Core Insights - The chemical industry is currently at the bottom of its cycle, with expectations of gradual recovery driven by global economic growth and demand increase [2][5][20] - The report emphasizes the importance of supply-side dynamics, noting the retreat of foreign investment and the slowdown of domestic capacity expansion, which may lead to a turning point for the industry [2][5][36] - Key recommendations include focusing on cyclical resilient and growth sectors such as industrial silicon, organic silicon, PTA, spandex, caprolactam, soda ash, and chlor-alkali, as well as high-demand products like refrigerants and potassium fertilizers [2][5][6] Demand Side Analysis - The chemical industry is closely tied to global economic performance, with a projected global GDP growth of 3.09% in 2026, driven mainly by developing countries like India [22][25] - China's GDP growth is expected to be 4.16% in 2026, indicating robust domestic demand [22][25] - Emerging sectors such as new energy and AI are expected to drive material consumption, with significant growth in electric vehicle sales and energy storage capacity anticipated [27][29] Supply Side Dynamics - The report highlights the challenges faced by foreign chemical giants due to rising energy costs and increased competition, leading to significant profit declines [36][41] - Major foreign companies are closing high-cost production facilities in Europe, which may create opportunities for domestic players [36][41][47] - Domestic chemical companies are experiencing pressure on investment returns, leading to a slowdown in capital expenditure growth and a pause in new capacity plans [49] Investment Strategy - The report suggests a focus on cyclical resilient products and growth sectors, with specific attention to high-quality companies that possess competitive advantages [6][36] - The potential for price increases or stable prices with volume growth in bottom-tier products is emphasized, particularly in industrial silicon and organic silicon [6][36] - The report also identifies opportunities in the tire and civil explosives sectors, particularly as companies expand internationally [7][36] Emerging Opportunities - New material sectors, including humanoid robots and AI materials, are highlighted as areas of potential growth, driven by domestic policy support and the need for localized supply chains [8][36] - The report notes the increasing importance of domestic production capabilities in high-end materials due to international trade tensions [8][36]

No, it's not Nvidia, or any of its tech titans for that matter'Tis the season of looking back on this year's stock market performance. With 2026 fast approaching, traders are taking stock of their wins and losses to shape their investment strategies for the new year. Despite no shortage of volatility, the tech sector was a big winner amid the AI boom. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) has amassed a solid 44.6% year-to-date lead, even as overvaluation concerns weighed on the chip sector recently.The Dow Jon ...

Core Viewpoint - The recent price increases of MDI (Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate) by major chemical companies are driven by rising raw material costs, production disruptions, and increased demand for lightweight materials in various industries [3][4]. Price Increases - Major chemical companies including BASF, Huntsman, Wanhua Chemical, and Dow Chemical have announced significant price hikes for MDI products across Europe, Asia, and Africa, with increases reaching up to €350 per ton [3]. - Specific price adjustments include BASF raising prices by $200 per ton in South Asia, Wanhua Chemical increasing prices by $200 per ton in Southeast Asia and South Asia, and Huntsman announcing a €350 per ton increase in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East [3]. Reasons for Price Increases - The price hikes are attributed to several factors: fluctuations in international oil prices raising core raw material costs, increased transportation and energy costs, and compliance pressures [4]. - Additionally, 45% of China's MDI production capacity is undergoing maintenance, which includes major plants from Wanhua and BASF, leading to reduced output [4]. - The demand for MDI is also supported by trends in building insulation materials, a recovery in home appliance exports, and the growing need for lightweight materials in the electric vehicle sector [4]. Capacity Expansion - Wanhua Chemical is accelerating its MDI capacity expansion project in Fujian, expected to add 700,000 tons of capacity by Q2 2026, potentially increasing its global market share to 42% [4]. - Mitsui Chemicals announced plans to further increase its MDI production capacity by 10,000 tons per year, following a recent expansion that brought its total capacity to 610,000 tons [5]. Environmental Considerations - Mitsui Chemicals is also focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing a recovery system during its capacity expansion, aligning with global efforts to improve building insulation performance and combat climate change [5]. Supply Chain Developments - The production process for MDI at Mitsui Chemicals has been enhanced through the implementation of advanced technology, which has improved the efficiency of chlorine production and reduced waste [6].

Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer expressed thoughts on. A caller asked if the stock is a buy, sell, or hold. In response, Cramer said: “No, I’ll tell you why. It had a nice bounce off the cut. It could have another point or two, but that’s all. I don’t want you to play for just a point. I want you to play for the enchilada.” Photo by Artem Podrez on Pexels Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) develops chemical and material products used in packaging, construction, transportation, and consumer indust ...

