Ed Ballard
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Articles by Ed Ballard
S&P 500, Nasdaq slip as oil rises on Russia strikes in Ukraine
Oil prices are strengthening after Russia pounded Ukrainian energy targets, hours after President Trump declared an “energy ceasefire” between the two countries. Diesel futures have also pared their declines and turned higher. A supply deal with Russia struck last week would likely have a limited effect on prices. Traders are also on edge about the Middle East, where Iran-backed Houthi militants carried out lethal strikes on Saudi Arabia's main airport over the weekend.
US stocks mixed, oil gains on fresh energy strikes in Ukraine
Oil prices are strengthening after Russia pounded Ukrainian energy targets hours after President Trump declared an “energy ceasefire” between the two countries. Diesel futures, which slipped on Trump's announcement of a diesel supply deal with Russia, have pared earlier losses. Traders also are weighing the latest escalation in the Middle East, where Iran-backed Houthi militants carried out lethal strikes on Saudi Arabia's main airport over the weekend.
Oil Is Back In, Climate Is Out at a Marquee Energy Conference
Plus: Africa’s richest man plans a refinery on a pristine coastline, Middle East oil exports are returning to normal and the Supreme Court is pondering climate lawsuits In 2020, after it had attracted attention from climate protesters, the Oil & Money conference in London got a rebrand.
Quenching the World’s Biofuels Thirst Could Require a Montana-Size Chunk of Land
4 hours ago From the 1960s to ’70s, some one million Americans, disillusioned with modern life, left their comfortable homes in cities and suburbs for a totally new way of living. Through the Back-to-the-Land movement, communes sprung up around rural parts of the country, with a large concentration in Northern …
One Great Chart: Search Interest in Mideast Chokepoints — WSJ
One Great Chart: Search Interest in Mideast Chokepoints — WSJ The Strait of Hormuz doesn't have the pull it did a few months ago. Global interest in the waterway, as measured by the number of Google searches, peaked in April, when oil flows through the waterway were at a trickle and everybody wanted to know why oil prices were suddenly above $100 a barrel. There was another spike of interest in August, when Iran was holding out for tough terms for reopening the Strait.
The ‘Waters of the United States’ Are About to Legally Dry Up
Politics 5 hours ago After Trump promised to pay $5,000 if Republicans win, here's what to expect Thursday NPR - Tamara Keith • 5h At the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, President Trump made a stunning and implausible pledge: to send every American adult a $5,000 cash dividend. But only if his party maintains control of the House and the Senate in November's midterms.
电动汽车助力中国破解霍尔木兹困局--而这仅仅是个开始 - WSJ
要想知道电动汽车正在以多快的速度侵蚀中国的石油需求，不妨想象一下：法国完全停止使用石油了。 国际能源署(IEA)的数据显示，今年第二季度，电动汽车的普及令中国每天的石油消费量减少了150万桶。这一数字占到全球需求的1.5%，与法国的需求量大致相当。 Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
El verano que arrasó con las uvas francesas, los jardines ingleses y la economía europea
Haz que nuestras noticias aparezcan en tus búsquedas BURDEOS, Francia — Durante 700 años, Château Carbonnieux dependió del agua de lluvia para nutrir sus uvas, una tradición que preservó la conexión del viñedo con el terruño local. En junio, las temperaturas alcanzaron un récord de 42 grados Celsius, y el copropietario Philibert Perrin notó que las hojas de sus vides de Cabernet Sauvignon se volvían amarillas y se marchitaban, un mal presagio.
