DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Oil prices stable as economic fears balance OPEC+ cuts, U.S. stock draw
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Flames emerge from flare stacks at Nahr Bin Umar oil field, north of Basra, Iraq March 9, 2020. REUTERS/Essam Al-Sudani/File PhotoLONDON, April 5 (Reuters) - Oil prices were stable on Wednesday, as the market weighed gloomy economic prospects against expectations of U.S. crude inventory declines and OPEC's voluntary output cuts announcement. Bullish sentiment continued after voluntary cuts pledged by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+. However, weak manufacturing activity in the U.S. and China - the two biggest oil consumers - have capped oil oil price gains. Record Russian diesel flows to the Middle East in March, and the sluggish performance of middle distillates contracts have "acted acted as a brake on any attempt to push crude oil prices meaningfully higher," Varga said.

☆ Oil edges up as OPEC cuts, U.S. inventories brighten outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Laila Kearney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies United States of America FollowApril 5 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose in early Asian trade on Wednesday on anticipated U.S. crude inventory declines and OPEC+'s latest output cut targets. Gasoline inventories fell by about 4 million barrels, while distillate stocks fell by about 3.7 million barrels, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. The latest targets set by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+, also helped oil prices. Keeping oil prices from moving higher were concerns about demand, with U.S. job openings in February falling to the lowest level in nearly two years and U.S. manufacturing activity in March slumping. Weak manufacturing activity in China last month also added to crude oil demand concerns.

Of the 11 S&P 500 sector indexes, seven declined, led lower by industrials (.SPLRCI), down 2.25%, followed by a 1.72% loss in energy (.SPNY). The S&P 500 declined 0.58% to end the session at 4,100.68 points, closing lower for the first time in a week. The Nasdaq declined 0.52% to 12,126.33 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.59% to 33,403.04 points. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidHealthcare (.SPXHC) and utilities (.SPLRCU), which many investors expect to hold up better during an economic slowdown, were among the few S&P 500 sector indexes gaining on Tuesday. The S&P 500 posted 14 new highs and one new lows; the Nasdaq recorded 64 new highs and 238 new lows.

☆ INDIA RUPEE Indian rupee to strengthen as weak US data pushes dollar to 2-month low
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Nimesh Vora | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, April 5 (Reuters) - The Indian rupee is expected to rise against the U.S. currency on Wednesday as weak manufacturing and job openings data dented demand for the dollar. The non-deliverable forwards indicate the rupee will open at around 82.08-82.12 to the U.S. dollar, compared with 82.3325 on Monday. The dollar index overnight dropped to its lowest level since Feb. 2. Data overnight showed U.S. job openings dropped to their lowest level in nearly two years in February, indicating that the Fed rate hikes were cooling off the U.S. labour market. The job openings release comes on the back of data that showed that U.S. manufacturing activity slumped in March to the lowest level in nearly three years.

☆ Private payrolls rose by 145,000 in March, well below expectations, ADP says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Private sector hiring decelerated in March, flashing another potential sign that U.S. economic growth is heading for a sharp slowdown or recession, payroll processing firm ADP reported Wednesday. Company payrolls rose by just 145,000 for the month, down from an upwardly revised 261,000 in February and below the Dow Jones estimate for 210,000. The ADP report serves as a precursor to Friday's nonfarm payrolls report from the Labor Department. ADP changed its methodology last year, and its count on average was about 100,000 less per month than the government's in 2022. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expect Friday's report to show payroll growth of 238,000 in March and the unemployment rate holding at 3.6%.

☆ Inflation's inventory gluts are here to stay and will hit the bottom line in weaker economy: CNBC Supply Chain Survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

But uncertainty about inventory management is significant, with almost one-quarter (23%) of supply chain managers saying they are not sure when gluts will be worked off. The supply chain pressures will be among the factors that weigh on quarterly numbers. Manufacturing orders and the economic outlook Recent data on manufacturing has shown a deterioration in the economy, with the ISM Manufacturing index in contraction level based on March data released this week. "This survey confirms that we remain in an era of serious supply chain cost-to-serve challenges," Baxa said. FreightWaves and ITS Logistics are CNBC Supply Chain Heat Map data providers.

