Occidental's operational story is strong, with Q4 2025 production hitting 1,481 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day, exceeding guidance, and the Permian Basin setting a record at 800 Mboed in Q3 2025.
The Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund (NYSEARCA:DBC) is up 42% over the past year, and nearly 29% year-to-date. These gains reflect a war that has scrambled global commodity supply chains from crude oil to wheat to fertilizer.
For decades, the United States stock market has been a juggernaut on the international stage. The US dollar has been - and still is - the de facto currency globally. But for how much longer that will be the case is now looking uncertain. As the New York Times reports, investors are starting to look elsewhere as the Trump administration continues to threaten the independence of its central bank, start a trade war with Europe, and implement self-conflicting monetary policies.
The markets appear to be on the road to recovery after yesterday's sell-off. President Trump revealed he would not exert extreme force in his pursuit to acquire the territory of Greenland. He also predicts that the U.S. stock market is poised to double in value sooner than later. Big Tech stocks are mixed, with chipmakers Nvidia ( Nasdaq; NVDA) and Micron Technology ( Nasdaq; MU) recapturing ground while Microsoft ( Nasdaq: MSFT) and Broadcom ( Nasdaq: AVGO) are seeing red.
The markets are seeing green across the board amid a near Goldilocks scenario in the economy. The latest jobs report reveals that conditions are neither too not nor too cold, with 130,000 jobs added last month, surpassing economist's most bullish of estimates, while the unemployment rate edged lower to a surprising 4.3% from 4.4% month-over-month. What it means for the Fed and interest rates will depend largely on the latest inflation data, with the CPI due out at the end of the week.
Market volatility is high, with the VIX index up 5% in today's session. The latest inflation data came in better than expected, offering what should become relief for markets. Consumer prices rose 2.4% year over year last month, a cooler reading that brings inflation back toward levels last seen in mid-2025. As the gauge edges closer to the Federal Reserve's 2% target, expectations for an eventual rate cut are likely to gain momentum, even as this week's labor market data reflected strength.