May 18- Texas has joined the crowd of Gulf of Mexico states to file suit against BP Plc, Halliburton Co and others for their role in one of the worst oil spills in U.S. history. Texas joins four other states that have sued BP and other companies in connection to the spill: Florida and Mississippi filed complaints last month, while Alabama and Louisiana did in 2010..
*Freeport first project approved since 2011.
BP PLC rose$. 21 or. 5 percent, to $42.96. ConocoPhillips rose$. 88 or 1.4 percent, to $63.31. Exxon Mobil Corp. rose $1.06 or 1.2 percent, to $91.76.
LONDON/ WASHINGTON, May 17- A European probe into possible oil price manipulation expanded with the investigation of a small niche trading house in the Netherlands and a key U.S. senator on Friday called for the Justice Department to join the investigation.
HOUSTON, May 17- Independent western U.S. refiner Tesoro Corp said on Friday that it has signed a side letter agreement with California Attorney General Kamala Harris on its planned $2.4- billion purchase of BP Plc's Los Angeles- area refinery and other assets.
WASHINGTON, May 16- The chairman of the U.S. Senate's energy committee asked the Justice Department on Friday to investigate whether alleged price manipulation by three oil companies in Europe has boosted fuel prices for U.S. consumers.
BP PLC rose$. 07 or. 2 percent, to $42.82. ConocoPhillips rose$. 22 or. 3 percent, to $62.65. Exxon Mobil Corp. rose$. 40 or. 4 percent, to $91.10.
May 17- The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Friday said it approved Tesoro Corp's purchase of BP Plc's 240,000 barrel per day Los Angles area refinery and other assets in a 3-0 vote. The commission found the deal would not substantially lessen competition among seven refiners for gasoline in California, the nation's largest gasoline market.
*European Commission has raided pricing agency Platts. The mid-sized trading company, which deals in physical oil products and owns storage facilities, was visited by inspectors from the European Commission on Tuesday.
BP PLC rose$. 15 or. 3 percent, to $42.90. ConocoPhillips rose$. 29 or. 5 percent, to $62.72. Exxon Mobil Corp. rose$. 63 or. 7 percent, to $91.33.
NEW ORLEANS, May 16- The deadline for claims against BP Plc in connection with the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill is 11 months away, but the man responsible for paying the claims said on Thursday he is already bracing for a late surge in filings.
BP PLC fell$. 23 or. 5 percent, to $42.75. ConocoPhillips rose$. 01 or percent, to $62.43. Exxon Mobil Corp. fell$. 54 or. 6 percent, to $90.70.
*BP Arco station owners told sale could happen by June 1. HOUSTON/ WASHINGTON, May 16- Independent western U.S. refiner Tesoro Corp may take ownership of BP Plc's 240,000 barrel per day refinery in Carson, California, as early as June 1, sources familiar with the transaction said on Thursday.
*Investigators at Platts in London for third day. LONDON, May 16- European anti-trust investigators searched the offices of price agency Platts and at least one major oil company for a third day on Thursday, hunting for evidence of possible price manipulation on oil markets, witnesses said.
HOUSTON, May 16- Independent western U.S. refiner Tesoro Corp may take ownership of BP Plc's 240,000 barrel per day Carson, California, refinery, 800- station retail network and distribution and storage assets as early as June 1, said sources familiar with the transaction on Thursday.
BP PLC fell$. 05 or. 1 percent, to $42.93. ConocoPhillips rose$. 10 or. 2 percent, to $62.52. Exxon Mobil Corp. fell$. 07 or. 1 percent, to $91.17.
LONDON/ ZUG, Switzerland, May 16- A shareholder coup at newly merged commodities group Glencore Xstrata ousted its chairman and all former Xstrata directors on Thursday, replacing him with former BP boss Tony Hayward, excoriated for his role in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
LONDON/ ZUG, Switzerland, May 16- A shareholder coup at newly merged commodities group Glencore Xstrata ousted chairman Sir John Bond on Thursday, along with all other former directors from Xstrata, replacing him with former BP boss Tony Hayward.