Friday, July 18, 2025

Texas Economic Activity, Oilfield Hiring Up: Dallas Federal Reserve

Activity in the Eleventh Federal Reserve District’s energy sector gained momentum in the fourth quarter of 2017, according to the Dallas Fed Energy Survey. The business activity index—the survey’s broadest measure of business conditions—climbed over 10 points to 38.1, with the increase driven by the exploration and production side of the industry. Oil and gas production increased for the fifth

Divergent Needs Put Fed, Central Banks on Different Paths

Fed is likely to raise its key rate two more times – Dallas Federal Reserve The last time the world’s central banks diverged on policy came as the Fed increased its key rate in December 2015. It’s happening again. The U.S. Federal Reserve continued its policy of quantitative tightening last week by raising the key rate 25 basis points, and

Texas Flag - oilandgas360

Texas Economy Finally Heading Up-ish: Comerica Bank

Permian rig count growth a boon to Texas’s overall economy Dallas-based Comerica Bank (ticker: CMA), released its Texas Economic Activity Index last week, saying its measure of the Texas economy advanced for a second consecutive month, gaining 0.4 percentage points in October to a level of 91.0. September’s index reading was 90.6. October’s index reading is 25%, above the index cyclical

Canadian Heavy Oil Prices are Falling Faster than Global Crude Benchmarks - Oil & Gas 360

Crude Oil Sees Inventory Draw, but in all the Wrong Places

Crude oil inventory draw beats expectations at 2.7 MMBO Crude oil inventories shrank for the fourth week in a row, according to information released from the Energy Information Administration. The total amount of crude in storage declined 2.6 MMBO, 1.2 MMBO more than economist expected, but WTI prices still fell over $1 per barrel as market watchers point out that

U.S. Jobs Report: Smallest Gain since 2010

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the June report on unemployment today. Unemployment fell from 5.0% to 4.7% and the economy added only 38,000 jobs in May. The job gain was the lowest since 2010. In the last few years, the market has averaged gains of 200,000 jobs per month. April’s gains of 123,000 jobs and the May gain of

How do Yellen, the Fed, and the Dollar Affect Oil Prices?

June Hike Likely – What is the Effect on Oil? On Wednesday May 18, 2016, the Federal Reserve released the minutes from its April meeting, sending vibrations throughout the markets. The message from the Fed to the market was simple:  stay on your toes because the Fed is seriously considering raising interest rates in June. There has been speculation as

Oil Climbs on Weak Dollar Despite Inventory Build

Oil jumped almost 3% on Wednesday April 27 to close above $45.33 a barrel for the first time since November 4, 2015, reaching new highs for 2016 amid mixed signs from the U.S. oil market and U.S. Federal Reserve. The oil market was the tale of two halves today with the inventory report coming in the morning and the Federal

Oil Prices

Will Weak Oil Prices Push Fed Back to Zero?

First Lift Off in the History of U.S. Monetary Policy (Editor’s Note: Art Hogan, Wunderlich Securities, Inc. Director of Research & Chief Market Strategist, offered the following commentary about the Fed’s move this week to raise interest rates.) Art Hogan Seven years ago, the Federal Open Market Committee made the historically unprecedented move of targeting the zero bound for the

Fed Maintains Rates in a 9-1 Vote

The Federal Reserve decided to stand pat following its two-day October meeting The U.S. Federal Reserve today decided to maintain rates near zero, leaving them unchanged since 2008. The Fed did announce that it is open to raising rates at the next meeting in December. “In determining whether it will be appropriate to raise (interest rates) at its next meeting,

Global Oil Production Represented at 2019 EnerCom Conference is 47% Higher than in 2017 - Oil & Gas 360

Oil will Settle at $60, Eventually

Economic indicators positive, sideways and negative Yellen says she expects FED will raise rates in 2015 if employment grows Bill Gross criticizes the FED’s zero policy U.S. Bank Chief Investment Officer John De Clue, in a presentation to Denver area businesses, called for oil prices to eventually settle back at $60 per barrel. De Clue pointed to the lingering global oversupply and

The Ruble in Flux

Russia at risk of a Fed rate-raise – Moody’s A report from Moody’s Investors Service named Russia among four emerging markets most at risk from a potential increase in the U.S. interest rate, news that sent the ruble falling in value against the dollar for the first time in four days. The Russian currency slipped 0.6% to 65.86 to the

Fed’s Yellen Sees Valuations as “Quite High”

Stocks down as Yellen warns valuations are over historical averages Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen  warned that stock valuations are “generally quite high,” and that “there are potential dangers” in a discussion yesterday with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde. Many analysts point out that stock prices, relative to corporate earnings, are higher than their historic norms. This could