CNOOC

Oil prices plunged in Asia on April 18, pushing energy firms and regional stock markets lower after the collapse of talks among the world's top oil producers intended to ease a global supply glut.

Hopes that the talks in Doha on Sunday would result in an output cap helped the black gold climb to 2016 highs last week, having approached 13-year lows just months ago.

China made its boldest overseas takeover move when state-owned ChemChina agreed a $43 billion bid for Swiss seeds and pesticides group Syngenta on Feb. 3, aiming to improve domestic food production.