Oil futures look set to move higher when trading begins Sunday evening. WTI futures ( CL1:COM ) ( USO ) rose above $102/bbl in weekend trading on IG, which offers spread betting and contracts for difference. WTI closed at $99.64/bbl on Friday. Betting on Kalshi shows a 76% chance that Brent futures ( CO1:COM ) ( BNO ) rise above $114.50/bbl when trading begins at 6 p.m. ET. Brent closed at $112.57...
Oil futures look set to move higher when trading begins Sunday evening. WTI futures ( CL1:COM ) ( USO ) rose above $102/bbl in weekend trading on IG, which offers spread betting and contracts for difference. WTI closed at $99.64/bbl on Friday. Betting on Kalshi shows a 76% chance that Brent futures ( CO1:COM ) ( BNO ) rise above $114.50/bbl when trading begins at 6 p.m. ET. Brent closed at $112.57/bbl Friday. SA Analyst OANDA Group said a sustained move above $102.25 for WTI could trigger a fresh bullish leg toward $111–$124, while a break below $85.50 would invalidate the bullish view and expose downside toward the $81–$73 zone. Dear readers: We recognize that politics often intersects with the financial news of the day, so we invite you to click here to join the separate political discussion. More on Crude Oil Futures, Brent Futures A Perspective On Why The Oil Price Is More Likely To Reach $150 Than $50 WTI Crude Oil Minor Pullback Over, Start Of New Bullish Leg For Breakout Above $102.25 What AI's Threat Might Do To The March 2026 Job Report Suspicious trades around Trump policy moves raise insider concerns Houthis claim first attack on Israel since Iran war began
Esteban Alejandro/iStock via Getty Images Since the last article , Whitecap Resources ( WCPRF ) is up roughly 40% thanks to the Iranian situation. It has more than doubled since I wrote about the merger with Veren . The total return from that earlier article was a little more than 100%. But really, Whitecap is just getting started. The Veren acquisition added a whole lot of low-cost possibilities ...
Esteban Alejandro/iStock via Getty Images Since the last article , Whitecap Resources ( WCPRF ) is up roughly 40% thanks to the Iranian situation. It has more than doubled since I wrote about the merger with Veren . The total return from that earlier article was a little more than 100%. But really, Whitecap is just getting started. The Veren acquisition added a whole lot of low-cost possibilities to a portfolio that had a steady cash flow and a low decline rate. Canada, where both of these companies are located ( and they report using Canadian dollars), has a lot of unconventional and conventional opportunities. That means initial decline rates can vary quite a bit to influence the overall corporate rate. The dividend yield has now backed down out of high-yield territory thanks to the stock price rally. Investors can take that as Mr. Market being quite a bit more satisfied with the safety of the dividend for the time being. But the yield is still roughly 4.75%. That is more than half of what most investors report for a total long-term return. The stock price itself only needs to average a little more than a 3% return each year for an investor to make an average return on this investment-grade idea. Given the history here of successful accretive acquisitions, the common stock is likely to do far better than that. Unconventional Returns The big thing to note here is the assumption of returns using a $60 WTI and a C$3 AECO (which is Canadian), as well as the conversion ratio. Breakeven is very much dependent upon all the commodities produced by a well. AECO is particularly volatile and has gone seasonally negative in the past. This has put some producers in the position of paying customers to take the natural gas so that the profits can be made on the oil production. Whitecap Summary Of Unconventional Inventory Profitability ( Whitecap Resources Corporate Presentation, February 2026) On the other hand, the payout time is completely within acceptable territory. The oil ...
On Thursday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest executed significant trades, focusing on reducing holdings in major tech companies. Among the prominent trades were the sales of shares in Meta Platforms Inc., NVIDIA Corp, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, Broadcom Inc., Alphabet Inc., and Netflix Inc.. These trades reflect a strategic shift in Ark’s investment approach...
