Australian gas giants look to avert strikes as global prices soar

Natural gas prices spiked across Europe on Wednesday after staff voted to down tools over working conditions at Woodside's offshore rigs in Western Australia, which pumps out more than 10 percent of the world's liquefied natural gas exports each month.

Although Europe has largely replenished gas stockpiles disrupted by the war in Ukraine, there are fears that shortages and strong demand in Asia could rapidly put the squeeze on supplies.