16Feb2022 Market Close & Major Financial Headlines: Wall Street Tried And Failed To Reach Green, DOW Closed Down 55 points, NASDAQ Closed Down 0.1%, WTI Crude Slips Further To Settle At 90.23, Bitcoin Steady For Third Session At 44200

China Looks To Run Coal-Fired Power Plants At Full Capacity

China will help run its coal-fired power plants at full capacity in a bid to ensure energy security, despite the climate goals of the world’s largest polluter. The Chinese government will support industrial sectors in “special difficulty,” state news agency Xinhua reported this week, noting that “Food and energy security must be safeguarded.” The Chinese authorities will increase coal supply, and coal-fired power plants will be supported in running at full capacity and generating more electricity in order to meet the electricity needs for production

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Coal/China-Looks-To-Run-Coal-Fired-Power-Plants-At-Full-Capacity.html

The Remarkable Grid Powering China’s Clean Energy Olympics

If youve been watching the Winter Olympics, or even just scrolling past memes about the Olympic games that started earlier this month, youve probably seen what look like nuclear cooling towers looming in the background while skiers and snowboarders hurtle through the air of the event space, located in Zhangjiakou, a mountain city in Chinas Hebei province. The scene is not, in fact, a nuclear power plant, despite the similarity to nuclear cooling towers. The Big Air Shougang venue is set up on the site of a now-shuttered Shougang

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/The-Remarkable-Grid-Powering-Chinas-Clean-Energy-Olympics.html

Its Time To Unleash The Renewable Energy Potential Of Central Asia

Context Central Asia consists of five countries, three of which Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan are rich with oil and gas while Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are upstream countries endowed with water resources. Downstream countries tend to generate electricity from fossil fuels while upstream countries rely on hydroelectric power. Specifically, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan generate electricity mostly from gas while Kazakhstan uses coal to power more than 70% of its electricity generation. Meanwhile, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Its-Time-To-Unleash-The-Renewable-Energy-Potential-Of-Central-Asia.html

Strong Winds Help Ease Europes Energy Crisis

Strong wind power generation with storms sweeping through northwest Europe this week are set to ease the power prices in major markets, while natural gas prices continue to tumble amid signs that the Russia-Ukraine standoff might not lead to an armed conflict. Although storms could down power lines, the strong winds are expected to drive wind power generation to records this week, Bloomberg models show. Low wind speeds and low power generation from wind farms were some of the reasons why Europes power prices shot up in the autumn and early

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Strong-Winds-Help-Ease-Europes-Energy-Crisis.html

Forecasters Have No Clue Where Oil Demand Is Really Going

Since the Paris Agreement in 2015, the oil market and investors have seen a growing gap between the highest and lowest demand scenarios from the major forecasting agencies to the point that the gap has widened to a size that is larger than today’s oil market, or 100 million barrels per day (bpd), the Riyadh-based International Energy Forum (IEF) said on Wednesday. IEF and Resources for the Future (RFF) published today their ‘IEF RFF Outlooks Comparison Report’, which compares energy market outlooks prepared by the International Energy Agency (IEA)

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Forecasters-Have-No-Clue-Where-Oil-Demand-Is-Really-Going.html

Iran Prepares Return To International Oil Markets

Iran is preparing for its return to international oil markets, according to Bloomberg, which reported that officials from the National Iranian Oil Co. had met with two South Korean refiners to discuss supply deals. Before Washington imposed sanctions on Iran for its nuclear energy program during President Trump’s term, South Korea was one of the top three importers of Iranian oil along with China and India. It imported an average of 18.5 million barrels a month from Iran. The sanctions, however, discouraged the country from continuing its oil business

Read more at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Iran-Prepares-Return-To-International-Oil-Markets.html

Avocados will likely be in short supply and more expensive due to Mexican import suspension

Avocados will likely be in short supply and more expensive in the coming weeks if the U.S. suspension of Mexican avocado imports persists.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/avocados-will-likely-be-more-expensive-due-to-mexican-import-suspension.html

Cramer: ‘We’re not in a world of the pandemic anymore’ and many companies aren’t ready

“I’ve seen a lot of companies that were kind of banking on a little more pandemic,” the “Mad Money” host said Wednesday.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/cramer-says-many-companies-arent-ready-for-a-post-covid-pandemic-world.html

Investing Club: We’re buying a new tech stock at a reasonable price with a nice dividend

It’s a name we’ve talked about but passed on last month. Sometimes you get a second chance in this market if you are willing to be patient.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/investing-club-were-buying-a-new-tech-stock-at-a-reasonable-price-with-a-nice-dividend.html

Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Roblox, Shopify, Upstart and more

