Buffett has said his Berkshire Hathaway would not take complete control of the oil firm. https://t.co/ivA6bKhnVX (Photo: Paul Morigi/WireImage via Getty Images) https://t.co/oiOktP2mzv ...

Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway is in negotiations to acquire Occidental Petroleum's petrochemicals business, potentially valued at $10 billion, marking a significant move in the oil and petrochemical sectors [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The deal could close within a few days and would represent Berkshire Hathaway's largest acquisition since 2022, when it acquired Alleghany for $11.6 billion [2]. - Berkshire Hathaway is already the largest shareholder in Occidental Petroleum and has been increasing its stake over the years, leading to speculation about a potential takeover [2]. Group 2: Occidental Petroleum's Business - Occidental's petrochemicals division, OxyChem, specializes in chemicals for battery recycling, water chlorination, and paper production, and generates approximately $5 billion in revenue annually [3]. - If the acquisition is finalized, OxyChem would rank among the largest standalone petrochemical producers globally [3]. Group 3: Financial Context - Occidental has been divesting assets to reduce its debt, which currently stands at about $24 billion, down from $48.75 billion in September 2019, following its $55 billion acquisition of Anadarko [4]. - The company faced a debt increase in 2023 after acquiring CrownRock for $12 billion [4]. Group 4: Industry Position - Earlier this year, Occidental was recognized as one of the top 10 shale operators, producing 1.22 million barrels of oil equivalent daily, ranking third behind Exxon and Expand Energy [5].

Exxon Mobil is slashing 2,000 jobs worldwide, the oil industry’s latest mass layoff as companies adapt to anemic oil prices and get more efficient at extracting fossil fuels https://t.co/2iwlVetUQL ...

Core Insights - U.S. oil companies are experiencing significant job cuts due to falling crude prices, higher tariffs, and industry consolidation, with 4,000 positions lost through August 2023 [1][3] - The decline in U.S. crude oil prices, which have dropped 13% this year, is attributed to increased supply from OPEC+ members, impacting profitability for shale oil producers [2] - Major U.S. oil companies, including Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips, have announced substantial layoffs as part of their restructuring plans following recent acquisitions [2][3] Industry Overview - The broader energy sector has seen a total of 9,000 job losses through August 2023, marking a 30% increase in layoffs compared to the same period in 2024 [3] - Hiring within the energy sector has drastically decreased, with only around 1,000 job openings planned, a 90% drop from over 12,000 openings in the same period of 2024 [4] Company-Specific Actions - Exxon Mobil is cutting 2,000 positions as part of its restructuring efforts [3] - Chevron plans to reduce its workforce by up to 20% through 2026 [3] - ConocoPhillips has announced a workforce reduction of up to 25% [3]

Core Insights - Exxon Mobil is planning to cut 2,000 jobs, which accounts for 3% to 4% of its global workforce as part of a corporate restructuring effort [1][5] - The company is consolidating smaller offices into regional hubs to align its global footprint with its operating model [2][4] - Other oil industry leaders are also implementing cost-cutting measures, with TotalEnergies aiming to save $7.5 billion by 2030 and Chevron having laid off 15% to 20% of its employees [5] Company Strategy - The restructuring plan is part of Exxon's long-term strategy to redesign work processes and improve cost competitiveness [4] - Exxon emphasizes the importance of collaboration and is realigning its operations to support this goal [2][4] Market Reaction - Following the announcement of job cuts, Exxon's shares fell by 1.46%, trading at $112.55 [5]

