What's going on?

BASF reported mixed results on Friday, and investors scrambled to wash their hands of the German chemicals company�s toxic stock.

What does this mean?

BASF�s products are essential to just about every industry out there: electronics, cars, construction, agriculture � you name it. That means its customers� hands were tied when the company upped its prices, which helped push its revenue 24% higher last quarter than the same time last year. Trouble was, BASF�s costs climbed too � by nearly $1 billion, on the back of spiking energy prices in Europe alone. That goes some way to explain why its profit only grew a weaker-than-expected 10% last quarter. It probably won�t pick up its feet anytime soon, either: BASF said it�s anticipating its profit to be lower this year than last, as economic growth languishes after a bumper 2021. Investors didn�t like that one bit: they sent its shares down 4%.

Why should I care?

For you personally: This always comes back on you.
Those energy bills aren�t likely to come down anytime soon, not after the Russian invasion of Ukraine sent natural gas and power prices in Europe surging. That�s got BASF ��one of Europe�s biggest corporate users of energy ��planning some hefty price hikes to offset those rising costs. But not only do you not have that option, BASF�s hikes will make everything from plastics to electronics more expensive, meaning you might feel the pinch there too.

The bigger picture: Ooh la la.
Those higher prices will give inflation in Europe�another nudge, which is the last thing it needs after data out last week showed consumer prices in France � the region�s second-biggest economy � rose 4.1% in February compared to a year ago. That�s a big jump from January�s 3.3%, and the highest inflation rate the country�s seen since records began.