These are the stocks posting the largest moves in midday trading.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-roblox-shopify-upstart-and-more.html

CDC wants to give people a break from wearing masks as pandemic improves, director says

Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the CDC is focusing more on Covid hospitalizations as the guide to whether public health measures should be lifted.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/cdc-wants-to-give-people-a-break-from-wearing-masks-as-pandemic-improves-director-says.html

Fed up with the rise in thefts and shoplifting, small biz owners across U.S. are taking action

Some small business owners tell CNBC a rise in theft is devastating to their business.  Especially now, with many still recovering from a global pandemic.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/fed-up-with-rise-in-thefts-and-shoplifting-small-biz-owners-take-action.html

Restaurateur says he spends around $750,000 on security to deal with unruly diners

“It’s difficult for managers,” on top of short staffing as well as rising costs and supply chain issues, Cameron Mitchell told CNBC on Wednesday.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/restauranteur-says-he-spends-around-750000-on-security-to-deal-with-unruly-diners.html

North Sea green hydrogen project to harness offshore wind and use existing pipeline

According to RWE, the H2opZee project will produce green hydrogen using offshore wind.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/green-hydrogen-demo-that-will-use-offshore-wind-planned-for-north-sea.html

Walmart’s earnings may signal if shoppers are spending or getting spooked by inflation

The retail giant may be a bellwether for inflation and indicate whether consumers are starting to spend differently.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/walmarts-earnings-may-signal-if-shoppers-getting-spooked-by-inflation.html

Retail sales surge 3.8% in January, much more than expected amid inflation rise

Retail sales for the month rose 3.8% in January, much better than the 2.1% Dow Jones estimate.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/retail-sales-january-2022.html

5 things to know before the stock market opens Wednesday

U.S. stock futures dropped modestly Wednesday, one day after Wall Street broke a three-session losing streak.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/5-things-to-know-before-the-stock-market-opens-wednesday-february-16.html

Grief-stricken pet owners usher in Instagram and TikTok’s new influencers: Their cloned cats and dogs

Some pet owners are turning to cloning so they never have to say goodbye to their furry friends or their social media following.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/cloned-cats-and-dogs-become-newest-influencers-on-instagram-and-tiktok.html

‘Everyday Millionaires’ author says these are the five things that most millionaires have in common

Radio host and author Chris Hogan asked more than 10,000 U.S. millionaires questions about how they built their wealth. Here’s what he learned.

Read more at: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/modern-millionaires-the-five-things-they-do-with-their-money.html

Juggling Sticks Of Dynamite: Our Fatally Distorted Sense Of Risk

Juggling Sticks Of Dynamite: Our Fatally Distorted Sense Of RiskAuthored by Charles Hugh Smith via OfTwoMinds blog,

So when the gambler ends up juggling lit sticks of dynamite, he’s confident nothing bad can happen because nothing bad has ever happened, no matter how much risk he takes on.

The problem with constantly being saved from the consequences of our actions is this fatally distorts our sense of risk. The foundation of the ability to accurately assess risk is the experience of real-world consequences: hardship and losses.

If you are sloppy about positioning the ladder securely, the ladder falls and so do you. If you survive the fall, you’ve learned that risk is real and that precautions must be taken to minimize risk. Precaution requires thinking through all the components of risk and taking steps to remediate or avoid each specific source of risk.

If you’ve never really been pushed to your …

Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/juggling-sticks-dynamite-our-fatally-distorted-sense-risk

Stocks, Bonds, & Bitcoin Dump’n’Pump As ‘Meh’-Minutes Reverse Russia-Rout

Stocks, Bonds, & Bitcoin Dump’n’Pump As ‘Meh’-Minutes Reverse Russia-RoutBad* Russia, Good** data, and Just-Right*** Fed Minutes left rate-hike odds lower, stocks marginally higher, bonds unchanged, gold higher, and the dollar down.

That’s a lot of asterisks!

*US/NATO claimed that Russia was not retreating (but no evidence one way or the other was offered)

**Today’s strong economic data brought to you by i) seasonal adjustments (retail sales crashed in ‘unadjusted’ data), ii) freezing January (Industrial Production jumped thanks to a record surge in Utility demand). However, import prices (up 10.8%) show inflation ain’t going wishfully away.

***Fed Minutes said nothing and looked older than Charlie Munger as since the FOMC meeting, we have had a big jobs print and 2 huge inflation numbers.

