For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – January 16, 2016 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog includeDevon Energy Corp. (DVN), Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO), Transocean Ltd. (RIG), Chevron Corp. (CVX) and ConocoPhillips ( COP). Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free. Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog: U.S. Gasoline, Distillate Stockpiles Surge Again The U.S. Energy Department's inventory release showed that crude stockpiles recorded a small increase, which was well below expectations. Nevertheless, at 482.56 million barrels, it’s still near levels not seen since the 1930s. The report further revealed that refined product inventories – gasoline and distillate – both increased significantly from their previous levels for a second week. What’s more, supplies at the Cushing, Oklahoma storage hub jumped to its all-time high. The bearish data set, coupled with the misfiring Chinese economy, kept oil futures near their 12-year lows. At $30.48 a barrel, sentiments remain bearish with the real possibility of the commodity falling toward $20. This also prompted investors to decrease their exposure to oil and related support plays. As a result, market heavyweights like Devon Energy Corp. (DVN), Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO), Transocean Ltd. (RIG), Chevron Corp. (CVX) and ConocoPhillips ( COP) have all experienced heavy losses in recent trading. Analysis of the Data Crude Oil: The federal government’s EIA report revealed that crude inventories edged up by 234,000 barrels for the week ending Jan 8, 2016, following a decline of 5.1 million barrels in the previous week. The analysts surveyed by Platts – the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Financial Inc. – had expected crude stocks to go up by 2 million barrels. A spike in the level of imports and production, together with lower refinery usage, led to the modest stockpile build with the world's biggest oil consumer. In particular, crude inventories at the Cushing terminal in Oklahoma – the key delivery hub for U.S. crude futures traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange – were up 97,000 barrels from the previous week’s level to a record 64 million barrels. Following the second weekly inventory rise in 3 weeks, at 482.56 million barrels, current crude supplies are up 24% from the year-ago period and are near the highest level during this time of the year in 80 years at least. The crude supply cover was up from 29.1 days in the previous week to 29.2 days. In the year-ago period, the supply cover was 23.9 days. Gasoline: Supplies of gasoline were up for the ninth time in as many weeks, as production rose. The 8.44 million barrels surge – much bigger than analysts’ projections for a 1.5 million barrels increase in supply level – took gasoline stockpiles up to 240.43 million barrels, the highest in almost a year. After last week’s build, the existing stock of the most widely used petroleum product has gone higher than the year-earlier level and is in the upper half of the average range. Distillate: Distillate fuel supplies (including diesel and heating oil) were up 6.14 million barrels last week, as opposed to analysts’ expectations for a 1.2 million barrels fall in inventory level. The increase in distillate fuel stocks – the seventh in 8 weeks – could be attributed to weaker demand – the lowest in years. At 165.55 million barrels, distillate supplies are 18% above the year-ago level and are above the upper half of the average range for this time of the year. Refinery Rates: Refinery utilization was down 1.3% from the prior week to 91.2%. as domestic facilities remain shut for seasonal maintenance. About the Weekly Petroleum Status Report The Energy Information Administration (EIA) Petroleum Status Report, containing data of the previous week ending Friday, outlines information regarding the weekly change in petroleum inventories held and produced by the U.S., both locally and abroad. The report provides an overview of the level of reserves and their movements, thereby helping investors understand the demand/supply dynamics of petroleum products. It is an indicator of current oil prices and volatility that affect the businesses of the companies engaged in the oil and refining industry. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> About Zacks Equity Research Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term. Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons. Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today. Find out What is happening in the stock market today on zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report DEVON ENERGY (DVN): Free Stock Analysis Report MARATHON OIL CP (MRO): Free Stock Analysis Report TRANSOCEAN LTD (RIG): Free Stock Analysis Report CHEVRON CORP (CVX): Free Stock Analysis Report CONOCOPHILLIPS (COP): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
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