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I used to set unrealistic New Year's resolutions, like swearing I won't eat out all year to save more money. This year, I'm setting five microsavings goals to help me save $2,750 and invest $1,050 by the end of the year. That surprise money made such an impact on me that I decided to apply it to my 2023 savings goals. To meet that savings goal, I'm saving 10% of my paycheck, roughly $200, until April 2023. After buying my laptop in April 2023, I plan on saving 5% of my paycheck, roughly $100, toward my Oaxaca trip.

Here are four climate and environment lawsuits that are likely to make headlines in 2023. The oil companies in the nation's high court are hoping to upend a series of circuit court decisions saying the cases belong in state courts where they were filed. If the court takes the appeal and rules for the oil companies, then the cases would be moved to federal court, the preferred venue for the industry defendants. (Bellwether trials are chosen as test cases and are used to work through common legal and factual issues.) "I think it will be a huge year for this issue," Conroy said of 2023.

☆ Analysis: Wood’s ARK slammed by higher interest rates in 2022 along with other growth funds
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( David Randall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The ARK Innovation Fund has lost around 67% year to date, more than tripling the decline of the S&P 500 index (.SPX). With the S&P 500 on pace for its biggest annual decline since the Great Financial Crisis, few funds are likely to escape 2022 unscathed. Wood's fund ranked 3,544 among all 3552 actively-managed U.S. equity mutual funds tracked by Morningstar. The worst performing fund of the year, by comparison, was the Voya Russia fund, which is down 92% for the year to date. CRASH LANDINGOther funds that soared in recent years on the backs of large bets on technology stocks fell on hard times in 2022.

☆ Everything you need to know about charging your new electric car, from where to go to what you'll pay
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Alexa St. John | Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

And we've walked potential electric car buyers through some of the technologies that could make charging their car much, much easier. Read more about the state of electric car charging below. How EV charging fits in your lifestyleAs prospective EV-buyers consider going electric, the charging experience is weighed heavily. Big Oil is getting in on electric cars by snapping up EV charging companies. Biden administration announces rules to make electric car charging less crappyChallengesRange anxiety is largely a thing of the past.

☆ Jim Cramer's top 10 things to watch in the market Wednesday: Santa coming? Nike pops.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Multiple price target increases on Wall Street. JPMorgan acknowledges "relief rally" but cuts its price target. Deutsche Bank lowers price target on Tesla (TSLA) to $270 per share from $355; keeps buy rating. Gordon Haskett downgrades Target (TGT) to hold from buy, with a $132-per-share price target; cites "meaningfully eroded traffic." As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

Exxon has yet to set any 2030 Scope 3 target. Shell said it believed its targets are aligned with the U.N. climate targets. We remain committed to constructive engagement with our investors," a Shell spokesperson said in a statement. The group of investors co-filing the resolutions includes Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management, Degroof Petercam Asset Management and Achmea Asset Management. Exxon and Chevron have in the past successfully blocked attempts to file climate resolutions with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

☆ Putin hits back at western sanctions on Russian oil by vowing to deepen trade ties with China and other allies
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

That comes shortly after the EU banned seaborne energy imports and slapped a $60 price cap on Russian crude. Putin has called the price cap "stupid," and previously threatened to retaliate against any country who participate. "Let me remind you that by introducing sanctions, Western countries were trying to push Russia to the periphery of world development. That includes measures like ramping up natural gas sales to China and other Asian countries, creating a natural gas trading hub in Turkey, and setting the price for natural gas sales to Europe. Putin has rebuffed the oil price cap as "stupid," and threatened to retaliate by refusing to sell Russia's supplies to participating countries.

