How Geopolitical Tensions Are Affecting Oil Prices
Supply outages in the Kurdistan region supported crude oil (BNO) (USO) (USL) prices last week.
Miscellaneous
OPEC’s Crude Oil Production: Key for Crude Oil Traders?
A Bloomberg survey estimates that OPEC’s crude oil production rose by 315,000 bpd to 32.21 MMbpd in May 2017—compared to the previous month.
Why Oil Prices Could Lose Momentum
On January 25, 2018, US crude oil’s (USO) (USL) March 2018 futures fell 0.2% and settled at $65.51 per barrel.
Why Walmart Is Investing Heavily in E-Commerce
If we look at the recent performance of the company, Walmart’s US (SPY) segment has benefited from the company’s e-commerce initiatives.
Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Dr Pepper Snapple: A Valuation Showdown?
As of March 28, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo were trading at 12-month forward PE multiples of 22.7x and 22.0x, respectively.
Ripple Crosses $1 for the First Time on December 21
For the first time in history, the price of ripple has surpassed $1.
How the Dollar Is Affecting Oil
US crude oil (DBO) (USL) (OIIL) July futures rose 5% between May 16 and May 23, 2017.
What’s Nabors Industries’ Short Interest as of June 19?
Short interest in Nabors Industries (NBR) as a percentage of its float was 11.4% as of June 19, 2017, compared to 10.1% as of March 31, 2017.
Fertilizers Were Affordable for the Week Ending June 23
According to the Fertilizer Affordability Index, 2017 has been one of the most affordable years for fertilizers. Mosaic issues the index.
What Revenue Synergies Would a Fairchild-ON Merger Bring?
Looking at revenue synergies, we see that Fairchild’s strong portfolio in the high voltage and medium voltage power semiconductor market complements ON’s low voltage and small-signal market.
How Mining Stock Volatility Numbers Are Moving Now
First Majestic, New Gold, Agnico, and Silver Wheaton now have RSI scores of 60.5, 56.2, 57.6, 59.6, respectively.
Why Is the Risk in Oil Prices Rising?
On December 5, 2017, US crude oil (USO) (USL) January 2018 futures rose 0.3%. The API’s oil inventory data might have supported oil prices on the same day.
Does the Natural Gas Fall Relate to Oil’s Decline?
Between November 29 and December 6, natural gas (GASL)(GASX)(FCG) January 2018 futures had a correlation of -1.6% with US crude oil January futures.
Traders Focus on the API and EIA’s Crude Oil Inventories
On May 16, 2017, the API released its weekly crude oil inventory report. US crude oil inventories rose by 0.8 MMbbls (million barrels) on May 5–12, 2017.
Brent Underperforming US Crude Oil: Impact on US Oil Exports
In 2017 year-to-date, US crude oil exports averaged ~782,700 barrels per day, based on weekly data from the EIA (Energy Information Administration).
Are Natural Gas Supplies Overtaking Demand?
Futures spread On September 27, 2017, natural gas (FCG) (GASL) (BOIL) 2018 November futures traded $0.04 lower than November 2017 futures. That is, the futures spread was at a discount of $0.04. On September 20, 2017, the futures spread was at a discount of $0.10. Between September 20 and 27, 2017, natural gas November futures […]
Why Did US Distillate Inventories Fall Again?
June diesel futures contracts rose 2.1% to $1.47 per gallon on May 10, 2017. Prices rose due to the larger-than-expected fall in distillate inventories.
How Do Recent Potash Prices Compare with Their 15-Year Average?
The average weekly price of MOP (muriate of potash) in Vancouver remained unchanged for the week ended May 20, 2016.
Ventas Completes Spin-Off of Care Capital Properties
Ventas’s spin-off Care Capital Properties (CCP) will issue 84 million shares ($30 to $34 per share) and expects to raise around $2.7 billion.
US Refinery Demand Impacts Crude Oil Inventories
US refineries operated at 93.4% of their operable capacity in the week ending May 5, 2017. The rise in refinery demand is bullish for crude oil prices.
Why Online Sales Are A Competitive Advantage For Staples
The growth in ODP and OMX’s combined sales fell—compared to Staples. They were ~143% of SPLS’s sales in 2007. This is just over $8 billion. That fell to $7.3 billion in 2013.
Why Most Analysts Are Calling Marathon Petroleum a ‘Buy’
Marathon Petroleum (MPC) has been rated by 19 Wall Street analysts. Seventeen analysts (or 89%) have rated it as a “buy” so far in May 2017.
Why Analysts Dropped Their Estimates for Shake Shack’s Earnings
Currently, analysts are expecting Shake Shack (SHAK) to post EBIT margins of 12.6%, 9.6%, 8.8%, and 13.3% in 3Q16, 4Q16, 1Q17, and 2Q17, respectively.
How MLP Funds Performed in April 2017
Among MLP funds, ETFs were the top performers in terms of total returns in April, while ETNs were the bottom performers.
US Crude Oil and Gasoline Futures Moved Together
June gasoline futures contracts rose 1.3% to $1.53 per gallon on May 3, 2017. Prices rose due to the less-than-expected rise in US gasoline inventories.
