Occidental Petroleum (OXY) Performance Upside, Gains Overweight

Sector Notable performance: Occidental Petroleum has been the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 in 2022 with gains to more than 140%.   Company Profile Occidental Petroleum is an independent exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Latin America, and the Middle East. At the end of 2021, the company reported net proved … Read more

Inflation Peaked, Traders Pricing in a Half-Point Rate Increase in September

MARKETS The Federal Reserve will no longer need to raise interest rates as aggressively as most government reports indicate little to no financial surprises. Indexes continue to recover supported by “on forecast” pricing, jobs and housing statistics  The S&P 500 was up 9% last month while Nasdaq has climbed more than 20% from its lows … Read more

Biden Signs Semiconductor Bill into Law

FACT President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law Tuesday, sending $52.7 billion to processor manufacturers over five years in an effort to help the US reclaim semiconductor industry leadership lost to Taiwanese and Korean companies and challenged by increasingly capable Chinese firms. Semiconductor makers are planning rapid expansions in the United … Read more

Initial Claims Data Continue to Point to a Tight Labor Market with Upside

GORVEMENT REPORT SERIES In the week ending July 9, seasonally adjusted initial claims was 244,000, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week’s level of 235,000. The four week average has gone 14 consecutive weeks without a decline, however… Prior to last November initial claims remain low A tight labor market restricts consumer spending.   … Read more

Stocks Swing, Oil Up On Strong “Lower than May” U.S. Jobs Report

GOVERNMENT REPORT SERIES Payroll employment rises by 372,000 in June; unemployment rate remains at 3.6%. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 372,000 in June, and the unemployment rate remained at 3.6 percent. Notable job gains occurred in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and health care. Market context The economy was expected to have … Read more