☆ Europe's gas market faces risks from EU price cap, Equinor says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Nora Buli | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SummarySummary Companies Gas market liquidity at risk from price cap plansPrice cap will not hamper Equinor deliveries to EuropeBilateral delivery contracts volume has doubledOSLO, Dec 12 (Reuters) - A European Commission plan for a gas price cap risks reducing liquidity in Europe's gas market, posing a threat to how it functions, head of trading at Norwegian oil company Equinor told Reuters, but its own gas deliveries will not be affected. For Equinor, the biggest concern is what happens to the liquidity in the gas market, Helge Haugane, Equinor's head of gas and power trading, said in an interview. "I think the price cap is the one that we need to pay attention to," Haugane said. These contracts are typically indexed to various gas price indices and cover delivery terms of up to 10 years, he added. Equinor is also open to discuss longer term fixed price contracts, but so far there has been limited interest from buyers, he added.

☆ Gavin Newsom’s Latest Tax Increase
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Gavin Newsom is pushing another tax increase, not that he wants to admit it. Last week he asked his Democratic Legislature to pass a “price gouging penalty”—don’t call it a tax—on oil companies’ “excess profits.” Is he trying to raise the state’s sky-high gas prices even more? “California’s price gouging penalty is simple—either Big Oil reins in the profits and prices, or they’ll pay a penalty,” the Governor said. California’s gasoline prices have fallen since early October when they were averaging about $6.20 a gallon but they are still $1.27 more that the national average. The reason is simple.

☆ Oil companies ‘could doom global efforts’ around climate change, House committee finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Lucas Thompson | Lucas Thompson Is A Content Producer For The Nbc News Climate Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

The companies mentioned in the report did not return requests for comment. Internal documents also showed oil executives privately admitting that divesting, or moving around the accountability of emissions, will not have a meaningful impact on overall emissions levels. The report comes after Democrats lost control of the House in the 2022 midterm elections, and with it the ability to direct House Oversight investigations. Khanna said the millions of documents acquired by the committee will be handed over to those with more resources who can act on the information. “You can’t expect a House subcommittee to go up against oil companies that have been misleading American public for 40 years and all of a sudden have accountability.

☆ Democratic lawmakers accuse big oil companies of 'greenwashing'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A pair of Democratic lawmakers on Friday accused the largest oil companies in the United States of "greenwashing" their public image and not doing enough to decarbonize fast enough to meet climate change targets. These efforts are particularly offensive, Maloney and Khanna said, because of the amount of money the biggest oil companies are making right now. Burning natural gas produces about 117 pounds of carbon dioxide per million British thermal units (a measure of heat). That's compared with 200 pounds for coal and 160 pounds for fuel oil. Equally critically, the production of natural gas results in leaks of methane all throughout the production process and methane is a greenhouse gas, too.

☆ Big Oil has engaged in a long-running climate disinformation campaign while raking in record profits
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( René Marsh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Big Oil companies have engaged in a “long-running greenwashing campaign” while raking in “record profits at the expense of American consumers,” the Democratic-led House Oversight Committee has found after a year-long investigation into climate disinformation from the fossil fuel industry. The committee found the fossil fuel industry is “posturing on climate issues while avoiding real commitments” to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Lawmakers said it has sought to portray itself as part of the climate solution, even as internal industry documents reveal how companies have avoided making real commitments. Many of their requests for internal documents were heavily redacted by the companies, which did not specify reasons for withholding the information. “These companies know their climate pledges are inadequate but are prioritizing Big Oil’s record profits over the human costs of climate change,” Maloney said.

[1/3] A natural gas flare on an oil well pad burns as the sun sets outside Watford City, North Dakota January 21, 2016. REUTERS/Andrew Cullen/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Major energy companies are not doing enough to prevent the worst effects climate change despite public promises to fight the problem, a U.S. House panel said about documents released on Friday that it got in a probe. Shell's Smith said the House panel's probe failed to uncover evidence of a climate disinformation campaign. "Today's new evidence makes clear that these companies know their climate pledges are inadequate, but are prioritizing Big Oil’s record profits over the human costs of climate change." The House panel previously released a memo on Sept. 14 showing that oil majors "greenwashed" their record on climate change "through deceptive advertising and climate pledges - without meaningfully reducing emissions."

