Pope's White Flag & Oil Earnings

Heyo, reader! We hope you’re having a good Monday morning!

2️⃣ This Morning’s Two Reports:

• 🕊️ Pope's Peace Proposal Sparks Controversy

• 💰 Aramco's Oil Earnings Dip But Still Shine

📊 Market Snapshot | Extended Edition

Stocks (Year-to-date)

• DOW: 🔼 2.67% (38,722.69)

• S&P 500: 🔼 8.03% (5,123.69)

• NASDAQ: 🔼 8.93% (16,085.11)

Cryptocurrency (Year-to-date)

• BTC: 🔽 1.49% (67,999.90)

• ETH: 🔽 1.75% (3,814.53)

Real Estate Mortgage Rates

• 15-year: 6.39% -0.05

• 30-year: 6.85% -0.07

📎 Market Clips

• Global demand boosts oil prices

• Revised fourth-quarter data reveals Japan's economy grew 0.4%, averting technical recession

• Goldman Sachs predicts that the downturn in battery metal prices, signaling a bear market, is likely to persist for a considerable period

_{*Stock numbers as of market close Friday, cryptocurrency as of 8:55pm EST yesterday. Real estate rates as of yesterday via Mortgage News Daily. Source for Market Clips.}

First Report

🕊️ Pope's Peace Proposal Sparks Controversy

Pope Francis stirred controversy by advocating for Ukraine to exhibit the "courage of the white flag" and engage in negotiations to cease the war with Russia, as revealed in an interview with Swiss broadcaster Radio Télévision Suisse. His remarks prompted a swift and spirited response, particularly from Ukraine. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba emphasized the country's unwavering commitment to its national colors, stating, "Our flag is a yellow and blue one. This is the flag by which we live, die, and prevail. We shall never raise any other flags." This sentiment echoes across Ukraine, with leaders and citizens alike rejecting the notion of surrender, emphasizing resilience and the pursuit of sovereignty without compromise. European leaders also voiced their dissent, suggesting alternatives to negotiation that place the onus of peace on the aggressor's withdrawal.

TL;DR ⏳: Pope Francis's call for Ukraine to negotiate with Russia meets global criticism, emphasizing the valor in standing firm for sovereignty.

Second Report

💰 Aramco's Oil Earnings Dip But Still Shine

Saudi oil behemoth Aramco announced a whopping $121 billion profit for 2023, marking a slight dip from its 2022 peak but still clinching the title for the company’s second-highest earnings on record. Despite facing challenges such as lower energy prices and production cuts by the OPEC+ alliance, Aramco's financial performance remains robust. The drop from the previous year's $161 billion reflects the fluctuating crude oil market, impacting both prices and volume, alongside softer refining and chemicals margins. 🛢️📈

TL;DR ⏳: Despite global economic headwinds and a dip from last year's high, Aramco's $121 billion profit underscores its resilience, with strategic dividends and future-focused investments by Saudi Arabia.

📜 The Corner

Happy Monday!

We got some feedback recently to expand our Market Snapshot section and give some more info! Hope you guys enjoyed or new Market Clips!

Our goal is to give 2-3 different “clips” or bits of market news!

How does it differ from our Quick Hits?

Market Clips provide a macro view of the market, while Quick Hits zoom in on micro-level occurrences across Business, U.S., and World news. Together, they offer a comprehensive understanding of both the broader trends and the finer details of the news landscape.

—Brayden Robinson, Founder & CEO at It’s The Mix-up

⚡ Quick Hits

1. 🚁 Military helicopter crash victims identified at southern border

2. 📦 Florida mom discovered in shipping container, say police

3. ⛷️ 20-year-old skier perishes in 600-foot New Hampshire mountain fall

4. 📱 TikTok tagged as "national security issue" by Senators Warner and Rubio

5. 💰 Biden's State of the Union nets $10 million for reelection effort, according to report

6. 🚢 U.S. aid ship sets sail for Gaza

7. 🕊️ Amsterdam Holocaust museum debuts amid protests with a call to attention

8. ✈️ Indonesian flight goes off-course as pilots allegedly nap

9. 💼 Reddit and investors eye up to $748 million in upcoming IPO

10. 🔍 DOJ launches criminal probe into Boeing 737 Max incident

Games

Fun Fact: Did you know? There's a "vampire" among deer! The water deer, often dubbed the "vampire deer," boasts long canine teeth instead of antlers, giving it a distinctly vampire-esque vibe. But fear not—this creature prefers leaves over blood. Its unique dental fashion makes it the deer world's most goth inhabitant. 🦌💉