The energy sector moved higher Tuesday morning, supported by strength...
The energy sector moved higher Tuesday morning, supported by strength in the crude complex and the major equity futures extending their rally into the last week of the year.
WTI and Brent crude oil futures are kicking off the holiday-shortened week higher amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and optimism surrounding the Fed’s dovish pivot. Traders are continuing to focus on last week’s catalysts and are keeping an eye out for more news surrounding tensions in the Middle East. Elsewhere, as of Sunday, Denmark's Maersk announced it is preparing to resume shipping operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, citing the deployment of a U.S.-led military initiative to protect ships traveling through the area.
Natural gas futures are lower on forecasts for warmer temperatures.
Spanish Competition Watchdog Investigates Oil Company Repsol
Spanish oil company Repsol is under investigation...
Spanish oil company Repsol is under investigation by the country's antitrust watchdog over possible abuse of its dominant position in the nation's wholesale fuel market.
The company may have abused of its dominance of the wholesale market between March and December 2022 to increase its petrol station network's market share, the CNMC watchdog said in a statement on Tuesday.
The CNMC statement said that Repsol, Spain's largest oil company, may have offered additional discounts at its petrol stations while raising wholesale prices for rivals such as independent petrol stations.
The investigation was opened after complaints were filed by two associations representing independent fuel station operators.
Record $2.75B in New Mexico Revenue Driven By Oil & Gas
The New Mexico State Land Office reported Tuesday...
The New Mexico State Land Office reported Tuesday a record $2.75 billion in revenue for Fiscal Year 2023, which ran from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.
This was the second time in its history the land office raised more than $2 billion, read an announcement, reporting revenue of $2.4 billion in FY 2022.
Of the funds raised in FY 2023, records show about $2.6 billion, or 96.8 percent came from oil and gas sources, including royalty payments, rental fees and other costs paid by oil and gas operators to produce on State Trust land.
Talos Energyannounced that it was named as the apparent high bidder on 13 deepwater blocks comprising approximately 74,000 gross acres (approximately 48,000 net acres) in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Federal Lease Sale 261 held by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on December 20, 2023. Leases for all blocks remain subject to normal-course, formal award by the Department of the Interior.
U.S. stocks end mostly higher ahead of Christmas break
(Friday market close) Major U.S. equity benchmarks...
(Friday market close)Major U.S. equity benchmarks ended mixed Friday but still posted their eighth consecutive weekly gains while one last round of data before the three-day holiday weekend gifted investors with further signs of easing inflation and consumer strength, bolstering hopes the new year will bring rate cuts from the Federal Reserve and a "soft landing" for the economy.
Earlier Friday, the Commerce Department reported the overall Personal Consumption Expenditures(PCE) price index fell 0.1% in November from October, contrary to expectations for a 0.1% increase. The PCE core rate, which excludes food and energy prices, rose just 0.1%, also below expectations. Compared to November 2022, core PCE was up 3.2%, the smallest annual increase since April 2021.
A sharp drop in Nike(NKE) shares, which plunged nearly 12% after reporting disappointing quarterly results, weighed on the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI). But the market otherwise is poised to end the year on a firm note amid growing optimism over inflation and prospects for Fed rate cuts. The eight-week winning streak for the S&P 500® index(SPX) is its longest since 2017.
"The trend in inflation is decidedly lower," said Kathy Jones, chief fixed income strategist at Schwab. She noted that core PCE averaged 2% over the past six months, even with the Fed's long-term inflation target. "The market continues to price in significant rate cuts in 2024," she added.
Here's where the major benchmarks ended:
TheS&P 500® index was up 7.88 points (0.2%) at 4,754.63, up 0.8% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 18.38 points at 37,385.97, up 0.2% for the week; theNasdaq Composite®(COMP) was up 29.11 points (0.2%) at 14,992.97, up 1.2% for the week.
The 10-year Treasury note yield(TNX) was up about 1 basis point at 3.901%.
TheCBOE® Volatility Index(VIX) was down 0.62 at 13.03.