The markets this week will focus on any fresh trade or tariff news. Later today, Aug new home sales are expected to decline by -0.3% m/m to 650,000. On Thursday, weekly initial unemployment claims are expected to increase by +2,000 to 233,000. Also, Aug core (ex-defense and aircraft) capital goods new orders are expected to slip -0.1% m/m. In addition, Q2 GDP is expected to be unrevised at +3.3% (q/q annualized). Finally, Aug existing home sales are expected to fall -1.3% m/m to 3.96 million. On Friday, Aug ...

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures are showing modest gains as investors react to mixed corporate earnings and economic signals, with a focus on Federal Reserve commentary [1] - S&P 500 futures are up approximately 0.1% to 0.3%, while Nasdaq 100 futures have climbed between 0.2% and 0.4%, indicating a potential recovery after a previous session's profit-taking [2] Federal Reserve Commentary - Fed Chair Jerome Powell's remarks about stock prices being "fairly highly valued" contributed to a cautious market sentiment, leading to a dip in major indexes [3] Upcoming Economic Data - Key economic data releases include the final reading on second-quarter GDP growth and the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, which are critical for future interest rate policy [4] Earnings Reports - Companies reporting earnings include Cintas Corporation, Thor Industries Inc., and KB Home, with Baker Hughes scheduled to release third-quarter results on October 23 [5] Corporate Developments - Micron Technology's shares rose after better-than-expected fourth-quarter results and a strong revenue forecast, driven by demand from AI developers [6] - Alibaba's U.S.-listed shares surged nearly 10% following plans to increase investment in AI infrastructure and a partnership with Nvidia [7] - Lithium Americas shares skyrocketed 60% due to news of potential investment from the Trump administration, with General Motors shares also advancing approximately 3% [8] Notable Movers - SHF Holdings shares increased by 150% after securing a stock purchase deal, while Cyclerion Therapeutics rose 39% following a licensing agreement with MIT [9] - Aytu BioPharma fell 14% postmarket after reporting disappointing revenue and losses, while Cohu declined 10% after-hours due to plans to offer convertible senior notes [9] Commodities Market - Gold prices are near recent record highs, while oil prices have edged higher due to falling U.S. crude inventories and geopolitical concerns [10]

Rising corporate earnings expectations are a bullish backdrop for stocks. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, more than 22% of companies in the S&P 500 provided guidance for their Q3 earnings results that are expected to beat analysts’ expectations, the highest in a year. Also, S&P companies are expected to post +6.9% earnings growth in Q3, up from +6.7% as of the end of May.Fed Governor Michelle Bowman said, “Now that we have seen many months of deteriorating labor market conditions, it is time for the FO ...

Joining us now is Melius Researchers head of energy and power research James West. James, thank you very much for joining us. >> Thanks for having me, Ryan.>> Well, do you think we first off, can we make that kind of power. >> So, I think we're going to be seeing fencing starts here on power generation. I mean, we didn't have power growth in this country for 20 years, and now we're having this dramatic surge in growth.And power is the table stakes, as I mentioned in the note, uh to AI. If you don't have ele ...

Core Viewpoint - The energy sector is experiencing mixed performance, with some stocks showing potential for growth despite overall skepticism about the sector's stability [2][9]. Group 1: Top Energy Stocks - Valero is highlighted as the top stock in the energy sector, with an A+ rating and a breakout chart indicating strong performance [2][3]. - Marathon is rated as an A, showing no sellers and a flat 200-day moving average, suggesting potential upward movement [4]. - Baker Hughes is rated B+, recognized as a leading oil field service company, with a breakout potential and a stop at $42 [5]. - Philip 66 is rated C but has the potential to improve to B, as it has maintained a high position in the market [6]. - Chevron is also rated C, with a significant dividend and buyback program, but facing resistance at higher price levels [7][8]. Group 2: Market Context and Performance - The energy sector is currently the best performing sector, with refiners showing strong momentum in price and earnings growth [11][12]. - Stable energy prices, particularly oil in the low $60s, are beneficial for refiners like Valero, Marathon, and Phillips [11]. - The overall sentiment in the energy sector remains cautious, with some investors expressing concerns about overleveraging in their positions [11][12].