On Thursday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest executed significant trades, focusing on reducing holdings in major tech companies. Among the prominent trades were the sales of shares in Meta Platforms Inc., NVIDIA Corp, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, Broadcom Inc., Alphabet Inc., and Netflix Inc.. These trades reflect a strategic shift in Ark’s investment approach amid market fluctuations. The Meta Platforms Trade Ark Invest made a notable move by selling shares
Suphanat Khumsap/iStock via Getty Images Two liquefied petroleum gas shipments bound for India have successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz despite heightened tensions in the region, Reuters reported Sunday, citing government officials. The vessels, BW Tyr and BW Elm, are carrying roughly 94,000 metric tons of cooking gas and are scheduled to reach Mumbai and New Mangalore at the end of M...
Suphanat Khumsap/iStock via Getty Images Two liquefied petroleum gas shipments bound for India have successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz despite heightened tensions in the region, Reuters reported Sunday, citing government officials. The vessels, BW Tyr and BW Elm, are carrying roughly 94,000 metric tons of cooking gas and are scheduled to reach Mumbai and New Mangalore at the end of March and early April. Shipping traffic through the strait has slowed sharply following the conflict involving Iran , though authorities there have indicated that vessels not considered hostile can still pass with prior coordination. These tankers are part of a small group of Indian-linked ships that have managed to cross the key chokepoint in recent days. Several others remain in the area awaiting safe passage. India relies heavily on imported LPG to meet domestic demand, with a majority of supplies sourced from the Middle East. The country is one of the world’s largest consumers of the fuel, making uninterrupted shipping routes critical. Officials said port operations across India continue to function normally, with no major delays reported, Reuters reported. More on Natural Gas Futures Natural Gas Recovery Gains Traction As Geopolitical Support Pushes Price Toward $3.02 Commodities: Oil Volatile As Ceasefire Talks Stall Natural Gas: Market Weakens Below $2.92 As War-Driven Volatility Hits Gas Outlook Houthis claim first attack on Israel since Iran war began Natural gas follows oil prices lower on Trump’s comments about U.S.-Iran talks
jacoblund/iStock via Getty Images Thesis As you know, Rocket Pharmaceuticals ( RCKT ) has recently received FDA accelerated approval for its gene therapy Kresladi, which is aimed at treating children with the rare immune disorder LAD-I. This would actually make it the first approved gene therapy for this specific condition. And while the stock initially rose about 9% on the news, it later dropped ...
jacoblund/iStock via Getty Images Thesis As you know, Rocket Pharmaceuticals ( RCKT ) has recently received FDA accelerated approval for its gene therapy Kresladi, which is aimed at treating children with the rare immune disorder LAD-I. This would actually make it the first approved gene therapy for this specific condition. And while the stock initially rose about 9% on the news, it later dropped 17% following the company call. So there is clearly some mixed investor sentiment here. It’s also worth noting that this approval will grant Rocket a very valuable priority review voucher, which I see as being quite important after analysing the current cash runway. Now, despite the good news we got from the approval, the stock sold off quite badly when it came time for management to host a press conference. And it is what investors heard on the call that didn't align too well with expectations. Whilst the approval was a good thing, and it went a long way in validating the overall platform for Rocket, it would seem management isn't too bullish on Kresladi being a key revenue driver, as I'll explain. So my case for a hold rating here is that, yes, the Kresladi approval validates Rocket’s gene therapy platform and should provide some near-term non-dilutive value via the potential sale in the range of $100 million for a priority voucher they received. But the ultra-rare patient population limits immediate revenue as framed by management, with revenue recognition being pushed out until next year. The potential upside here is obviously that Kresladi validates Rocket’s gene therapy platform. It showed us durable clinical benefit, and the voucher could extend the cash runway into 2028 if needed. But the downside seems to be that ultra-rare patient population. It's putting a harsh limit on near-term revenue in management's mind, and the launch/first sales could be pushed into 2027. The pipeline As for Rocket’s pipeline, it would centre around a few gene therapy candidates. They all...
