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Core Viewpoint - Schlumberger NV (NYSE:SLB) stock has been on an upward trend since mid-August, currently trading at $35.97, but faces significant overhead resistance within a trading channel between $32 and $36, suggesting a potential short-term drop is likely [1]. Group 1: Stock Performance - SLB stock has increased by 1.9% and is on track for its seventh daily gain in eight sessions [1]. - The stock is encountering pressure at the $36 level, which has been a resistance point since early April [2]. - The stock is currently close to its 128-day moving average, being within 0.75 of the 20-day average true range (ATR) [2]. Group 2: Historical Trends - Historical data indicates that similar price actions have occurred four times in the past three years, with the stock declining one month later each time, averaging an 8.2% loss [3]. - A similar decline from the current price would bring SLB back to approximately $33, maintaining its position within the current trading channel [3]. Group 3: Short Interest and Options - Short interest in SLB has decreased by 43.8% in the last two weeks, indicating limited short covering potential [4]. - Options appear to be a cost-effective strategy, as the Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVI) of 31% ranks in the low 11th percentile of its annual range, reflecting low volatility expectations from options traders [4].

Core Insights - SLB, through its OneSubsea joint venture, has secured a significant EPC contract from Equinor for the Fram Sør field development offshore Norway, marking a pivotal advancement in subsea electrification with the introduction of the first large-scale all-electric subsea production system [1][10] Group 1: Project Details - The contract includes the delivery of four subsea templates and 12 all-electric subsea trees, which will eliminate the need for hydraulic fluid from the host platform, thereby minimizing topside modifications and reducing complexity [2] - The Fram Sør development will be connected to the Troll C platform in the North Sea, benefiting from power supplied via the Norwegian mainland, which allows for ultra-low emissions production and enhances energy security for Europe [4][10] Group 2: Industry Impact - The Fram Sør project is seen as a breakthrough for the subsea industry, showcasing how electrified solutions can significantly reduce topside requirements and enable large-scale tiebacks, unlocking additional marginal resources due to their smaller footprint and streamlined operations [3] - Once approved, the Fram Sør project is expected to serve as a model for future low-emission, electrified subsea tiebacks, reinforcing SLB OneSubsea's position as a technology leader in subsea production [5]

Core Viewpoint - US stock markets experienced a significant rally, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average reaching an all-time high, driven by remarks from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell that influenced large tech stocks positively [1][3][4]. Group 1: Market Performance - The Dow Jones surged by 846.24 points, a 1.89% increase, closing at 45,631.74, marking a historical high. The S&P 500 rose by 1.52% to 6,466.91, while the Nasdaq increased by 1.88% to 21,496.53 [3]. - For the week, the Dow Jones gained 1.53%, the S&P 500 increased by 0.27%, and the Nasdaq saw a decline of 0.58% [4]. Group 2: Federal Reserve Insights - Powell's speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium indicated a shift in risk balance, suggesting that the current economic situation may require a policy adjustment due to rising risks in the job market [4]. - Following Powell's comments, traders increased bets on a potential 25 basis point rate cut in September, with a 91% probability according to CME FedWatch [4]. Group 3: Technology Sector Performance - Major tech stocks saw substantial gains, with Tesla rising over 6%, Google increasing by more than 3%, Amazon up over 3%, and Facebook gaining over 2% [7]. - Nvidia announced collaboration with Fujitsu on Japan's next-generation supercomputer and completed the production of six new chips [8]. Group 4: Commodity Market - Oil prices saw a slight increase, with WTI crude rising by 0.2% to $63.66 per barrel and Brent crude up by 0.1% to $67.73 per barrel [12]. - The Philadelphia Gold and Silver Index reached a new historical high, closing at 239.23 points, with a weekly increase of 3.37% [16]. Group 5: Chinese Concept Stocks - Chinese concept stocks generally rose, with the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index increasing by 2.73% and the Wind Chinese Technology Leaders Index up by 2.63% [18]. - Notable gains included Miniso rising over 20%, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation up over 19%, and NIO increasing by over 14% [18].

Core Insights - Petrobras has awarded contracts worth 1.8 billion reais ($328 million) to Halliburton and Schlumberger for well services at the Buzios pre-salt field, aimed at intelligent hydraulic completion for up to 18 development wells between 2026 and 2028 [1][7] Group 1: Strategic Importance - The contracts signify a strategic win for Halliburton and Schlumberger, enhancing their presence in Brazil's growing oil and gas sector [2] - Halliburton is experiencing steady growth in Latin America, while Schlumberger is leveraging its technological advantages to secure global contracts [2] Group 2: Market Demand and Financial Impact - The rising demand for well completion services in Brazil is driven by expanding exploration and production in pre-salt fields, which is expected to boost earnings for Halliburton and Schlumberger [3] - The contracts are anticipated to provide timely revenue support amid volatile oil prices and the cyclical nature of oilfield services [3] Group 3: Operational Developments - Petrobras has achieved record production of 900,000 barrels per day at the Buzios field, with plans to increase capacity through additional floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) units [4] - A total of six FPSOs are currently operational, with a seventh expected by year-end and four more scheduled to begin production by the time the contracts take effect [4] Group 4: Challenges and Future Outlook - While the contracts present growth potential, executing them will involve technical and environmental challenges, as well as compliance with Brazil's regulatory framework [6] - The agreements highlight the significance of the Buzios field in meeting Brazil's production goals and the role of leading service companies in maximizing its potential [6]

