Dow finishes up 1,200 points as stocks post best day since 2020
U.S. stocks closed sharply higher Thursday, with all three major indexes posting their best day...
U.S. stocks closed sharply higher Thursday, with all three major indexes posting their best day of gains since 2020 as investors cheered signs that U.S. inflation finally might be headed lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +3.70% shot up about 1,198 points, or 3.7%, ending near 33,712, marking its highest level since August and its best daily percentage gain since May 2020, according to Dow Jones Market Data. The S&P 500 index SPX, +5.54% gained 5.5% and the Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, +7.35% closed up 7.4%, their best daily percentage increase since 2020. The sharp rally on Wall Street was led by gains in technology and communication shares, segments of the S&P 500 that booked massive gains of about 8.3% and 6.3%, respectively, according to FactSet. Buyers came out in force after the release of October's consumer-price index showed a 7.7% annual rate of inflation, down from 9.1% this summer, while spurring hopes that the Federal Reserve might be making headway in its fight to bring inflation down to its 2% target. That took some of the attention off the ongoing woes at crypto exchange FTX, with bitcoin BTCUSD, 14.09% down near a 2-year low. The 10-year Treasury rate also dropped to about 3.8% Thursday, down from a 4.2% high in October ahead of the three-day weekend for the U.S. bond market, which will remain closed on Friday for Veterans Day. U.S. stock exchanges, however, will remain open Friday.
Energy stocks are surging alongside broader equities and other...
Energy stocks are surging alongside broader equities and other risk assets, as October CPI rose less than expected, at +0.4% vs estimates of +0.6%, and core rose 0.3% vs estimates of +0.5%, giving the market a signal that inflation may have peaked. The read-through for markets is the Fed’s rate tightening program is working, and consumer prices may begin to decline. The 10-year Treasury yield fell over 5%, and dropped below the key 4%-mark, currently around 3.93% (as of 9:00 AM ET).
Oil prices were initially lower overnight on China demand concerns and a stronger dollar, though those losses quickly evaporated after the 8:30 AM ET inflation report. Oil prices are now higher by nearly 1% as traders reallocate capital into a variety of risk assets.
Natural gas futures are also higher, trading up 3% around $6.03. Weekly inventory data due out later this morning expects a build of 84 bcf versus the 5-year average of +20 bcf.
US crude oil stockpiles surged by 3.9 million barrels last week, while gasoline and distillate supplies...
US crude oil stockpiles surged by 3.9 million barrels last week, while gasoline and distillate supplies declined less than expected, by 900,000 barrels and 500,000 barrels, respectively, the Energy Information Administration reported. Refineries ran at 92.1% of their capacity, a 1.5-percentage-point increase from the week prior.
Occidental raises cost estimate for CO2 capture project
Occidental Petroleum expects inflation to raise the cost of its direct air capture project under development...
Occidental Petroleum expects inflation to raise the cost of its direct air capture project under development in Ector County, Texas, by around 22% to $1.1 billion, but CEO Vicky Hollub said the company is now planning 100 DAC facilities by 2035, up from 70 previously, incentivized by the Inflation Reduction Act and other federal subsidies. The company has already obtained land for half of the projects and expects to achieve cost efficiencies by starting them one after the other.
Cheniere Energy Seeks 18 Months to Upgrade LNG Turbines
Top U.S. LNG exporter Cheniere Energy Inc. is asking Louisiana...
Top U.S. LNG exporter Cheniere Energy Inc. is asking Louisiana regulators for 18 months to upgrade nearly half of its turbines in the state because they exceeded new air pollution limits, according to a document viewed by Reuters.
The request reveals a potential snag at a critical LNG production facility as U.S. producers try to ramp up exports to meet booming global demand. This year, the U.S. government denied Cheniere a waiver from rules limiting emissions of possible carcinogens. The company had argued that such repairs could slow U.S. shipments to Europe.
The repair work will not have a material impact on the company’s finances or operations, Cheniere spokesperson Eben Burnham-Snyder said in an email. He did not offer a cost estimate for the upgrades, some of which have already been made.
