The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[semi_infinite]

Nice fit and I missed it completely. Should be able to cut a lot of overhead and be ready to get back in buying mode if prices stay low.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>updated<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Elephant hunters besides XOM, my guesses ;

1. cnpc
2. cvx
3. rds - BGgroup
4. sinopec
5. cnooc
6 tot
7. statoil, lukoil, repsol (longshots)

targets not mentioned in starting post

BP
ENI
COP
APA
APC
CHK
OXY
ECA
Woodside ASE:WPL
SU
CNQ
IMO (XOM buy out the rest of it)

The Chinese will try but they may run into the same political issues that happened when cnooc tried to buy Unocal before cvx swooped in. For that reason they will go for smaller us targets and may go after large non-US targets.