Wieland Teixeira/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) has an integration both through geography and through vertical integration. But its partnerships also benefit others.\ Exxon Mobil and QatarEnergy announced the startup of the Golden Pass project, in which both are partners. The Golden Pass project is one of many LNG projects that will enable exports of LNG. In the case of this...
Wieland Teixeira/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) has an integration both through geography and through vertical integration. But its partnerships also benefit others.\ Exxon Mobil and QatarEnergy announced the startup of the Golden Pass project, in which both are partners. The Golden Pass project is one of many LNG projects that will enable exports of LNG. In the case of this partnership, there is already underlying production pledged by the partners. On the one hand, this points out that Qatar Energy will have some cash flow to help with repairs from the Iranian situation. On the other hand, Exxon Mobil has long been moving to an income and growth situation that will (most likely) offset any setbacks in the Middle East. Many of these companies are self-insured to a certain extent and then reinsured after a certain amount of large losses. Probably the most famous reinsurer out there is Lloyds of London. But they are far from the only one. Earnings - Last Article The other thing is that when earnings for the fourth quarter were reported in January (and covered somewhat by the last article ), the general forward look anticipated weaker commodity prices (especially oil) offset at least partially with stronger natural gas prices. Now the Strait of Hormuz situation has largely sent the past predictions "out the window" because the current situation has sent prices soaring. The last article noted that the Quant System on the Seeking Alpha website had this particular stock rated as a hold. Since then, the stock price has run up enough on the headlines to become rated by that same system as a strong buy. For me, the situation is not quite that simple. First of all, the stock price has run up enough that this may be an opportunity to take some profits and wait for the inevitable post-conflict pullback. On the other hand, there are many betting that the conflict would get worse because the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed. That could well cause oil...
Putin To Saudi Crown Prince: Russia Ready To Do Everything To Stabilize Mideast Crisis Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia is willing to do anything toward bringing stability to the Persian Gulf and Iran crises. "Russia is counting on an early end to the conflict in the Middle East , and is ready to do everything to bring the situation back to normal," Putin's words were par...
Putin To Saudi Crown Prince: Russia Ready To Do Everything To Stabilize Mideast Crisis Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia is willing to do anything toward bringing stability to the Persian Gulf and Iran crises. "Russia is counting on an early end to the conflict in the Middle East , and is ready to do everything to bring the situation back to normal," Putin's words were paraphrased in state media as telling Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, who was hosted at the Kremlin. "We all hope that the conflict will be ended as soon as possible. Yesterday, the US President [Donald] Trump spoke about this. I repeat it again: For our part, we are ready to do everything to bring the situation back to normal, as they say in such cases, to a stable state ," Putin said. "The situation in the region is of common concern to us," Putin added. He also on the same day held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman , where the Russian leader's message was similar. Anadolu Agency The Kremlin readout of the call indicated that "Both sides emphasized the need for a rapid cessation of hostilities and the intensification of political and diplomatic efforts to achieve a long-term settlement of the conflict." The timing of the Putin-MbS call is additionally interesting given Ukraine's President Zelensky just did a tour of the Gulf states, seeking to deepen relations based on Ukraine selling small drone technology , capable of defending the skies against threats from Iran. He inked a deal with Riyadh for Ukrainian drone expertise. According to a review of Ukraine's latest Gulf deal-making in the NY Times : In the Mideast conflict, Ukraine has sought to shift its image from a recipient of military aid to a supplier. It sees an opening to export its low-cost, innovative designs created during the war with Russia to compensate for shortages of weapons and ammunition. Ukraine’s military often relies on consumer technologies such as virtual-reality goggl...
Spacecraft’s engine fired up for six minutes to propell astronauts on their three-day voyage towards Earth’s natural satellite The four Artemis astronauts fired up their spacecraft’s engine to break away from Earth’s orbit and zoomed towards the moon on Thursday, a milestone that commits Nasa to the first crewed lunar flyby in more than half-a-century. With enough thrust to accelerate a stationary...
Spacecraft’s engine fired up for six minutes to propell astronauts on their three-day voyage towards Earth’s natural satellite The four Artemis astronauts fired up their spacecraft’s engine to break away from Earth’s orbit and zoomed towards the moon on Thursday, a milestone that commits Nasa to the first crewed lunar flyby in more than half-a-century. With enough thrust to accelerate a stationary car to highway driving speed in less than three seconds, the Orion capsule engine blasted the astronauts on their trajectory towards the moon, which they now will loop as part of the 10-day Artemis 2 mission. Continue reading...
Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF ( NYSEMKT:VDC ) keeps costs low and focuses almost exclusively on consumer staples, while iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF ( NYSEMKT:IYK ) charges more, pays a bit more yield, and mixes in healthcare and materials stocks. Both VDC and IYK target U.S. companies in the consumer staples sector, but their approaches differ: VDC is the cheaper, more concentrated option wi...
Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF ( NYSEMKT:VDC ) keeps costs low and focuses almost exclusively on consumer staples, while iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF ( NYSEMKT:IYK ) charges more, pays a bit more yield, and mixes in healthcare and materials stocks. Both VDC and IYK target U.S. companies in the consumer staples sector, but their approaches differ: VDC is the cheaper, more concentrated option with broader coverage of staples names, whereas IYK tilts toward a slightly more diversified mix, including healthcare and basic materials. This comparison highlights how each fund’s structure and sector exposure may appeal to different types of investors. Continue reading
Defense secretary signs memo letting members request permission to carry firearms on military installations Defense secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo on Thursday that would allow military service members to request permission to carry their personal firearms on military installations such as bases, naval yards and recruitment centers, claiming the new policy will allow soldiers and other milita...
Defense secretary signs memo letting members request permission to carry firearms on military installations Defense secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo on Thursday that would allow military service members to request permission to carry their personal firearms on military installations such as bases, naval yards and recruitment centers, claiming the new policy will allow soldiers and other military personnel to defend themselves in case of an attack. While the full text of the memo has yet to be made public, it appears to loosen the current policy that allows for personnel to get permission to have their weapons on base on a case-by-case basis, and requires that they are registered with the base’s authorities and stored in a secure device. Continue reading...
Amazon is slapping a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge on third-party sellers using its platform starting later this month amid a spike in fuel prices since the war in Iran started. The temporary charge is effective April 17 for many of the sellers who use Amazon’s fulfillment services, the online behemoth confirmed to The Associated Press in an email Thursday. “Elevated costs in fuel and logistic...
Amazon is slapping a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge on third-party sellers using its platform starting later this month amid a spike in fuel prices since the war in Iran started. The temporary charge is effective April 17 for many of the sellers who use Amazon’s fulfillment services, the online behemoth confirmed to The Associated Press in an email Thursday. “Elevated costs in fuel and logistics have increased the cost of operating across the industry,” Amazon said in the emailed statement.