Fed cuts rates by quarter point, scales back cuts for 2025
The Federal Reserve reduced interest rates by...
The Federal Reserve reduced interest rates by a quarter percentage point Wednesday and scaled back the number of cuts it expects to make next year.
In a split vote, the central bank voted to reduce its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a new range of 4.25%-4.5%, initiating its third consecutive rate cut of 2024 despite signs that inflation isn’t entirely going away.
The consensus among Fed officials is for three rate cuts next year, down from four previously forecast in September.
Oil prices ease 1% to one-week low on weak Chinese, German economic data
The recent dip in oil prices, attributed to demand concerns...
The recent dip in oil prices, attributed to demand concerns arising from economic updates from Germany and China, highlights the ever-changing dynamics in the global energy market. With Brent and WTI crude prices falling to their lowest in a week, this movement underscores the sensitivity of oil markets to geopolitical and economic signals.
Brent Crude February futures fell 1% to $73.19 a barrel, the lowest since December 10. US crude futures due in January fell 0.9%, or 63 cents to $70.08 a barrel.
That puts both crude benchmarks on track for their lowest closes since Dec. 10 and cut the premium of Brent over WTI to a 12-week low of $3.56 a barrel, based on the February contracts.
Dow ends down over 260 points and posts its longest losing streak since 1978
U.S. stocks finished lower on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones...
U.S. stocks finished lower on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average posting its longest losing streak since February 1978, as investors digested the strong retail-sales data and awaited the Federal Reserve's policy decision, due out on Wednesday afternoon.
The Dow fell 0.6% to end near 43,450, according to preliminary data from FactSet.
The S&P 500 was off 0.4% to finish around 6,050.
The Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.3%, ending around 20,109.
Talos Sells More of Mexican Subsidiary to Billionaire Carlos Slim
HART ENERGY - Talos Energy has sold an additional 30.1% interest...
HART ENERGY - Talos Energy has sold an additional 30.1% interest in subsidiary Talos Mexico to Zamajal SA, an entity controlled by the family office of billionaire Carlos Slim’s Grupo Carso. Slim has been steadily accumulating shares of Talos Energy for months.
Talos Mexico holds a 17.4% interest in the Zama Field in the Gulf of Mexico.
For the stake in its subsidiary, Talos will be paid $49.7 million in cash at closing, with an additional $33 million due upon first commercial production from the Zama Field, or an aggregate price of $82.7 million, Talos said Dec. 17. Zama’s production could start by or before 2030.
At closing, Talos Mexico will be 20% owned by Talos Energy and 80% by Zamajal.
Kosmos Energy Ltd. has decided not to proceed with an acquisition of Tullow Oil, despite previous discussions...
Kosmos Energy Ltd. has decided not to proceed with an acquisition of Tullow Oil, despite previous discussions about a potential all-stock deal. Both companies confirmed these talks on December 12th but were still in the preliminary stages. After the announcement, Kosmos shares, which had dropped 15.5% after the news, rose by about 10%. Meanwhile, Tullow Oil's shares fell by approximately 4%. Based in Dallas, Kosmos focuses on deepwater assets across the Atlantic Margins, including the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and parts of Africa. London-based Tullow Oil operates mainly in West Africa, with significant activities in Ghana, Gabon, and Cote d'Ivoire. Kosmos has a market value of roughly $1.75 billion, whereas Tullow Oil's market value is about $483 million.