Key Takeaways Phillips 66 may offer greater stability across cycles due to its diversified business mix.VLO benefits from flexibility at its refineries that can shift product yields based on market conditions.PSX trades at a higher EV/EBITDA, reflecting investor preference for diversification & stable cash flows.Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) and Phillips 66 (PSX) are two well-known names in the refining space, with each company having a diversified network of refineries that can process a wide variety of ...

February WTI crude oil (CLG26) today is up +0.23 (+0.40%), and February RBOB gasoline (RBG26) is up +0.0126 (+0.73%). Crude oil prices added to Monday's sharp gains today as global geopolitical risks from Venezuela, Nigeria, and Russia persist.  Also, expectations that OPEC+ will stick with plans to pause further crude production increases are supportive for crude prices.  Gains in crude are limited after the dollar index (DXY00) climbed to a 1-week high today.  Also, Monday evening's release of the weekl ...

The crude oil market was rather muted on Thursday due to the US Thanksgiving celebrations. However, USO ETF extended its previous gains, having bounced off its one-month low. ...

Federal Reserve & Market Expectations - The market anticipates the Federal Reserve to maintain current interest rates, with focus on the summary of economic projections (SEP) and the dot plot for future rate guidance [2][3] - There's a possibility the Fed's 2025 dot plot could be revised up, expecting only one rate cut this year instead of two, potentially causing initial market declines if it skews hawkish [4][5] - Investors are closely monitoring the Fed's policy decision and the dot plot for clues on future interest rate movements [57] Economic Concerns & Consumer Sentiment - A majority (65%) of Americans believe tariffs will negatively impact their personal finances, contributing to downbeat consumer sentiment [60] - Consumer sentiment regarding the economy's direction is heavily influenced by political affiliation [64][65] - Younger Americans are slightly more pessimistic about the economic outlook, potentially due to financial fragility [67] Housing Market - New housing construction has fallen to levels not seen in 5 years, since May 2020, with 126% million new homes started in May [40][41] - High interest rates, labor shortages, and material costs continue to challenge home builders and weigh on new construction [42][43][45] - The US faces a shortage of approximately 5 million homes, exacerbated by long-standing issues in the housing market [47] Labor Market for New Graduates - New college graduates are facing challenges in the labor market, with an unemployment rate of 66% in May for those aged 20-24 [23] - Industries like technology, information, media, and financial services are not hiring as many new graduates as before the pandemic [26][27] - Education and healthcare sectors are showing stronger hiring growth for young professionals [31] Formula 1 Growth & Brand Partnerships - Formula 1 is experiencing growing popularity in the US, with the 2024 championship reaching approximately 30 million viewers across ESPN's platforms [87] - The F1 fan base in the US is around 50 million and has been nearly doubling year-on-year [94] - A third of Formula 1's partners and sponsors are from the US, highlighting the sport's importance in the American market [94] Gaming Industry - AMD and Xbox have announced a multi-year hardware partnership for the next generation Xbox consoles and handhelds [106][107] - Microsoft aims to expand its Game Pass service, costing between $9 and $1999 per month, through this partnership [107][108] - Nvidia holds a significant lead in the PC gaming market, while AMD powers the Xbox and PlayStation consoles [112][113] Credit Card Comparison - The Chase Sapphire Reserve card's annual fee has increased to $795, up from $550, offering new credits and perks [74] - The American Express Platinum card has a slightly lower annual fee at $695 and offers similar travel benefits [80] - The Capital One Venture X card has a significantly lower annual fee of $395 but is removing complimentary guest access to airport lounges [84][85]