The win ends a nearly two-year power sharing agreement, giving Democrats true majority rule. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona's viselike grip on their party's priorities has loosened a bit, thanks to Georgia. Republicans will no longer be able to bottle up Biden administration nominees in committee, and select Democratic committee chairs will again be able to issue subpoenas. "Joe Manchin is a good person; he really is," Biden said Friday at a reception for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York speaks at a press conference at the Capitol on August 5, 2022.

☆ Occidental Petroleum CEO pushes back against California plans to fine Big Oil firms: 'They don't understand the industry'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Zahra Tayeb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Occidental Petroleum's CEO hit back at California politicians over plans to fine Big Oil firms. California lawmakers unveiled plans to charge oil firms for their huge profits on high gas prices. "California's price gouging penalty is simple – either Big Oil reins in the profits and prices, or they'll pay a penalty," Newsom said. The average California gas price was $4.665 as of Wednesday, according to AAA. Gas prices have seen a modest pullback in step with a recent drop in oil prices, thanks to President Joe Biden's decision to release record amounts of crude from US reserves to help curb inflation.

☆ How Nascar Turned This Lakefront Community Into One of America’s Hottest Luxury Housing Markets
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Libertina Brandt | Katherine Clarke | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Luxury real-estate markets across the country are propelled by the biggest local industries, whether it’s high finance in New York, big oil in Texas, Walmart in Bentonville, Ark., or Hollywood in L.A. On North Carolina’s Lake Norman, there’s no disputing the driver: It’s Nascar. The Lake Norman area, located roughly 20 miles north of Charlotte, N.C., has long been home to some of Nascar’s most successful drivers, thanks to its proximity to the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the headquarters of some of the sport’s best known teams. Over the past decade, some of the wealthiest drivers have plowed their winnings into building and buying some of the state’s most luxurious residences, helping to propel the local market to new heights.

☆ How NASCAR Turned This Lakefront Community Into One of America’s Hottest Luxury Housing Markets
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Libertina Brandt | Katherine Clarke | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Luxury real-estate markets across the country are propelled by the biggest local industries, whether it’s high finance in New York, big oil in Texas, Walmart in Bentonville, Ark., or Hollywood in L.A. On North Carolina’s Lake Norman, there’s no disputing the driver: It’s NASCAR. The Lake Norman area, located roughly 20 miles north of Charlotte, N.C., has long been home to some of NASCAR’s most successful drivers, thanks to its proximity to the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the headquarters of some of the sport’s best known teams. Over the past decade, some of the wealthiest drivers have plowed their winnings into building and buying some of the state’s most luxurious residences, helping to propel the local market to new heights.

☆ OPEC+ Leans Toward Maintaining Flat Production, Delegates Say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Summer Said | Benoit Faucon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

OPEC and other big oil producers will be meeting remotely on Sunday, instead of in person, to avoid negative media scrutiny, delegates said. OPEC and other big oil producers are likely to decide to keep output levels flat at their meeting Sunday, the group’s delegates said, amid mounting concerns over returning Covid-related lockdowns in China and lingering uncertainty over Russia’s ability to pump. The 13-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and a separate group of producers led by Russia—collectively as OPEC+—are leaning toward approving the same production levels agreed to in October, when they greenlighted a 2 million barrels a day output cut, the delegates said. Sunday’s meeting was planned to take place in person at OPEC’s headquarters in Vienna, but it will now be held remotely to avoid negative media scrutiny, the delegates said.

☆ Hedge funds are amassing short bets on these winning stocks, according to Goldman
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Hedge funds could be piling up short bets in a number of large-cap stocks that have outperformed this year, according to Goldman Sachs. The Wall Street firm looked at the total dollar value of short interest outstanding as an estimate of hedge fund short portfolio holdings. Goldman noted that its screen is not based on 13-F regulatory filings and it's also different from a list of stocks with the highest percentage of short interest. Exxon Mobil stood out as the stock with the biggest dollar value of short interest outstanding. IBM also had a big short interest in the stock.