Fertilizers Were More Affordable in Week Ended November 25
For the week ending November 25, fertilizer affordability fell to 0.65x from 0.66x week-over-week.
US Gasoline Inventories Fell Less, Pressured Gasoline Prices
The EIA released its weekly crude oil report on May 24, 2017. US gasoline inventories fell by 0.8 MMbbls to 239.9 MMbbls on May 12–19, 2017.
OPEC and Non-OPEC Meeting Could Drive Crude Oil Futures
August US crude oil futures contracts rose 0.4% and closed at $44.4 per barrel on July 10. Brent crude oil futures rose 0.4% to $46.8 per barrel.
Crude Oil Futures Hit a 1-Week High
WTI (West Texas Intermediate) crude oil (RYE) (USO) (USL) futures contracts for August delivery rose 1.9% and closed at $44.24 per barrel on June 27, 2017.
What Short Interest in Weatherford Indicates
Weatherford International’s (WFT) short interest as a percentage of its float was 14.9% as of May 22, 2017, compared to ~14% as of March 31, 2017.
Energy Calendar for Oil and Gas Traders: May 1–5
The energy sector contributed to ~6.3% of the S&P 500 (SPY) (SPX-INDEX) on April 28, 2017. Oil and gas are major parts of the energy sector.
Crude Oil Prices Rose for the Fifth Day: Is It a Bear Trap?
August WTI (West Texas Intermediate) crude oil (XOP) (RYE) (USO) futures contracts rose 1.1% and closed at $44.74 per barrel on June 28, 2017.
What Does Basic Energy Services’ Historical Valuation Suggest?
On March 31, 2017, Basic Energy Services’ (BAS) stock price had fallen 6% from December 30, 2016.
How MLP-Focused Funds Performed in May 2017
Among MLP funds, exchange-traded notes fell the most while the exchange-traded funds declined the least.
Will Russia’s Oil Production Fall in the Coming Months?
Russia’s Energy Ministry reported that its oil production fell in the first half of April 2017 due to major producers’ production cut deal.
Brent-WTI Spread Impacts Your Oil-Related Investments
On February 14, WTI crude oil (USO) (USL) (OIIL) (SCO) active futures traded at a discount of $2.84 per barrel compared to Brent crude oil active futures.
What Falling Miner RSI Levels Suggest
The RSI levels of our four select mining giants have all increased lately due to their higher stock prices.
Fertilizers Were Less Affordable Last Week
Last week, fertilizer affordability rose to 0.66x from 0.65x week-over-week. A ratio below one means that fertilizers are more affordable than during the base year.
The Truth behind Cisco’s Acquisition of CliQr Technologies
On March 1, Cisco announced the acquisition of CliQr Technologies for $260 million. CliQr provides application-centric hybrid cloud management software.
Why the Brent-WTI Spread Could Make Global Oil Supplies Rise
On October 17, 2017, Brent crude oil (BNO) active futures closed $6 above the WTI (West Texas Intermediate) crude oil futures.
Natural Gas Prices Are Impacted by the US Dollar
Between May 3 and May 10, 2017, natural gas (GASX) (FCG) (GASL) June futures rose 2%. The US dollar (UUP) (UDN) (USDU) rose 0.5% during that period.
Why Investors Are Tracking US Gasoline Demand
The EIA (U.S. Energy Information Administration) estimated that four-week average US gasoline demand fell by 80,000 bpd to 9,237,000 bpd on April 14–21.
Why Oil Traders Should Stay Cautious after OPEC Meeting
On November 30, 2017, US crude oil (USO) (USL) active futures rose just 0.2% and closed at $57.4 per barrel.
Oil Bulls, Don’t Worry About the Rising US Dollar
US crude oil futures contracts for June 2017 delivery fell 3.7% between May 2, and May 9, 2017, while the US Dollar Index rose 0.7%.
China’s Crude Oil Imports Hit a New Record
China’s General Administration of Customs reported that China’s crude oil imports rose to 9.21 MMbpd (million barrels per day) in March 2017.
Which Hospital Stocks Are Expected to Benefit Most?
Trumpcare’s failure is considered to be a boon by hospital companies treating a significant portion of Medicaid members.
Analyzing Shake Shack’s Fine-Casual Concept
Shake Shack is conceptualized as a “new fine-casual” restaurant format. The fine-casual restaurant is a hybrid of the fine dining and fast-casual dining formats.
Which Sectors in the UK Will the ‘Brexit’ Decision Affect Most?
The financial sector has contributed heavily to the UK economy. Financial institutions like HSBC and Barclays will face challenges doing business in the EU.
Why the Fertilizer Affordability Index Was Lower Last Week
The Fertilizer Affordability Index has shown a downward trend since the beginning of the year. Fertilizers have become more affordable in 2017.
Why US Gasoline Inventories Rose for the Third Straight Week
A less-than-expected rise in gasoline inventories supported gasoline prices on May 3, 2017. Gasoline and crude oil (DIG) (SCO) (VDE) prices rose on May 3.