Market Overview - U.S. stocks experienced a decline, with the Dow Jones falling over 100 points, down 0.30% to 46,174.85, NASDAQ down 0.28% to 22,527.13, and S&P 500 down 0.18% to 6,649.20 [1] - Information technology shares increased by 0.7%, while energy stocks decreased by 1.6% [1] Economic Indicators - The Chicago Business Barometer fell to 40.6 in September from 41.5 in the previous month, below market expectations of 43 [2][11] - The Dallas Fed's general business activity index dropped 12 points to -5.6 in September [9] - U.S. job openings rose by 19,000 to 7.227 million in August, up from a revised 7.208 million in the previous month [9] Commodity Market - Oil prices decreased by 1.2% to $62.71, while gold prices increased by 0.7% to $3,881.10 [4] - Silver prices fell by 0.2% to $46.905, and copper prices dropped by 0.7% to $4.8580 [4] European Market - European shares were mostly higher, with the eurozone's STOXX 600 gaining 0.20%, Spain's IBEX 35 Index rising 0.79%, and London's FTSE 100 increasing by 0.28% [5] Asian Market - Asian markets closed mixed, with Japan's Nikkei 225 down 0.25%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng up 0.87%, China's Shanghai Composite up 0.52%, and India's BSE Sensex down 0.12% [6] Company News - Wolfspeed, Inc. shares surged 45% to $32.00 following a reorganization plan announcement [8] - Beneficient shares increased by 63% to $0.5950 after reporting fourth-quarter results [8] - Sunrise New Energy Co., Ltd. shares rose 50% to $1.3550 after receiving a U.S. patent for an anode material for lithium-ion batteries [8] - Firefly Aerospace Inc. shares dropped 22% to $28.63 due to a testing mishap with its Alpha rocket [8] - Etsy, Inc. shares fell 11% to $66.48 as the company announced plans to transfer its stock listing to the NYSE from Nasdaq [8] - Mingteng International Corporation Inc. shares decreased by 34% to $4.1002 [8]

Market Overview - US stock futures are lower as the final trading day of the third quarter begins, following a strong quarter for stocks, with the S&P 500 on track for its best September since 2010, rising 3% [1][2][6] - The broader market is up over 7% for the quarter, led by consumer discretionary and tech sectors, both up nearly 11% [27][30] Government Shutdown Concerns - A potential government shutdown is imminent, with Congress needing to pass a funding bill, which could delay key economic indicators and furlough federal workers [2][6][9] - The odds of a shutdown are estimated at around 90%, with both parties seemingly at an impasse [9][10] Tariff Developments - President Trump has ordered new tariffs, including 10% duties on softwood timber and 25% on certain wood furniture products, effective October 14 [3][22] - These tariffs aim to strengthen supply chains and create high-quality jobs, but their impact on the economy remains to be seen [4][24] Sector Performance - Consumer staples are the only sector in the red for the quarter, down more than 3%, while big tech stocks have seen significant gains, with Nvidia up double digits and Intel up nearly 60% [26][28][30] - Big tech now comprises nearly 39% of the S&P 500 index, reflecting its growing dominance [30] Company-Specific News - Spotify shares are down following the announcement of CEO Daniel Ek stepping down, with two executives taking over as co-CEOs [32] - Exxon plans to cut 2,000 jobs, representing about 3-4% of its global workforce, as part of an efficiency drive [33] - Coreweave shares have surged after signing a deal with Meta worth up to $14.2 billion for computing power [34]

Russia's crude shipments remain near a 16-month high. President Trump has failed to persuade buyers to turn their backs on Moscow's oil, being rebuffed by the leaders of China, India, Turkey, Hungary and Slovakia, writes @JLeeEnergy https://t.co/uAMADPhvxP ...

An obscure financing tool used to chip away at the obligations of the world’s most indebted oil major, Petroleos Mexicanos, is now emerging as a model for other struggling borrowers https://t.co/Oza6gwHvAw ...

Volkswagen Group's India Strategy - Volkswagen Group is restructuring its operations in India due to a $1.4 billion import tax demand and intense market competition [2][9] - The company faces allegations of import duty evasion, which could escalate the dispute to $2.8 billion including penalties and interest [2][9] - Skoda Auto, a key brand within the group, is leading the new strategy by exploring electric vehicle technology partnerships and planning further investments [3][9] Currency Movements - The New Zealand Dollar has strengthened past 0.5750 against the US Dollar amid concerns of a potential US government shutdown [4][5][9] China's Digital Influence in Africa - China announced an "Action Plan on Jointly Building a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace (2025-2026)" at the China-Africa Internet Development and Cooperation Forum [6][7] - The plan includes cooperation in cybersecurity, AI development, and data governance, with China committing to host training programs in these sectors [7] China's Oil Port Regulations - Chinese oil ports are set to ban "shadow fleet" vessels and older tankers starting November 1, targeting ships with fake IMO numbers or those over 31 years old [8][10] North Korea and China's Diplomatic Relations - North Korean and Chinese foreign ministers met to deepen bilateral ties and oppose "hegemonism," indicating a strengthened diplomatic alignment [11][12]