☆ These 10 fairly priced stocks are well off recent highs. Here's where we stand on them
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

52-week high date: April 5, 2022 Percent below 52-week high: 68.4% Forward P/E: 2.1 We continue to view troubled Bausch Health as a wait-and-see situation. CTRA 1Y mountain Coterra's stock performance over the past 12 months. 52-week high date: May 31, 2022 Percent below 52-week high: 26.94% Forward P/E: 9.5 Our view on Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) is similar to Coterra. 52-week high date: June 8, 2022 Percent below 52-week high: 24.46% Forward P/E: 10.4 Like our two other energy stocks, we want to see another pullback in Halliburton shares before we'd add to our position. 52-week high date: Jan. 27, 2023 Percent below 52-week high: 18.26% Forward P/E: 13.4 Caterpillar is a beaten-down stock worth buying.

But manufacturers across the eurozone have reported business activity has been falling for nine months since June 2022 according to purchasing managers’ surveys. U.S. manufacturers have reported business activity has been falling for five months since November 2022 according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM)’s purchasing survey. But the deficit had narrowed from 63 million barrels (-15% or -2.05 standard deviations) at the end of June 2022, according to data from Euroilstock. U.S. distillate fuel oil inventories were 18 million barrels (-14% or -1.08 standard deviations) below the prior 10-year seasonal average on March 31. In Singapore, distillate inventories have risen in 12 of the 15 most recent weeks by a total of 3 million barrels, according to data from Enterprise Singapore.

☆ Gold prices ease as US dollar regains some ground
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 4 (Reuters) - Gold prices edged lower on Tuesday as a steady dollar made bullion more expensive for overseas buyers, while softer U.S. economic data heightened expectations of less-aggressive moves by the Federal Reserve. FUNDAMENTALS* Spot gold was down 0.1% at $1,962.36 per ounce, as of 0103 GMT. * Gold prices had dropped on Monday after a surprise cut in OPEC+ crude production was announced during the weekend. But prices reversed course to rally 1% as the dollar stumbled following the release of softer U.S. economic data. * SPDR Gold Trust , the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings rose 0.22% to 930.04 tonnes on Monday from 928.02 tonnes on Friday.

April 5 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever. Rates markets no longer expect the Fed to raise rates again and are pricing in 75 basis points of easing this year. But falling yields and increased rate cut expectations are not supporting stocks and risk assets - recession fears are growing. Australian policymakers said they want time to assess the impact of past increases as the economy slows and inflation peaks. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Futures edge higher as tech and growth stocks gain; focus on jobs data
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Oil prices extended gains on Tuesday, with investor attention shifting to demand trends and the impact of higher prices on the global economy. Energy firms Chevron Corp (CVX.N), Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) and Occidental Petroleum Corp (OXY.N) were set to extend gains, rising between 0.5% and 0.9% premarket. Among stocks, Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc (VORB.O) tanked 25% after the satellite launch company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on failing to secure long-term funding. Etsy Inc (ETSY.O) gained 3.8% after Piper Sandler upgraded the consumer e-commerce platform's stock to "overweight". Reporting by Ankika Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak DasguptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Oil prices rise as investors move focus from OPEC+ cuts to demand outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Companies Goldman Sachs Group Inc FollowBEIJING, April 4 (Reuters) - Oil prices posted gains in Asian trade on Tuesday after OPEC+ plans to cut more production jolted markets the previous day, with investors' attention shifting to demand trends and the impact of higher prices on the global economy. The latest pledges bring the total volume of cuts by OPEC+ to 3.66 million bpd including a 2 million barrel cut last October, according to Reuters calculations - equal to about 3.7% of global demand. "In the short term, demand is expected to rise for the summer driving season, but higher oil prices may intensify inflationary pressures and prolong interest rate hikes in many countries, which could dampen demand," he said. The OPEC+ production curbs led most analysts to raise their Brent oil price forecasts to around $100 per barrel by year-end. "But for anything more than that something has to change dramatically from the demand side of the equation," he added.

