Originally published at: Leading US Oil Field Nearing Peak as Economic Warning Signs Flash – Peak Prosperity
Economy
Stock markets have reached historic highs, with valuations at levels not seen since 1928, according to John P. Hussman of Hussman Investment Trust. Hussman notes that metrics such as MarketCap/GVA and negative equity risk premiums suggest low expected returns for stocks over the next decade. Additionally, investor psychology appears to overlook risk, as evidenced by record-low junk bond spreads. Retail speculation has also increased, with Lance Roberts of RealInvestmentAdvice.com reporting a sixfold rise in zero-day options trading over the past five years, largely driven by retail traders on platforms like Robinhood. Meanwhile, economic challenges are apparent with mass layoffs in U.S. freight and related industries, as reported by FreightWaves.com, with over 4,137 job cuts recently announced at companies including Republic National Distributing Co. and Canfor Corp., attributed to rising costs and weak market conditions. In the housing sector, prices are declining, though the broader implications remain under analysis, according to recent reports. However, some regions still report robust demand and price increases, suggesting the decline may be localized, as noted by Economic Trends Today.
Lastly, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in a CNBC interview, called for an internal review of the Federal Reserve’s non-monetary operations, citing concerns over mission creep and institutional overreach. Some economists, however, argue the Fed’s expanded role has been vital in stabilizing the economy during crises, according to Bloomberg.
Energy
Chevron is approaching a production peak in the Permian Basin, the leading U.S. oil field, and is shifting its strategy from growth to generating free cash flow, according to Bloomberg. The company plans to reduce rigs and frack crews to maintain output of 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day through 2040, targeting an annual free cash flow of $5 billion by 2027. This shift is supported by unique mineral rights from a past acquisition, allowing Chevron to sustain production with reduced capital expenditure amid lower market demand for growth.
Health
A Danish study claiming no link between aluminum in vaccines and autism has faced criticism for alleged data manipulation, according to Children’s Health Defense, with claims that corrected data suggests significant harm, potentially impacting hundreds of children with neurodevelopmental conditions. Conversely, Science-Based Medicine defends the study, stating the accusations are unfounded and the methodology sound.
In other news, psychedelic therapies are gaining traction in U.S. policy discussions, with MindMed stock increasing by 10% amid bipartisan support and advocacy from veterans, as reported by the Associated Press. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has indicated that these treatments for PTSD and depression could become available within a year, despite previous FDA hesitancy.
Separately, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, during a Tampa press conference, called on the NIH to fund research into COVID-19 vaccine injuries, citing reports of frequent adverse reactions and referencing recent HHS policy shifts on mRNA vaccines. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics has criticized these claims, asserting they lack scientific consensus.
US Politics
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has released 243,496 pages of previously classified files related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., under a directive from President Trump. The documents, accessible at archives.gov/research/mlk, include FBI investigation details, internal memos, and information on alleged assassination plots linked to James Earl Ray. Gabbard stated that the release, nearly 60 years after the event, aims to provide transparency to the American public, a sentiment supported by Dr. Alveda King, MLK Jr.’s niece. Some critics, including The Washington Post, question the timing and motives behind the release, suggesting it may be politically driven.
European Politics
Europe is experiencing a series of violent incidents reportedly linked to migrant gangs, with events documented in Spain, France, and the UK. In Spain, reports highlight attacks on citizens and cultural tensions in cities like Barcelona. France has faced disorder at public events, while the UK continues to address issues related to grooming gang scandals. Some analyses, as reported in various outlets, attribute these challenges to policies such as the Schengen Agreement of 1985, which facilitated free movement but allegedly resulted in less controlled borders, as well as to multiculturalism policies without sufficient integration measures. These reports also note public dissent in countries like Germany over open-border policies. Conversely, outlets like The Guardian emphasize the economic and cultural contributions of immigrants, suggesting that narratives around migrant gangs may be overstated.
Sources
Stock Market at Historic Highs: The Dangerous Illusion of Invincibility
A market crash is nothing but risk-aversion meeting a market that’s not priced to tolerate risk.
Housing Prices Drop: What’s the Real Impact?
Housing prices are dropping, and the ripple effects are being felt across the economy.
Source | Submitted by Barbara
Europe in Crisis: Migrant Gangs and the Fallout of Failed Policies
Europe is in the throes of chaos as migrant gangs wreak havoc on innocent victims across various nations.
Source | Submitted by Walberga
Chevron Hits Permian Peak, Eyes Billions in Cash Flow with Strategic Shift
“We’re going from growth to cash generation,” said Bruce Niemeyer, president of Chevron’s shale business.
Gabbard Unveils Long-Sealed Martin Luther King Jr. Assassination Files in Historic Transparency Push
The American people have waited nearly sixty years to see the full scope of the federal government’s investigation into Dr. King’s assassination.
Mass Layoffs Sweep U.S. Freight and Related Industries Amid Economic Challenges
“This decision was driven by rising operational costs, industry headwinds, and supplier changes that made the market unsustainable.”
Retail Speculation Surges: The Dangerous Rise of Zero-Day Options Trading
The explosion of zero-day options trading is not a sign of a healthy market. It is a symptom of an unhealthy market increasingly driven by speculation rather than investment discipline.
MindMed Stock Jumps 10% as Psychedelics Gain Traction in Trump Administration
“This line of therapeutics has tremendous advantage if given in a clinical setting and we are working very hard to make sure that happens within 12 months.”
Florida Surgeon General Urges NIH to Fund Research for COVID Vaccine Injuries
Today, I want to call on the federal government, [on] NIH, to expand the work that they are doing in long COVID to genuinely and wholly include vaccine-injured people – specifically, people who have been injured by mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
Danish Vaccine Study Accused of Data Manipulation in Aluminum-Autism Link Controversy
The study that proclaims no evidence of disease is riddled with evidence of disease, and that is not a lie of omission. That is a lie of deception.
Treasury Secretary Bessent Calls for Federal Reserve Internal Review on Non-Monetary Operations
I called for a review of the Federal Reserve.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Economic Trends Today, Bloomberg, The Guardian, Reuters, The Washington Post, American Academy of Pediatrics, Science-Based Medicine.