Escalation of geopolitical risk in the Middle East has added a risk premium to crude oil, supporting prices. The Wall Street Journal said last Wednesday that the US has discussed seizing tankers carrying Iranian oil. Also, the US is sending a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East to prepare for military action should nuclear talks with Iran fail. The US Department of Transportation recently issued a maritime advisory stating that American-flagged ships should stay as far as possible from I ...

Group 1 - Micron's stock has increased by 3.7% due to the tight supply and rising prices of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) [1] - Cisco Systems reported strong earnings but warned that high memory costs may impact future profits, highlighting the tightness in the DRAM memory chip market [1] - Samsung has started shipping its latest HBM4 chips to capitalize on high prices, while SK Hynix is also increasing HBM production [2] Group 2 - Micron has begun high-volume production of HBM4, contributing to the competitive landscape in the HBM market [2] - The current tight supply and rising prices are boosting Micron's profits, but increased production from competitors may eventually lead to a supply surplus and lower prices [4] - The semiconductor industry remains cyclical, indicating that the current boom for Micron may not be sustainable in the long term [5]

Listen and subscribe to Opening Bid on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. In the world of high-stakes investing, the "next big thing" may look less like a chatbot and more like a Labubu (9992.HK) doll. "It really is just supply and demand," Josh Luber, co-founder of StockX and founder of Ghostwrite, told Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast (see the video above; listen below). "The demand half of the equat ...

What if Bitcoin miners aren't stealing energy, but are actually the secret key to global energy abundance and energy grid stability. In this episode, I'm joined by Adam Swick, who made the transition from high finance to the physical trenches of Bitcoin mining. Adam explains how Bitcoin mining acts as a flexible load, a tool that can turn on and off in seconds to save the electrical grid when demand spikes, especially in the computing arms race that is currently taking place with the growth of AI.and stick ...

Just imagine this. Baby boomers bought more stuff than anyone in world history. Just think about that.And what are they all doing right now. They're trying to figure out what to do with it. There's more material that will be hitting the market than ever before.And it's required to find appropriate places and strategies for sale for these objects. So that's number one. supply is going to increase with baby boomers.Number two, what did they buy. Right. Um um most young folks are not interested in 19th century ...

Supply and demand drive the market. If there is more supply than demand, meaning there are more shares to sell than to buy, the price will go down.This is because the investors and traders who wish to sell must undercut each other's prices to attract buyers. This action results in a downtrend.These downtrends tend to end or at least pause when they reach support levels. At these levels, there is enough demand, or shares to be bought, to absorb all the supply, or shares that are for sale.As you can see on th ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The fourth quarter results were significantly below expectations due to operational issues and a decline in chlorine pipeline demand [5][6] - Generated approximately $321 million in operating cash flow, maintaining net debt flat compared to year-end 2024 [8][21] - Available liquidity stood at $1 billion at year-end 2025, with a focus on preserving and enhancing liquidity [21][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Chlor-alkali products faced pressure from subsidized Asian chlorine derivatives, leading to a challenging macro environment [8][9] - The Epoxy business saw sequential growth due to improved product mix and margins, although it remains in a low profitability state [10][11] - Winchester business adjusted its operating model to reflect lower commercial ammunition demand, with a focus on inventory reduction [12][13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Merchant chlorine demand remains under pressure, with significant increases in exports from China affecting U.S. customers [8][9] - Global caustic soda demand remains healthy, driven by sectors like alumina and water treatment, with expectations of tightening supply due to low inventories [9][10] - Military sales in Winchester grew significantly, offsetting declines in commercial ammunition sales [14][15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is committed to a value-first commercial approach and has announced a long-term EDC supply agreement with Braskem [6][7] - Olin's Beyond250 structural cost reduction program aims to identify and eliminate inefficiencies, targeting $100 million to $120 million in annual savings for 2026 [16][19] - The company is exploring potential expansions into PVC through joint ventures and partnerships, maintaining a long-term optimistic outlook despite current market challenges [43][44] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the challenges in the chlor-alkali market and expects a recovery in demand to begin in warmer months [31][32] - The company is focused on executing cost reductions and maintaining operational discipline to navigate the current trough [26][67] - Management expressed confidence in being well-positioned for future market recovery, emphasizing safety and reliability in operations [36][40] Other Important Information - The company anticipates a cash-free tax year in 2026 due to expected refunds related to clean hydrogen production tax credits [23][75] - A $70 million stranded cost is expected due to the closure of Dow's Freeport propylene oxide plant, which the company is planning to offset through cost reductions [10][54] Q&A Session Summary Question: Chlorine pipeline demand decline and recovery expectations - Management noted a sharp decline in chlorine pipeline demand in Q4, primarily due to destocking, with expectations for recovery in warmer months [29][31] Question: Impact of competitor capacity closures - Management indicated that capacity rationalization is occurring globally, which should improve supply-demand balances quicker than expected [34][35] Question: Military demand trends at Winchester - Significant growth in military revenue was reported, with expectations for continued growth in 2026, despite challenges in commercial demand [38][39] Question: Guidance for Q1 and cost impacts - Management discussed headwinds from increased turnaround spending and higher costs for power and natural gas affecting Q1 guidance [50][52] Question: Clarification on stranded costs - Management confirmed awareness of the $70 million stranded costs and emphasized the need for cost reductions to offset this burden [54][55] Question: Energy costs and hedging strategy - Management confirmed that the company remains heavily hedged but faced unhedged components due to recent spikes in natural gas prices [70] Question: Volume and EBITDA benefits from Braskem EDC arrangements - Management refrained from quantifying specific benefits but highlighted the strategic partnership's potential for higher value and improved cost positions [72][73]