At the end of the day it was a big roundtrip for a lot of markets with stocks dumping early and pumping late to end basically unchanged on the day

Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/stocks-crypto-dumpnpump-meh-fed-minutes-reverse-early-russia-rout

Ukrainian President Preoccupied With Domestic Political Rivals Despite Looming “Russian Threat”

Ukrainian President Preoccupied With Domestic Political Rivals Despite Looming “Russian Threat”Last we checked, NATO is once again denying vaguely-sourced media reports claiming Russian troops are withdrawing from their battle positions despite President Biden’s continued insistence on the contrary. But in Kyiev, President Zelenskiy remains preoccupied by the relentless squabbling with his own domestic political rivals.

According to Bloomberg, which published quotes from a national address given by the president on Monday (when there aren’t as many western journalists “in country”, we guess the news travels slow), Zelenskiy is already downplaying the likelihood of an invasion himself, while insisting yet again that Ukraine’s real troubles are “the oligarchs”, whom he has been fighting ever since his stand-up comedy days.

Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/ukrainian-president-preoccupied-domestic-political-rivals-despite-looming-russian

Clintonworld-Controlled BLM Bails Out Anti-Gun Activist Charged In Shooting Of Louisville Mayoral Candidate

Clintonworld-Controlled BLM Bails Out Anti-Gun Activist Charged In Shooting Of Louisville Mayoral CandidateBlack Lives Matter’s Louisville chapter told WHAS11’s Rachel Droze that they’re bailing out the suspect in the attempted murder of mayoral candidate, Craig Greenberg.

Just spoke with @BLMLouisville. They are heading to the bank to get a cashiers check to post Quintez Brown’s bail. Brown is charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting at mayoral candidate @RunWithCraig.

— Rachel DrozeTV (@RachelDrozeTV) February 16, 2022

As the Washington Examiner noted earlier today, BLM filings reveal that the organization’s leadership now includes prominent Democratic lawyer Marc Elias and another longtime ally of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who have taken on key roles in the ‘charity’ amid scrutiny over mismanaged finances to the tune of $60 million.

Elias, best known for his

Read more at: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/anti-gun-blm-activist-charged-alleged-shooting-murder-attempt-louisville-mayoral

Ex-Goldman banker: ‘Bribes’ made 1MDB business possible

A former Goldman Sachs banker is on trial for his role in a multi billion dollar corruption scandal in Malaysia.

Read more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60407142?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

US accuses China of ‘serious harm’ to workers through trade

The US Trade Representative has accused Beijing of repeatedly failing to live up to commitments on trade.

Read more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60408667?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

Post Office scandal: Former Post Office manager describes ‘hell’

More than 700 people, including William Graham, received wrongful convictions because of computer failures.

Read more at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60402957?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

Tech View: Nifty50 forms indecisive candle; upside hurdle seen at 17,500

A bearish candle on the daily scale and lack of follow-up buying at higher zones have sent mixed signals.

Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/tech-view-nifty50-forms-indecisive-candle-upside-hurdle-seen-at-17500/articleshow/89618395.cms

Despite Covid, SBI Life beats peers in the private sector

SBI Life has the lowest risk reinsurer exposure when compared with HDFC Life & ICICI Prudential Life. This is one of the reasons why SBI Life is not considering rate hikes on protection policies as of now, whereas HDFC life & ICICI Pru raised their term plans’ prices in December 2021.

Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/sbi-lifes-numbers-should-give-street-some-cheer-in-pandemic-season/articleshow/89589147.cms

Jhunjhunwala’s gaming stock bleeds 45% in 4 months. Excessive pessimism?

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala held 10.1 per cent stake in the company as of December 31.

Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/rakesh-jhunjhunwalas-gaming-stock-bled-45-since-october-21-excessive-pessimism/articleshow/89607430.cms

Earnings Results: AppLovin stock drops more than 20% after 2022 outlook disappoints

AppLovin Inc. shares dropped in the extended session Wednesday after the app-monetization company’s forecast revenue range for the year fell mostly below Wall Street expectations.

Read more at: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B20C05575-04D4-B545-7954-FDF6E4358408%7D&siteid=rss&rss=1

Market Snapshot: S&P 500 ends higher for 2nd day after Fed minutes affirms plan for faster rate hikes, balance-sheet cuts

U.S. stock benchmarks end mixed Wednesday, but largely erase earlier losses, after the Federal Reserve’s January meeting minutes show support for a faster pace of interest rate hikes and a significant reduction of its balance sheet.

Read more at: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B20C05575-04D4-B545-7948-6475BBBFD173%7D&siteid=rss&rss=1

Bond Report: Ten-year Treasury yield steady, while 2-year rate drops after Fed minutes

Treasury yields are mixed Wednesday as investors weigh the minutes of January’s Fed meeting, which some say contain little in the way of fresh details.

Read more at: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B20C05575-04D4-B545-7948-AC33DCFCD740%7D&siteid=rss&rss=1