Group 1 - Nvidia's performance is positively influencing futures, with key indexes attempting to recover from recent losses [1] - Merck's stock experienced a significant increase due to a surprise win for its drug, sotatercept, in treating pulmonary hypertension [2] - CME Group and Marathon Petroleum are highlighted as strong stocks to monitor in the current market environment [1] Group 2 - Ligand Pharma's stock has surged by 88% this year, driven by its involvement in two major drugs [4] - The market is seeing a focus on stocks near buy points, including CrowdStrike and Valero, as oil refinery margins improve [4] - Merck is actively engaging in acquisitions, exemplified by its $9.2 billion deal for Cidara Therapeutics [4]

Core Insights - Global refining margins have reached multi-year highs in November due to sanctions on Russia, refinery outages, and maintenance, with little relief expected without new plants in the Western world [1][5][6] Refining Margins - The 3-2-1 crack spread in the U.S. was at $32.13 per barrel on November 18, the highest since March 2024, while Asian margins have eased from a 20-month high [3][6] - European diesel margins hit $33.90, the highest since September 2023, indicating strong profitability in the region [6][8] Market Dynamics - Despite expected oversupply in crude oil markets, strong refined fuels market has kept Brent crude prices in the low-to-mid-$60s per barrel [5][6] - The International Energy Agency raised its forecast for European refining throughput by 290,000 barrels per day for November and December due to strong margins [7][8] Operational Disruptions - Ukrainian drone attacks and maintenance issues have disrupted operations at various refineries, including those in the U.S., Europe, and Nigeria [4][5] - The high margins are incentivizing refineries to increase production as they come out of maintenance season [7]

Market Overview - The stock market experienced significant volatility, with the Dow Jones reaching a record high while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq briefly fell below their 50-day moving averages [1][2] - The market closed mixed, with the Dow Jones index lagging behind other indices [2] Company Focus - Nvidia's upcoming earnings report is a focal point for investors, especially amid a backdrop of fluctuating AI stock performance [1][4] - Wall Street is closely monitoring Nvidia, particularly as AI-related stocks face selling pressure [4] Sector Insights - Oil refinery margins are improving, drawing attention to companies in the oil sector [4] - Eli Lilly is highlighted as a stock nearing buy points, indicating potential investment opportunities [4] - The AI sector is experiencing turbulence, with concerns about electrical grid issues potentially impacting the AI revolution [4]

Group 1: U.S. Legal and Regulatory Developments - The U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed the legality of taking action against smuggling boats, which could significantly change maritime interdiction strategies [2][9] - Fentanyl has been classified as a chemical weapon, intensifying the legal framework for operations against drug trafficking [2][9] Group 2: Serbia's Energy Crisis - Serbia faces a critical decision regarding its only oil refiner, which is under Russian ownership, due to persistent U.S. sanctions [3][9] - The Serbian Energy Minister indicated that the country must either nationalize the company or risk running out of crude oil, highlighting geopolitical pressures on energy security [3][9] Group 3: Market Performance - Major global indices experienced slight upward movements over the weekend, with the DAX up 0.04%, DOW rising 0.03%, and NASDAQ increasing by 0.06% [4][9] - U.S. Oil prices climbed 0.46% to 6011, while Gold remained stable at 4084 [5][9] Group 4: Transformation of Financial Infrastructure - The Chicago Board of Trade's trading floor is being repurposed into an electricity substation by Commonwealth Edison, symbolizing the shift towards electronic trading [6][9]

The steadfast US stance on sanctions against Serbia’s sole refiner has left Belgrade facing a stark choice: seize the company from Russia, or risk running out of crude, its energy minister said https://t.co/Hzg0Lyj9DC ...

It’s a great time to be an oil refiner — but not so great if you're filling up at the pump https://t.co/GeYsRdSgIV ...

Group 1 - Nvidia's performance is pivotal for the market's direction, with significant attention on its potential to either revive or further destabilize the current market conditions [4] - Stocks have shown resilience, bouncing off lows to conclude a volatile week, with Nvidia being a central focus alongside Valero and CME [4] - Eli Lilly is highlighted as a leading stock near buy points, indicating potential investment opportunities in the healthcare sector [4] Group 2 - CrowdStrike stands out as the only technology company on a watch list, following a challenging week for AI-related stocks, suggesting a shift in investor sentiment [2] - The Dow Jones futures have risen, reflecting optimism in the market as a government shutdown deal progresses, with Nvidia climbing into a buy area [4] - Stocks with rising relative strength, such as Phillips 66, are also noted, indicating potential investment opportunities in the energy sector [4]

BREAKING: Futures Loom With All Eyes On Nvidia The stock market continued its sell-off Friday, but a few stocks ascended in buy zones and hovered near new highs. Eli Lilly (LLY), for one, hit an all-time high. Another is Valero (VLO), which has edged into a buy zone above an entry at 178.43, according to IBD MarketSurge. Shares are at levels last seen in April 2024, when the… Related news Dow Jones Futures: Will Nvidia Revive Or Ruin Rocky Market? What To Do Now. 11/14/2025After a roller-coaster market week ...

Core Viewpoint - Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) is a leading independent refiner and transporter of petroleum products in the U.S., with a market cap of $60.2 billion [1] Performance Summary - MPC shares have outperformed the broader market over the past 52 weeks, increasing nearly 30%, while the S&P 500 Index has risen 14.6% [2] - Year-to-date, MPC shares have surged 44.6%, compared to the S&P 500's 16.6% gain [2] - In contrast, MPC has outpaced the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLE) 3.1% decrease over the same period [3] Financial Results - On November 4, MPC shares fell 6.1% after reporting weaker-than-expected Q3 2025 adjusted EPS of $3.01, attributed to higher refining turnaround costs of $400 million and increased operating costs of $5.59 per barrel [4] - The company also faced renewable diesel losses of $56 million and lower-than-expected West Coast refining margins, compounded by downtime at the Galveston Bay refinery due to a June fire [4] Future Outlook - Analysts project MPC's adjusted EPS to grow 7% year-over-year to $10.39 for the current fiscal year ending in December 2025 [5] - The earnings surprise history is mixed, with MPC beating consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters [5] - Among 20 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," consisting of eight "Strong Buy" ratings, three "Moderate Buys," and nine "Holds" [5] Analyst Ratings - Raymond James analyst Justin Jenkins lowered MPC's price target to $200 while maintaining an "Outperform" rating [6] - The stock is currently trading above the mean price target of $197.94, with a Street-high price target of $220 suggesting an 8.9% potential upside [6]

India’s biggest state-held refiner, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), is looking to buy non-sanctioned Russian crude oil for delivery in early 2026, a tender document seen by Bloomberg showed on Wednesday. IOC is also looking for crude supply from the United States and West Africa in the tender, which specifies that the sellers must ensure that the Russian Far Eastern grades ESPO and Sokol don’t come from producers, traders, or export terminals sanctioned by the U.S., the EU, the UK, or India. Last month, fo ...