一代人来最强厄尔尼诺来袭，全球经济遭遇严重冲击
对于法国昆虫蛋白公司Innovafeed的首席执行官克莱蒙·雷(Clément Ray)来说，厄尔尼诺现象的到来是个好消息。“这对我们来说是绝佳的时机，”他说。 Innovafeed在法国北部的一家工厂养殖黑水虻，并将幼虫加工成鱼饲料和其他产品的原料。直到最近，这还被视为一种高端产品，是鱼粉的环保替代品，而鱼粉是规模逾3,000亿美元的水产养殖业赖以生存的基础。 Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
The summer that scorched French grapes, English gardens—and Europe's economy
BORDEAUX, France—For 700 years, Château Carbonnieux relied on rainwater to nourish its grapes, a tradition that preserved the vineyard's connection to the local terroir. Then temperatures rose to a record-breaking 108 degrees Fahrenheit in June, and co-owner Philibert Perrin noticed the leaves of his Cabernet Sauvignon grapes turning yellow and shriveling, an ominous sign.
The Summer That Scorched French Grapes, English Gardens—and Europe’s Economy
BORDEAUX, France—For 700 years, Château Carbonnieux relied on rainwater to nourish its grapes, a tradition that preserved the vineyard’s connection to the local terroir. Then temperatures rose to a record-breaking 108 degrees Fahrenheit in June, and co-owner Philibert Perrin noticed the leaves of his Cabernet Sauvignon grapes turning yellow and shriveling, an ominous sign.
The strongest El Niño in a generation is wreaking havoc on global economy
For Clément Ray, chief executive of French insect-protein company Innovafeed, El Niño has been a welcome arrival. “It's perfect timing for us,” he said. Innovafeed breeds black soldier flies in a factory in northern France and turns the larvae into an ingredient for fish feed and other products. Until recently, it has been a premium product, a greener alternative to the fish meal that underpins the $300 billion-plus aquaculture industry.
The Strongest El Niño in a Generation Is Wreaking Havoc on Global Economy — WSJ
By Ed Ballard and Costas Paris For Clément Ray, chief executive of French insect-protein company Innovafeed, El Niño has been a welcome arrival. "It's perfect timing for us," he said. Innovafeed breeds black soldier flies in a factory in northern France and turns the larvae into an ingredient for fish feed and other products. Until recently, it has been a premium product, a greener alternative to the fish meal that underpins the $300 billion-plus aquaculture industry.
Bitcoin Tops $77,000, Enjoys Best Week Since 2024 — WSJ
Bitcoin Tops $77,000, Enjoys Best Week Since 2024 — WSJ BTCUSD Bitcoin notched its best week in more than two years, lifted by a weakening dollar and crypto-friendly comments from President Trump. The cryptocurrency as of 4 p.m. ET was 6% higher at $77,006; earlier this morning it nearly got as high as $80,000 for the first time since May. The cryptocurrency's price rose 22% this week, its strongest weekly performance since March 2024.
AI’s Biggest Energy Impact Might Be in the Oil Patch, Not the Data Center
AI data centers guzzle as much electricity as entire cities. They have ignited demand for any energy source you can name. They’re straining the grid and making people fret about their utility bills. Yet all that gargantuan power consumption is a sideshow. Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
The Great 401(k) Early-Retirement Party — WSJ
The Great 401(k) Early-Retirement Party — WSJ SPX "Who needs income if you have wealth?" ask Bank of America economists Stephen Juneau and Aditya Bhave, seeking to explain a precipitous drop in workforce participation by older workers. The share of people aged 55 and over in work has shrunk from more than 40% before the pandemic to 36.9% as of July. The trend has picked up in the past two years, during which time the S&P 500 has soared nearly 40%.
欧洲河流因旱情枯竭，船只停航、发电厂关闭
This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://cn.wsj.com/articles/ships-cant-move-and-power-plants-shut-down-as-drought-saps-europes-rivers-cece5f8d
Ships Can’t Move and Power Plants Shut Down as Drought Saps Europe’s Rivers
A Romanian-government effort used explosives to improve water flow from the drought-stressed Danube River. (VIDEO: Romanian Naval Forces/Reuters) A drought is wreaking havoc along Europe’s rivers. In Romania, authorities set off an explosion beside a river in a bid to divert much-needed water to a power plant. In Bulgaria, almost 200 vacationers had to be evacuated from a stranded cruise ship. In Germany’s industrial heartlands, companies are curbing production and struggling to ship goods.