☆ Gold prices ease as traders gauge OPEC+ output cuts, weak U.S. data
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices steadied with investors' attention shifting to demand trends and the impact of higher prices on the global economy. Gold prices dropped on Monday after a surprise cut in OPEC+ crude production was announced over the weekend. Bullion is seen as a hedge against inflation, but higher rates increase the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding asset. "If we are right, this should send the dollar lower and clear the 'runway' for an additional move higher." Spot silver slipped 0.5% to $23.88 per ounce, platinum eased 0.1% to $984.99 and palladium ticked 0.1% lower to $1,458.42.

☆ Dollar slides on sluggish US data, Aussie steadies ahead of RBA
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Against the sliding dollar, the British pound and the Australian and New Zealand dollars rose to multi-week highs in early Asia trade on Tuesday. The kiwi rose 0.2% to $0.6310, its highest since mid-February, while the U.S. dollar index was marginally lower at 102.02, having fallen more than 0.5% on Monday. "The closest thing we get to good news in (the) report is that the slowing in the factory sector is pushing prices lower and supply chains are continuing to heal, benefiting from the slack. The RBA will pause policy tightening according to a poll of analysts, although a strong minority still forecast a hike. Data out last week showed Australian inflation slowed to an eight-month low in February, due in part to a sharp retreat in prices for holiday travel and accommodation.

☆ Oil prices steady as investor focus shifts to demand outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices steadied in early Asian trade on Tuesday after OPEC+ plans to cut more production jolted markets the previous day, with investors' attention shifting to demand trends and the impact of higher prices on the global economy. The latest pledges bring the total volume of cuts by OPEC+ to 3.66 million bpd including a 2 million barrel cut last October, according to Reuters calculations — equal to about 3.7% of global demand. "In the short term, demand is expected to rise for the summer driving season, but higher oil prices may intensify inflationary pressures and prolong interest rate hikes in many countries, which could dampen demand," he said. The OPEC+ production curbs led most analysts to raise their Brent oil price forecasts to around $100 per barrel by year-end. The news, however, added to investor worries about higher costs for businesses and consumers, raising fears that an inflationary jolt to the world economy from rising oil prices will result in more rate hikes.

☆ Asia stocks wobble as OPEC+ output cuts, weak US data raise uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Julie Zhu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] A passerby walks past an electric monitor displaying recent movements of various stock prices outside a bank in Tokyo, Japan, March 22, 2023. An announcement on Sunday of output target cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known as OPEC+, propelled oil prices higher and complicated the inflation outlook. Early in the Asian day, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) was trading steady. Japan's Nikkei stock index (.N225) rose 0.24% while Australian shares (.AXJO) were up 0.1%. On Monday, gains in energy shares helped lift world stock indexes following the surprise OPEC+ group's new production cuts that could push oil prices toward $100 a barrel.

It has slipped to levels consistent with the onset of the last four recessions in 2020, 2008, 2001 and 1990, implying the manufacturing sector is experiencing a cyclical slump even if there is still momentum in services. But the manufacturing and freight downturn is already depressing domestic consumption of diesel and other distillate fuel oils, the most cyclically sensitive part of the petroleum market. Consumption of diesel and other distillate fuel oils has been falling since the second quarter of 2022, in line with the slowdown in manufacturing and freight activity. The volume of distillate fuel oil supplied to the domestic market was down -4.4% in the three months from November to January compared with the same period a year earlier. Related columns:- U.S. diesel consumption falls as economy slows (March 1, 2023)- U.S. manufacturers flounder amid cost-of-living shock (February 15, 2023)- U.S. manufacturing downturn will cut diesel consumption (January 5, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

☆ US manufacturing sector weakest in nearly three years in March -ISM
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said on Monday that its manufacturing PMI fell to 46.3 last month, the lowest reading since May 2020, from 47.7 in February. It was the fifth straight month that the PMI remained below the 50 threshold, which indicates contraction in manufacturing. Reports last month also showed orders for capital goods excluding aircraft eking out a small gain in February as did manufacturing output. But it noted that manufacturing depending on bank credit also "tend to have larger firms that other things equal will have an easier time finding alternative sources of capital." The ISM survey's forward-looking new orders sub-index fell to 44.3 last month from 47.0 in February.

