Putin's Desperation

Image Source: Pixabay

Efraim Halevy writing in Ha'aretz (Israel) said:

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision Sunday to play the nuclear threat card for the first time since the end of the Cold War, and to do so less than a week after invading Ukraine with a massive ground force, requires more than a perfunctory mention. On the face of it, the move appears self-defeating given the clear, massive advantage Russia has in conventional forces over Ukraine. If the threat had to be made  so soon it reflects desperation be a announced so soon, the reason for this invites serious analysis. In my view, it reflects an element of growing desperation by Putin. 

Steve Bryen wrote on Putin's desperation leading to a desecration of Babi Yar, a memorial to victims of the Holocaust in Ukraine. It was knocked down along with a telephone tower yesterday in a northern Kiev suburb.

The price of oil hit $112 per gallon. However gold lost 2% because the dollar gained. There are now 110 rubles to the dollar.

Companies

*Coterra (CTRA) again is our best performer up 6.34%. It was created early this year by merger.

*Energy Fuels (UUUU), rose 3% on a beat today but it fell more than that yesterday.

*Esterline Technologies Corp (ESL) gained 4.12%.

*Plug Power (PLUG) fell because it missed yesterday after market at -.129/sh when the forecast was -.107/sh.

*Colombian Ecopetrol (EC) rose to a new high of $17.15 before falling back a bit.

*Shell (SHEL) is up after its earnings beat by 4 cents at $1.71.

*Agnico Eagle (AEM) missed with earnings of .579 vs estimates of .62.

*Nio (NIO) reported a 10% rise in electric vehicles delivered in Feb., but it fell all the same.

*Schlumberger Ltd (SLB) is up nearly 3% more.

*Nutrien (NTR) of Canada is up 4.77%.

*Banco Santander (SAN) gained 4.14%. 

*Qualcomm (QCOM) is up 2.86%.

*Deere (DE) is up 2.35%.

*Grifols (GIKLY) is down 2.35%.

*Indian Dr Reddy's (RDY) was hard hit company, down 3.15% at the open. It will not exit Russia. And it is in Biden's target zone for drug prices.

*The following are exiting Russia: Exxon (XOM), Boeing (BA), Apple (AAPL), Ford (F), Nike (NKE).

*Tesla (TSLA) is offering free changing to electric vehicles leaving Ukraine. This is mostly symbolic.

*Dozens of insiders at Teva (TEVA) sold stock today after getting their bonus shares.