Quant rankings for the upcoming earnings calendar show strength concentrated in consumer discretionary and select industrial and health care names, while weakness is more pronounced across health care, technology, and parts of consumer-facing sectors. A total of 163 companies are scheduled to report. This week’s top-rated names are led by apparel retailer J. Jill ( JILL ), which holds a quant rati...
Quant rankings for the upcoming earnings calendar show strength concentrated in consumer discretionary and select industrial and health care names, while weakness is more pronounced across health care, technology, and parts of consumer-facing sectors. A total of 163 companies are scheduled to report. This week’s top-rated names are led by apparel retailer J. Jill ( JILL ), which holds a quant rating of 3.88, followed by medical device maker AngioDynamics ( ANGO ) at 3.50. The remaining top cohort is largely made up of Hold-rated names, including aerospace and defense firm Sidus Space ( SIDU ) at 3.47 and biotechnology company Palvella Therapeutics ( PVLA ) at 3.45. Other notable names include T1 Energy ( TE ), Americas Gold and Silver ( USAS ), and TOYO ( TOYO ), reflecting relatively balanced factor readings across industrials, materials, and technology. On the downside, health care companies dominate the weakest-ranked stocks, particularly within biotechnology. INmune Bio ( INMB ) holds the lowest quant score at 1.03, followed closely by Terrestrial Energy ( IMSR ) and Cloudastructure ( CSAI ), both at 1.04. Other laggards include zSpace ( ZSPC ), Venu Holding ( VENU ), and Sangamo Therapeutics ( SGMO ), pointing to broad-based weakness across valuation, growth, and momentum factors. Additional names such as Rekor Systems ( REKR ), LENSAR ( LNSR ), and Beyond Meat ( BYND ) also feature among the lowest-rated stocks. Other high-profile companies set to report earnings this week include Nike ( NKE ), Tilray ( TLRY ), and Virgin Galactic ( SPCE ). Nike and Tilray carry Hold ratings with scores of 3.06 and 2.56 , respectively, while Virgin Galactic is rated Sell at 1.82. Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating system grades stocks based on their relative performance on critical quantitative measures, including valuation, growth, stock momentum, and profitability. Ratings are assigned on a scale from 1 to 5, with any score of 3.5 or above considered a bullish rating and any score...
President Donald J. Trump exits the House Chamber after delivering the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Feb. 24, 2026. Kenny Holston/the New York Times | Via Reuters As Americans receive their tax refunds this spring, some are seeing a sizable windfall from last year, while others are getting ...
President Donald J. Trump exits the House Chamber after delivering the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Feb. 24, 2026. Kenny Holston/the New York Times | Via Reuters As Americans receive their tax refunds this spring, some are seeing a sizable windfall from last year, while others are getting only a few hundred dollars' difference — and the reasons may not be immediately clear to them. President Donald Trump has said this will be the " largest tax refund season of all time ," as a result of legislation dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act , a multitrillion-dollar package of tax and spending cuts that Republicans passed in July. In a Jan. 26 release , the White House said the average taxpayer could receive an extra $1,000 or more, citing early October data from investment bank Piper Sandler. But the average refund hasn't grown that much, IRS filing data shows. As of March 20, the average refund amount for individual filers was $3,571, up from $3,221 about one year prior, the IRS reported Friday. This season, the average refund size peaked at $3,804 on Feb. 20, up from $3,453 about one year prior, due to refundable tax credits , and has gradually declined over subsequent weeks of IRS filing updates. Still, Trump's tax breaks have delivered above-average refunds for certain filers, according to the IRS. During a March 4 House Ways and Means Committee hearing, Frank Bisignano , Social Security Administration commissioner and IRS CEO, said filers claiming Trump's new tax breaks were already seeing average refunds that were $775 higher than last year. These returns have included the new Schedule 1-A , which feeds into individual tax returns, and covers Trump's new deductions for tip income , overtime earnings , seniors and auto loan interest . At the same time, lawmakers' nicknames for "big beautiful bill" provisions don't reflect how they work. For example, a so-cal...