☆ Biden trumpets his economic plans in Minnesota after Cummins announces $1 billion investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

President Joe Biden touted efforts to boost U.S. manufacturing after touring a Cummins facility in Minnesota on Monday, as the company announced it will invest $1 billion in making cleaner engines. Cummins intends to invest the money in Indiana, North Carolina and New York, focusing on creating low-to-zero-carbon engines. More than half of medium and heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. use Cummins engines, and the upgraded facilities aim to decarbonize shipping vehicles across the country. Electrolyzers are needed to create clean hydrogen, used to power certain vehicles and in steel production. "All these investments mean that now if you grow up in Minnesota, if you go to school in Minnesota, you can stay in Minnesota," Biden said.

April 4 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever. Australia's central bank takes center stage on Tuesday with its latest interest rate decision, and beyond that, if the second trading day of the quarter is as eventful as the first, then investors' plates will be extra full. chartchartInterest rate futures markets are attaching a near-90% probability to policymakers keeping the benchmark cash rate unchanged at 3.60%, putting the year-long hiking cycle on hold at least for now. Elsewhere in Asia on Tuesday, South Korea releases inflation figures for March. Japan's monetary base has actually been shrinking every month since September, on a year-on-year basis.

☆ Semiconductor Firms Asked to Submit Financial Projections to Get Chips Act Funds
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Yuka Hayashi | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON—Semiconductor companies seeking U.S. grants under the Chips Act will be asked to provide detailed projections for revenue and profit from their new chip-making plants to help evaluate their applications, the Commerce Department said Monday. The Chips Act provides $53 billion to help restore U.S. manufacturing might in semiconductors. Companies building leading-edge chip factories in the U.S. can begin applying for the funds Friday. The application process for companies looking to build current generation and mature technology facilities opens June 26.

☆ Goldman's strategy to play the $3 trillion energy revolution
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

There's a $3 trillion energy revolution coming, and Goldman Sachs has a strategy to play it. Given this, here are some ways investors can play the new energy revolution: Solar and wind Overall, the biggest investments will be in renewable energy, according to the note. That means the U.S. will need to significantly ramp up its solar, wind and other renewable energy capabilities. Meanwhile, for General Electric , the IRA will directly benefit its portfolio of energy businesses, GE Vernova, including wind energy. Elsewhere, Goldman Sachs highlighted buy-rated Baker Hughes , saying it will get a boost from carbon capture and hydrogen projects.

Shares of major U.S. banks JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N), Wells Fargo (WFC.N) and Bank of America (BAC.N) dropped more than 2% in premarket trade. Shares of regional lenders First Republic Bank (FRC.N), PacWest Bancorp (PACW.O), Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL.N) and Truist Financial Corp (TFC.N) fell between 2.1% and 2.8%. European banks also came under pressure, with a report of a U.S. probe on Credit Suisse and UBS (UBS.N) further souring the mood. ET, Dow e-minis were down 304 points, or 0.94%, S&P 500 e-minis were down 31.5 points, or 0.79%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 59 points, or 0.46%. Reporting by Amruta Khandekar and Ankika Biswas; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Vinay DwivediOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Construction leaders are using technology to help push the boundaries of possibility
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Lenovo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Leading construction company Laing O'Rourke has been at the cutting edge of building innovation for decades. Construction company Laing O'Rourke is delivering some of the world's most complex and challenging building and infrastructure projects. Leading construction innovationFor decades, Laing O'Rourke has invested in technology and innovation. Lenovo's technology was a critical enabler for many of the Laing O'Rourke projects above. To this end, Laing O'Rourke has also invested in Lenovo's ThinkReality and Mirage headsets.

☆ A Biden Bait-and-Switch on Electric Vehicles
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., asks questions during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government hearing to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for the 2024 fiscal year at the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)We interrupt the latest Donald Trump melodrama for a word from Biden Administration regulators. While the world isn’t watching, and certainly the press corps isn’t, regulators on Friday announced they are essentially rewriting last year’s Inflation Reduction Act so more electric vehicles will qualify for subsidies. In return for his vote, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin insisted on numerous conditions for the IRA’s $7,500 EV tax credit. He wanted to encourage more U.S. manufacturing and ensure subsidies don’t go to the affluent.

Search resuls for: ". Manufacturing"

25 mentions found