It’s time to get the fleece-lined leggings out: Heating costs will probably spike more than 9% this winter, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association found in its latest report. That gain outpaces inflation, which hit 3% in September and is expected to remain roughly the same for November when it’s reported Thursday (after a government-shutdown-induced lag). NEADA said households will spend just short of $1,000 on heating this winter. The affordability crisis, which has become a go-to debate t ...

Core Viewpoint - Oil prices have reached their lowest levels in nearly five years, with Brent Crude falling below $60 per barrel and WTI dropping into the mid-$50s, primarily due to overwhelming supply despite robust demand [1][2][3]. Oil Market Dynamics - Over the past six months, Brent and WTI prices have decreased by 23% and 25%, respectively, driven by record U.S. crude output, sustained production from OPEC+ members, and softer demand signals, particularly from China's slowing economy [2][3]. - JPMorgan forecasts Brent to fall to $58 and WTI to $54 next year, with a continued downward trend expected through 2027, indicating a prolonged period of depressed prices [4]. Electricity Demand and AI - In 2023, U.S. data centers consumed approximately 176 terawatt-hours of electricity, accounting for about 4.4% of total U.S. electricity use, with projections suggesting this could double or triple by the end of the decade due to AI workloads [5]. - The majority of U.S. electricity is generated from natural gas, renewables, nuclear power, and coal, with oil playing a minor role in grid power generation, indicating a lack of correlation between data center power consumption and crude oil demand [6][7]. Investment Implications - Investors should recognize the distinct markets for electricity and oil, as the demand for electricity driven by AI does not translate to increased oil demand [8]. - Investment opportunities in the electricity sector include utilities and independent power producers, nuclear and uranium investments, and energy storage solutions [8][9][10]. - The financial risks associated with AI expansion are growing, with major tech companies extending depreciation schedules and utilizing creative financing structures to mask long-term liabilities [21][22][23][25].

Artificial intelligence is the greatest investment opportunity of our lifetime. The time to invest in groundbreaking AI is now, and this stock is a steal! AI is eating the world—and the machines behind it are ravenous. Each ChatGPT query, each model update, each robotic breakthrough consumes massive amounts of energy. In fact, AI is already pushing global power grids to the brink. Wall Street is pouring hundreds of billions into artificial intelligence—training smarter chatbots, automating industries, and b ...

You know, obviously there's there's been a volatile element that has come into the AI sentiment here. >> Absolutely. >> A lot of it is centered around Oracle and sort of funding of these projects, private credit and its involvement in all of this.Like what are your thoughts on this. Yeah, I mean we've definitely seen um you know some concern building you know kind of within the markets you know just in terms of the amount of capex that is being committed you know kind of Oracle and the open AI kind of side ...

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Board of Directors of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: XEL) today declared a quarterly dividend on its common stock of 57 cents per share. The dividends are payable January 20, 2026, to shareholders of record on December 29, 2025. This information is not given in connection with any sale or offer for sale or offer to buy any securities. Statements in this press release regarding Xcel Energy's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements†that involve risk ...

Danni Hewson, of the UK-based financial services firm, said: “There’s now a plausible chance the 10,000 index level could be breached by the end of the year, if we get a bit of a Santa rally.It’s now possible that the FTSE 100 could reach the 10,000 mark before the end of the year, according to AJ Bell.According to economists, it now “looks certain” that rates will be cut tomorrow.The FTSE 100 surged, reaching its highest point in eight months after falling inflation cleared the way for the Bank of England ...

Mexico’s state power company and private partners plan to add 6 gigawatts of new electricity generation capacity next year, the latest announcement in President Claudia Sheinbaum’s plan to grow the nation’s energy supplies. https://t.co/Bo4O4Odyks ...

Together with customers, employees and local partners, Duke Energy is making a difference – providing critical energy assistance so families can stay safe and connected during challenging times. "Behind every request for help is a story—a family, a friend, a community member working to get through a tough time," said Loree Elswick, president of Duke Energy Foundation. "Through Share the Light Fund and our local partners, we're able to support our neighbors in their moment of need." "Supporting families thro ...

Key Takeaways CNP announced $0.23 dividend payable Mar. 12, marking one of four recent payout hikes.Marriott Vacations declared $0.80 dividend with a 5.46% yield after raising payouts five times in five years.Zoetis raised its dividend to $0.53, extending a six-time increase streak over five years.Tech stocks have been taking a hit, leading volatility to return to Wall Street over the past few weeks. Over the past few years, tech stocks have led the market rally, but investors have recently been concerned a ...

OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a message to coworkers, PG&E Corporation CEO Patti Poppe announced organizational changes to further improve service for customers and hometowns in Northern and Central California today and into the future. PG&E Corporation is a holding company, and its utility subsidiary is Pacific Gas and Electric Company (together, "PG&E"). The organizational changes are intended to ensure PG&E is more closely connected to local hometown needs and that it continues to mee ...