Market Performance - The US stock market experienced a decline, with the S&P 500 index falling for the fifth consecutive trading day [1][2] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 0.34% at 44,785.5 points, while the S&P 500 dropped 0.4% to 6,370.17 points, and the Nasdaq fell 0.34% to 21,100.31 points [2] Economic Data - Initial jobless claims in the US rose to 235,000, the largest increase in nearly three months, exceeding expectations of 225,000 [4] - The Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index unexpectedly contracted to -0.3, significantly down from 15.9 the previous month and below the market expectation of 7.0 [4] - Continuing jobless claims reached 1.972 million, the highest since November 2021, surpassing the forecast of 1.96 million [4] Corporate Earnings - Walmart's stock fell 4.5% despite reporting a 4.8% year-over-year revenue increase to $177.4 billion, as its non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.68 missed market expectations due to increased insurance claims [4] Oil Market - International oil prices rose, with Brent crude increasing by $0.83 to $67.67 per barrel and WTI crude up $0.81 to $63.52 per barrel [8] - US crude oil inventories decreased by 6 million barrels to 420.7 million barrels, significantly more than the expected decrease of 1.8 million barrels [8] Chinese Stocks - Chinese stocks listed in the US saw a majority increase, with the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index rising by 1.35% [10] - Notable gainers included Xiaoying Technology, which surged over 16%, and XPeng Motors, which rose more than 11% [10] US-EU Trade Agreement - The US and EU have reached an agreement on a trade framework covering 19 areas, including agricultural products, automobiles, and semiconductors [11] - The EU will eliminate tariffs on all US industrial products and provide preferential market access for various US agricultural products [11][12] - The US will apply a maximum tariff rate of 15% on most EU goods, including automobiles and pharmaceuticals [13]

Group 1 - The focus is on growth and dividend income as a strategy for retirement planning [1] - The portfolio is structured to generate monthly dividend income that grows through reinvestment and annual increases [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of conducting personal research before making investment decisions [2] - It clarifies that the opinions expressed are personal and not professional investment advice [2][3]

Industry Overview - OPEC+ nations' decision to increase oil production raises concerns about an oversupplied market, compounded by hopes for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, leading to poor performance in energy stocks [1] - The bear case for oil may be overly crowded, with potential underestimated demand that could benefit energy stocks in late 2025 and into 2026 [2] Demand Factors - The Federal Reserve's potential interest rate cut of 25 basis points (0.25%) could stimulate industrial activity, travel, and freight, positively impacting oil demand [2] - Residential demand for electricity and heating fuels is sticky and seasonal, with oil-fired generation still relevant in some regions, indicating less elastic consumption than assumed [3] Supply Considerations - OPEC+ nations have not committed to supply increases after September, which could tighten supply and lead to higher oil prices [3] - Geopolitical risks, including potential higher tariffs on countries like India, may persist regardless of the Russia-Ukraine conflict resolution [4] Company Insights: Chevron - Chevron's stock is up 7.7% in 2025, attributed to the completion of its merger with Hess Co., enhancing exposure to Guyana's oil reserves [6] - The company produces between 800,000 and 850,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) in the Permian Basin, focusing on capital efficiency as a growth driver [7] - Analysts have a consensus price target of $164.11 for Chevron, indicating a 5% upside [8] Company Insights: Exxon Mobil - Exxon Mobil, after acquiring Pioneer Natural Resources, is the largest operator in the Permian Basin, generating approximately 1.6 million to 1.8 million boe/d, with plans to reach two million boe/d by 2027 [9] - The stock is down approximately 0.75% in 2025, but analysts project a consensus price of $125.84, offering a 17% upside [10] Company Insights: Schlumberger - Schlumberger is considered a high-beta play in the oil sector, with potential for greater upside if demand exceeds expectations [12] - The company’s stock is down 12.8% in 2025, but analysts forecast a price target of $49.28, representing an increase of over 47% [14]

Core Insights - Schlumberger is experiencing significant macroeconomic uncertainty with oil prices expected to remain in the mid-to-low $60 per barrel range [1] - Despite the challenging oil market, Schlumberger may see incremental improvements due to the completion of the ChampionX acquisition [1] Company Analysis - Schlumberger's performance is closely tied to oil price fluctuations, which are projected to remain stable but low [1] - The acquisition of ChampionX is anticipated to provide a boost to Schlumberger's operations and financial performance [1] Industry Context - The oil and gas industry is currently facing a challenging environment, impacting companies like Schlumberger [1] - The overall investment ecosystem is crucial for making informed investment recommendations, rather than evaluating companies in isolation [1]

Group 1 - The focus is on growth and dividend income as a strategy for retirement planning [1] - The portfolio is structured to generate monthly dividend income that grows through reinvestment and annual increases [1] Group 2 - The article expresses personal opinions and is not intended as investment advice [2][3] - It emphasizes the importance of conducting individual research before making investment decisions [2]