, “We actually think this has the opportunity to be very good for Ohio, very good for BP plc (NYSE:BP). The company will sign up leaseholders over the next six months and then appraise how much oil and gas are in the shale. Development will follow.”

BP plc (NYSE:BP) stocks were at 44.90 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a 6.8% change in the stock price over the past 3 months.

BP plc (NYSE:BP) Analyst Advice
Consensus Opinion: Moderate Buy
Mean recommendation: 1.53
(1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell)
3 Months Ago: 1.71
Zack’s Rank: Error in the industry

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) has invested $150,000 in the STEM Partnership School at Aurora University.

Caterpillar Makes University Manufacturing Donation

Heavy vehicles manufacturing major Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) has invested $153,240 in the science, technology, engineering and mathematic (STEM) Partnership School at Aurora University.

This investment will be used to support the university’s manufacturing curriculum.

Ken Knight, Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT)’s Aurora facility general manager, said, “Aurora University’s unique program has strong ties to the Aurora community, where a majority of our employees work and live. We look forward to matching the knowledge of our Caterpillar team with the talent at Aurora University as we design a manufacturing curriculum. We’re experts in manufacturing and Aurora University has experts in education — making this a perfect fit”.

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) company shares are currently standing at 107.83.

Price History
Last Price: 107.83
52 Week Low / High: 67.54 / 116.95
50 Day Moving Average: 110.91
6 Month Price Change %: 46.0%
12 Month Price Change %: -0.5%

Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) has won the 2012 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award from the EPA.

Raytheon Wins Energy Award

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a 2012 ENERGY START Sustained Excellence Award to Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) for the fifth consecutive year for its outstanding contribution to environmentally friendly initiatives.

EPA selected the defense company from 20,000 public and private ENERGY STAR partners.

Raytheon (NYSE:RTN)’s chairman and CEO William H. Swanson said, “It is a great honor to once again receive this outstanding recognition. Since Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) joined the ENERGY STAR program, it has been exciting to see how passionate our teammates continue to be about Raytheon (NYSE:RTN)’s sustainability efforts. They are constantly looking for new efficiencies and improvements that raise the bar, and their initiative helps simultaneously drive cost savings and protect our communities for future generations”.

Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) stocks were at 52.18 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a 14.5% change in the stock price over the past 3 months.

Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) Analyst Advice
Consensus Opinion: Hold
Mean recommendation: 2.24
(1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell)
3 Months Ago: 2.24
Zack’s Rank: 1 out of 6 in the industry

The Biofuels unit of BP plc (NYSE:BP) has entered into a four-year agreement with Mendel Biotechnology.

BP plc Signs Four Year Biotech Deal

Under this new deal, Mendel Biotechnology and Biofuels unit of BP plc (NYSE:BP) will conduct a demonstration field trial of Mendel’s PowerCane Miscanthus and evaluate its performance as feedstock for biofuel production.

Sue Ellerbusch, president of Biofuels unit of BP plc (NYSE:BP) North America said, “As we move toward commercial production of cellulosic biofuels and work to bring costs in line with conventional fuels, agricultural advancements such as this will be a critical factor.”

BP plc (NYSE:BP) stocks are currently standing at 47.29.

Price History
Last Price: 47.29
52 Week Low / High: 33.62 / 48.34
50 Day Moving Average: 45.82
6 Month Price Change %: 29.9%
12 Month Price Change %: 5.0%

It has been reported that Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is in talks with the state energy company in Turkey.

Exxon Mobil Corporation To Make Turkey Deal?

The US based oil giant Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is holding talks with state energy company TPAO on searching for shale gas in Turkey.

TPAO Chief Executive Mehmet Uysal said, “We have carried out our studies. We have big shale gas potential. This attracts a lot of foreign firms, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) in particular. They are currently considering the potential in Trakya (western Turkey) and they’re going to make up their mind whether or not to become partners with us.”

Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:XOM) shares are currently standing at 85.55.

Price History
Last Price: 85.55
52 Week Low / High: 67.03 / 88.13
50 Day Moving Average: 85.74
6 Month Price Change %: 19.1%
12 Month Price Change %: 4.2%

BP plc (NYSE:BP) has agreed to become a corporate partner with the AIEF in Australia.

BP plc To Sign AIEF Partnership Deal

Under this new deal, the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) will receive about $1 million from BP plc (NYSE:BP) over the next five years as part of the company’s reconciliation action plan.

AIEF founder Penfold said “The support of BP plc (NYSE:BP) would help the foundation in its two parallel programs, one paying for scholarships for students to attend boarding school and the other for the pathways program supporting students after they left school.”

BP plc (NYSE:BP) stocks were at 46.54 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a 6.1% change in the stock price over the past 3 months.

BP plc (NYSE:BP) Analyst Advice
Consensus Opinion: Moderate Buy
Mean recommendation: 1.53
(1=Strong Buy, 5=Strong Sell)
3 Months Ago: 1.71
Zack’s Rank: 4 out of 19 in the industry