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures showed mixed performance following a mixed close on Thursday, with major indices experiencing fluctuations [1][3] - The Dow Jones increased by over 600 points, indicating a rotation out of expensive tech stocks, while overall risk appetite remained strong after the Federal Reserve's third consecutive interest-rate cut [1][2] Economic Indicators - The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.17%, while the two-year bond was at 3.53%, with a 73.4% likelihood of the Federal Reserve maintaining current interest rates [2] Company Performance - **Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ:COST)**: Experienced a 0.52% decline in premarket trading despite better-than-expected financial results for Q1 fiscal 2026, maintaining a weaker price trend [7] - **Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO)**: Dropped 5.18% due to disappointing guidance regarding shrinking gross margins and a higher tax rate for fiscal 2026, but maintains a stronger price trend overall [7] - **Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU)**: Jumped 9.49% after exceeding Q3 expectations and raising full-year guidance, despite a weaker long-term price trend [16] - **RH (NYSE:RH)**: Increased by 4.26% despite mixed Q3 results, reporting earnings of $1.71 per share, missing estimates, but revenue of $883.81 million beat expectations [16] - **Tilray Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY)**: Surged 28.11% following the announcement of a new product line, maintaining a stronger long-term price trend [16] Sector Insights - Analysts suggest a rotation from Communication Services and Information Technology into sectors with more upside potential, specifically highlighting Financials, Industrials, and Utilities as favored sectors [12][14] - The anticipated GDP growth and moderating inflation are expected to create a favorable environment for risk assets, particularly equities [12]

Market Overview - Three of the four major indexes reached new closing highs, with the Dow gaining +646 points (+1.34%), S&P 500 increasing +14 points (+0.21%), and Russell 2000 rising +31 points (+1.21%) [1] - The tech-heavy Nasdaq experienced a slight dip of -60 points (-0.25%) due to concerns over Oracle's recent performance, indicating potential challenges in the AI sector [2] Company Earnings Reports - Broadcom (AVGO) reported fiscal Q4 earnings of $1.95 per share, exceeding the Zacks consensus of $1.87, with revenues of $18.02 billion surpassing the $17.50 billion estimate. AI semiconductor revenue grew +74% year over year [3] - Broadcom raised its fiscal Q1 revenue guidance to $19.1 billion, with AI semiconductor business expected to generate $8.2 billion next year, doubling from the previous year [4] - Costco (COST) reported mixed fiscal Q1 results, with earnings of $4.50 per share exceeding the $4.26 consensus, but sales of $65.98 billion fell short of the $67.33 billion estimate, leading to a marginal decline in shares [5] - Lululemon (LULU) shares rose over +10% following a strong Q3 earnings report, with earnings of $2.39 per share and revenues of $2.6 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $2.48 billion [6]

The "January effect†for small-cap stocks now arrives in December. ...

Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) is included among the 15 Dividend Stocks Paying 4%+ Yield in 2025. Citi Highlights Weakening Polyethylene Market, Trims DOW Price Target On November 19, Citi reduced the firm’s price target on Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) to $23 from $25 and maintained a Neutral rating on the shares. The firm also lowered its estimates for other chemical companies due to price discounting in polyethylene. It noted that these discounts point to weakening demand and a negative outlook for PE-exposed companies in ...

Dow Inc. (DOW) closed at $23.11 in the latest trading session, marking a +1.09% move from the prior day. The stock's change was more than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.09%. Elsewhere, the Dow lost 0.38%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.13%. Shares of the materials science witnessed a gain of 3.44% over the previous month, trailing the performance of the Basic Materials sector with its gain of 3.88%, and outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 1.89%.The investment community will be paying close attention to ...

Core Viewpoint - The launch of the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index ETF (BITW) provides retail investors and financial advisors with access to a diversified range of cryptocurrencies, marking a significant development in the cryptocurrency investment landscape [1][2]. Group 1: ETF Details - BITW includes 10 digital assets: Bitcoin, ether, XRP, Solana, Chainlink, Litecoin, Cardano, Avalanche, Sui, and Polkadot, making it the first ETF from a major crypto asset manager to include Cardano, Avalanche, Sui, and Polkadot [2]. - The ETF was converted from an index fund and starts trading with $1.5 billion in assets, offering advantages such as increased trading flexibility, tax efficiency, and lower fees compared to traditional funds [4]. - BITW allocates 90% of its holdings to Bitcoin, ether, Solana, and XRP, capping the combined weight of all other tokens at 10%, and will be rebalanced monthly [8]. Group 2: Market Context - The ETF launch follows the SEC's approval of several spot bitcoin ETFs in January 2024, prompting asset managers to seek approvals for ETFs tracking a broader range of digital assets [5]. - The cryptocurrency market has recently experienced pullbacks, with Bitcoin trading as low as $85,000, over 30% off its record high of approximately $126,000 [6]. - Despite the risks associated with smaller coins, the ETF offers potential diversification similar to broad index funds, appealing to investors seeking comprehensive exposure to digital assets [7]. Group 3: Company Background - Bitwise manages over $15 billion in client assets and offers a suite of more than 40 digital asset investment products [9].