☆ The window is closing on corporate 'greedflation.' It's another sign that inflation is cooling off.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"US profit margins surged after the recession. "Greedflation" — the idea that companies are using inflation as an excuse to raise prices and boost profits — could be part of the explanation. But they have also taken advantage of circumstances to expand profit margins," said UBS Chief Economist Paul Donovan. To what extent soaring corporate profits are to blame for high inflation remains uncertain, but as inflation slows down, the negative CEO sentiment suggests some companies' profits are set to fall as well. In September, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Lael Brainard said retailers' profit margins "have risen significantly more than the average hourly wage that retailers pay workers."

Organizations including the American Petroleum Institute (API), Renewable Fuels Association and the National Farmers Union wrote to congressional leaders to urge them to adopt legislation that would effectively lift restrictions on E15 sales. API's support is a win for the biofuel and farm groups because the oil industry has at times resisted efforts to expand the market for ethanol. The governors' proposal raised oil industry concerns about fuel regulations differing from state to state. Expanding national sales of E15 would also resolve long-standing differences among the groups about the fuel regulations, the letter said. Reporting by Stephanie Kelly; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Investors have very little to be thankful for in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Paul R. La Monica | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Oil stocks have been huge winners this year, thanks to the spike in crude prices…which boosted sales and profits. For now, at least, energy investors are reaping the rewards. And there are also opportunities for investors looking for a little more risk…and potential reward. Finally, investors who’ve bet against the stock market also can give thanks for this year’s volatility. PC giants Dell (DELL) and HP (HPQ) also report results this week.

☆ The big new Exxon Mobil climate change deal that got an assist from Joe Biden
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Tim Mullaney | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The law may help oil companies like ExxonMobil build profitable businesses to replace some of the revenue and profit they'll lose as EVs proliferate. Maybe, if carbon capture and storage is indeed as big a deal as ExxonMobil's first-of-its-kind deal to extract, transport and store carbon from other companies' factories implies. Could it be that Big Oil's next big thing got a big assist from Joe Biden? An industrial facility on the Houston Ship Channel where Exxon Mobil is proposing a carbon capture and sequestration network. And big oil and gas companies are where the expertise is."

☆ Factbox: The newest fronts in climate-change-related legal battles
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Clark Mindock | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

At the COP27 climate talks in Egypt, U.N. experts last week warned that many corporate environmental claims amounted to “empty slogans and hype.” This could embolden campaigners to launch more legal cases against climate-action laggards. The companies have denied the allegations in the lawsuits but have made public promises to work to avoid plastic pollution. The group claims the fossil fuel investments violate the French duty of vigilance law requiring corporations to identify and reduce environmental harms. The group, led by Oxfam France and Friends of the Earth France, called the move an "unprecedented legal action." The lawsuit claims DWS told investors that it invests 0% in controversial sectors such as coal, but elsewhere indicated revenue from the coal industry accounts for as much as 15% of the fund's revenue.

☆ Talks at COP27 enter final stretch — but draft deal slammed for paving the way to ‘climate hell’
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Around 35,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries are expected to convene in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss collective action to tackle the climate emergency. Ahmad Gharabli | Afp | Getty ImagesAs talks at the COP27 climate summit enter the final stretch, government ministers and negotiators from nearly 200 countries are scrambling to build consensus on an array of issues critical to tackling the climate emergency. The U.N. climate agency on Thursday published a 20-page first draft of a hoped-for final agreement. It is highly likely to be reworked in the coming days as climate envoys in Egypt's Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh strive to reach an overarching deal before Friday's deadline. Brazilian president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during the COP27 climate conference in Egypt's Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

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