Week 3: January 15, 2024 -- January 21, 2024

Locator: 46604TOPSTORIES.

Top, top story: 

• the US stock market surges
  
• Americans' confidence in US economy takes surprising "positive" turn
  

Top story: 

• US Navy hitting back at Yemeni Houthis
  
• regional "wars" everywhere: Gaza, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Ukraine
• all are in somewhat of a "steady state" situation
• with Biden, Americans don't know how good they have it, and Trump is getting all the headlines
  

Top international non-energy story:

• Gaza: Israel shows no sign of letting up
• Ukraine: not looking good for the home team; GOP wants to stop funding
  

Top international energy story:

• OPEC+ no longer in control
• US producing at record level

Top national non-energy story:

• US equity markets: Dow, S&P 500 hit all-time highs
• tech sector: all-time highs
  
• US economy surprisingly strong; consumer surprisingly resilient
• EV manufacturers had a very, very bad week
• Ford to cut back on on EV Ford 150-Lightning
• winter story Gerri one for the books
  

Top national energy story:

• ERCOT holds up surprisingly well;
  
• significant cut in US shale production due to extreme cold: seems to have minimal impact on pricing;

Focus on fracking: link here.

Top North Dakota non-energy story:

Top North Dakota energy story:

• winter storm Gerri is going to cut Bakken production by as much as half!

Geoff Simon's quick connects: link here.

Bakken economy:

Commentary: 

• adverse ruling against DAPL now at 75%. Risk was negligible a year ago, then 50-50. Now 75-25. Investors? Think BNSF.