Sundry Photography/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Towards the end of the first quarter, Merck ( MRK ) announced a larger acquisition to ignite some appeal in its pipeline. This was the second-largest deal announced in recent times, as Merck is spending a combined $15 billion to bolster its pipeline to drive growth, certainly as Keytruda is seen losing exclusivity in the foreseeable future. Thes...
Sundry Photography/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Towards the end of the first quarter, Merck ( MRK ) announced a larger acquisition to ignite some appeal in its pipeline. This was the second-largest deal announced in recent times, as Merck is spending a combined $15 billion to bolster its pipeline to drive growth, certainly as Keytruda is seen losing exclusivity in the foreseeable future. These M&A moves do not surprise me, after I concluded last summer that Merck was cheap yet was relying too heavily on Keytruda. That conclusion, however, was drawn at just $80 per share, as a 50% return for such a huge pharmaceutical player is a huge achievement, warranting a more cautious stance. I like that Merck is working on its pipeline, in this case through M&A, yet much higher expectations in recent times make me err on the side of caution. This makes me interested to keep a close eye on the M&A moves and their contribution, yet I see no reason to get involved here. Other, higher conviction ideas, including recent M&A action, can be found at Value In Corporate Events . Adding to the Pipeline Merck has reached a $5.7 billion deal to acquire Terns Pharmaceuticals ( TERN ) . With the deal, the company will acquire a clinical-stage oncology business, with its lead candidate, TERN-701, being a potential treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, designed to increase the oncology pipeline of Merck. The FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation for TERN-701 to treat chronic myeloid leukemia. CML is a lifelong disease that can require lifelong treatment, with about 18,000 new patients diagnosed each year in the US alone. The company expects to write down the acquisition in the second quarter, when it is anticipated to close, resulting in a charge of $5.8 billion, equivalent to $2.35 per share. That is the one-time charge, as the incurred losses from the business and associated interest costs are seen as hurting earnings by $0.17 per share going forward. This deal is a s...
Trump Asks Congress To Pass Clean Reauthorization Of FISA Spy Powers Authored by Joseph Lord and Nathan Worcester via The Epoch Times, President Donald Trump asked Congress this week to pass a clean reauthorization of a critical—but controversial—spying authority as the U.S. military operation in Iran continues. “I have called for a clean 18-month extension,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social,...
Trump Asks Congress To Pass Clean Reauthorization Of FISA Spy Powers Authored by Joseph Lord and Nathan Worcester via The Epoch Times, President Donald Trump asked Congress this week to pass a clean reauthorization of a critical—but controversial—spying authority as the U.S. military operation in Iran continues. “I have called for a clean 18-month extension,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, noting that Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) are working toward passing such a bill. Specifically, Trump is asking Congress to extend the authorities in Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a sweeping War on Terror-era spying authority that has seen wide abuse by federal intelligence agencies in the past. Section 702 targets intelligence from foreign nationals thought to be outside the United States. Yet, it also enables intelligence agencies to gather information from Americans who are in contact with targeted non-U.S. persons—all without a warrant. The controversial authority was at the center of National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden’s 2014 disclosures. Although intelligence officials must obtain a warrant to access Americans’ data, Section 702 has long caused bipartisan discomfort on Capitol Hill and beyond. Trump noted in the post that he himself had been on the receiving end of what he described as “the worst and most illegal abuse of FISA in our Nation’s History,” referencing disclosures that revealed that the FBI had used Section 702 of FISA to spy on Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign as part of the Crossfire Hurricane operation. Nevertheless, Trump said, “When used properly, FISA is an effective tool to keep Americans safe." “For these reasons, I have called for a clean 18-month extension, HOWEVER, the Critical and Common Sense Reforms that were made in the last Reauthorization of FISA must remain intact to protect the American People from abuses.” In an extension of the a...