Shell, BP among applicants for U.S. crude export licenses, FT says

Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) and BP (BP) are among the six companies known to have applied to the U.S. government for crude oil export licenses, according to the Financial Times. U.S. exports could substantially impact oil trading patterns between North America, Europe and west Africa and put pressure on prices of other crudes, particularly Brent, the report noted.