And we are back on halftime with Josh Brown's best stocks in the market. Josh, tossing it over to you. All right.Um, guys, as you all well know, rooting for the energy sector or being overweight energy in the modern era. It's a little bit like being a Jets Jets fan. Every once in a while, like they'll win a big game and everyone will look at each other and be like, "Are the Jets for real?" And then the next week you oh wait, no they're not.Um, and that's been the story with the sector. I don't like the sect ...

Group 1 - The total number of active drilling rigs in the United States increased to 542, which is a decrease of 46 rigs compared to the same time last year, indicating a continued low level near four-year lows [1] - The number of oil rigs rose by 2 for the third consecutive week, reaching 418, which is a decline of 70 rigs year over year, while the gas rig count remained stable at 118, reflecting a gain of 22 active gas rigs from the previous year [2] - The Permian Basin experienced a slowdown in drilling but maintained a count of 254 rigs, which is 53 rigs lower than the previous year, while the Eagle Ford count remained at 42, down by 6 from last year [4] Group 2 - Weekly U.S. crude oil production fell slightly from 13.495 million barrels per day (bpd) to 13.482 million bpd, marking an average weekly production that is 81,000 bpd lower than at the beginning of the year [3] - The Frac Spread Count, which estimates the number of crews completing wells, rose to 169, just 7 above the four-year low [3] - As of the latest trading data, WTI benchmark crude was down $0.71 per barrel at $62.86, while Brent benchmark crude was down $0.78 at $66.66, with both figures showing slight increases compared to the previous week [5]

Core Insights - Petrobras is enhancing its technological leadership and operational excellence through a multi-year partnership with Baker Hughes, focusing on the deployment of Blue Marlin and Blue Orca offshore stimulation vessels to optimize Brazil's oil and gas production [1][9][10] Production and Operational Efficiency - Petrobras is scaling its pre-salt output, targeting a 5% sequential increase in production for Q2 2025, with a long-term goal of 3,200 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day from 2025 to 2029, over 80% of which will come from pre-salt fields [3] - The pre-salt reservoirs are noted for their high margins and resilience in lower oil price environments, contributing to Brazil's energy security [3] Safety, Sustainability, and Localization - The partnership emphasizes health, safety, and environmental standards, with Blue Marlin and Blue Orca achieving over 650 consecutive perfect HSE days, showcasing operational safety and environmental responsibility [4] - Petrobras is committed to sourcing the majority of chemicals used in operations locally, which strengthens Brazil's energy supply chain and creates domestic jobs [4] Strategic Importance of Stimulation Vessels - Blue Marlin and Blue Orca are crucial for enhancing production efficiency and minimizing downtime, with their advanced capabilities significantly contributing to the productivity of Petrobras' pre-salt fields [5][6] - The vessels are equipped for tailored chemical treatments and can perform multiple operations without needing to resupply at port, ensuring reliable support and reducing nonproductive time [6] Future-Ready Energy Solutions - Petrobras is integrating dynamic infrastructure and digital innovations, such as AI-driven analytics, to enhance efficiency and prepare for future challenges in offshore operations [7] - The ability of stimulation vessels to provide on-demand services is critical for maintaining production reliability in the Brazilian economy [7] Strategic Partnerships - The alliance with Baker Hughes exemplifies how energy companies can leverage advanced technology while supporting national interests, ultimately delivering greater value and fostering economic development [10][11]

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Tuesday closed down -0.13%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) closed down -0.27%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed down -0.08%.  September E-mini S&P futures (ESU25) fell -0.11%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU25) fell -0.04%. Stock indexes gave up an early advance on Tuesday and posted modest losses on long liquidation and position squaring ahead of Wednesday’s FOMC meeting results.  The markets are expecting that the Fed will cut interest ...

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is down -0.15%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is down -0.36%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -0.10%.  September E-mini S&P futures (ESU25) are down -0.23%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU25) are down -0.16%. Stock indexes gave up early gains today and turned lower as the 2-day FOMC meeting began.  The markets are expecting that the Fed will cut interest rates at Wednesday’s conclusion of the 2-day FOMC meeting.  However, the S&P 5 ...