Core Insights - Hecla Mining's stock surged 20% this week, reaching an all-time high, driven by rising silver prices which recently crossed the $100 per ounce threshold [1][8] - The company is the largest primary silver producer in the U.S. and Canada, benefiting from both silver and gold price increases [3] - Hecla was recently added to the S&P MidCap 400 index, further boosting investor interest [6] Silver and Gold Market Dynamics - The spike in silver prices is attributed to a persistent supply deficit over the past five years, with industrial demand outpacing supply [5] - Central banks have been increasing their gold purchases at historically high levels, contributing to the rise in gold prices [4] - China's recent export restrictions on silver have also played a role in igniting the price rally [5] Company Events and Future Outlook - Hecla Mining will host its 2026 Investor Day in New York City on January 26, providing further insights into supply and demand dynamics [6] - The company's stock performance is closely tied to the fluctuations in precious metal prices, particularly silver and gold [1][8]

Key Points Intel beat on earnings and revenue in Q4. Intel warned of supply problems in Q1 2026. Supply shortages can be great news for companies that are still producing -- like AMD. 10 stocks we like better than Advanced Micro Devices › Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) stock's in freefall this morning, down more than 15% after announcing an earnings beat but a guidance miss. Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) stock, on the other hand, is headed in the opposite direction. AMD shares gained 3.8% through 10 ...

Core Viewpoint - Energy stocks are experiencing a surge due to the potential regime change in Venezuela, but there are concerns that this optimism may overlook the fundamental economic implications of increased oil supply leading to lower prices [1][2][3]. Group 1: Market Reactions - Following President Trump's announcement of a U.S.-led intervention in Venezuela, energy stocks, particularly the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:XLE), rose by 3.66% to an intraday high of $47.32 [2]. - Investors are optimistic about a reconstruction boom for U.S. oil majors like Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX), but this optimism may be premature given the potential for increased oil supply [3]. Group 2: Supply and Demand Dynamics - The opening of Venezuela's oil reserves, which hold 303 billion barrels, could lead to increased production, potentially suppressing oil prices [3]. - Roberts argues that the oil market is governed by supply and demand mechanics, and with global demand potentially slowing, the addition of Venezuelan supply poses a risk of a glut [3][4]. Group 3: Price Predictions - Roberts predicts that oil prices have a greater risk of falling into the $40 range rather than rising to $80 within the year [4]. - Despite the bearish long-term outlook, crude oil is currently considered "oversold" in the short term, with potential for a temporary price spike due to geopolitical tensions, particularly involving Iran [5]. Group 4: Portfolio Positioning - In light of the anticipated lower oil prices, Roberts is adjusting his portfolio away from pure oil production and focusing on energy plays related to AI power generation to mitigate volatility [6]. Group 5: Current Market Data - As of the early New York session, WTI crude was trading at approximately $56.19 per barrel, reflecting a 0.36% increase [7]. - Performance data for energy ETFs shows varied results, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLE) at 1.97% over six months and 2.52% over one year, while the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (NASDAQ:ICLN) has performed significantly better at 26.06% over six months and 47.27% over one year [7][8].