Ships can't move and power plants shut down as drought saps Europe's rivers
A drought is wreaking havoc along Europe's rivers. In Romania, authorities set off an explosion beside a river in a bid to divert much-needed water to a power plant. In Bulgaria, almost 200 vacationers had to be evacuated from a stranded cruise ship. In Germany's industrial heartlands, companies are curbing production and struggling to ship goods.
Europe Gets a Taste of the Wildfire Blame Game
Now Presented by SAP Enterprise AI has moved from experiment to execution, and that shift is beginning to show real returns. The SAP Value of AI Report 2026, produced with Oxford Economics and based on a survey of 2,600 business leaders across 13 countries, found that AI now supports nearly one-third of …
Why Europe’s Wildfires Are So Intense This Year
Μake us preferred on Google Some of the largest wildfires to sweep through Europe since World War II had an unusual spark: an exceptionally wet winter. That turbocharged vegetation growth, which then collided with some of the driest, hottest weather on record. The result was a massive tinderbox. It exploded in recent days as devastating wildfires ripped through regions of France and Spain, forcing more than 300,000 people to evacuate.
Why Europe's wildfires are so intense this year
Some of the largest wildfires to sweep through Europe since World War II had an unusual spark: an exceptionally wet winter. That turbocharged vegetation growth, which then collided with some of the driest, hottest weather on record. The result was a massive tinderbox. It exploded in recent days as devastating wildfires ripped through regions of France and Spain, forcing more than 300,000 people to evacuate.
Why Europe’s Wildfires Are So Intense This Year
Some of the largest wildfires to sweep through Europe since World War II had an unusual spark: an exceptionally wet winter. That turbocharged vegetation growth, which then collided with some of the driest, hottest weather on record. The result was a massive tinderbox. Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Investors Are Getting Pickier With Their AI Power Plays
Not long ago, the artificial intelligence boom lifted pretty much any stock with a story to tell about serving electricity to data centers. Investors are getting more fretful about whether there will be enough power demand to go around. For them, selling into a tight market in the 2030s would be a nice way to fund the continued commercialization of their technologies. Exhibit A is Oklo, the nuclear-reactor developer backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman.
Stock Market Today: Big Banks' Bumper Quarter Points to Strong U.S. Economy — WSJ
By Ed Ballard Big banks came out with record-smashing earnings this morning, delivering a reassuring signal on the health of consumers and Corporate America on what is shaping up to be a lively day in markets. Goldman Sachs shares are rallying, leading gains among JPMorgan and Bank of America. Wells Fargo and Citigroup shares are lower. Lenders' Wall Street operations were a bright spot across the board, most notably thanks to the blockbuster SpaceX IPO and the AI investment boom.
JPMorgan, Wells Fargo post bumper profits as bank earnings kick off
Ed Ballard Big banks have fired the starting gun on earnings season, on what is shaping up to be a lively day in markets. Follow along as we cover the results here. Quarterly numbers from five major banks including Bank of America, JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs, plus commentary from Jamie Dimon and his peers, will be closely scrutinized for clues as to the health of the U.S. economy. Their Wall Street operations are expected to be a bright spot, most notably thanks to the blockbuster SpaceX IPO.
U.S. Stock Futures Muted Amid Bank Earnings, Ahead of CPI
JPMorgan, Wells Fargo post bumper profits as bank earnings kick off Updated July 14, 2026 7:08 am ET Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Big banks have fired the starting gun on earnings season, on what is shaping up to be a lively day in markets. Follow along as we cover the results here.
The plan to build energy's sci-fi future in shut-down nuclear plants
In 2011, after the Fukushima disaster, Germany made the fateful decision to switch off its nuclear plants. Now, two have been promised a second life as fusion-energy projects in a high-risk technology bet aimed at revitalizing Europe's industrial core. The plan rides on two ventures that are pursuing the same dream— creating a star on Earth to create abundant low-cost clean energy—in different ways.
The Plan to Build Energy’s Sci-Fi Future in Shut-Down Nuclear Plants
9 hours ago It has more work to do. After 321 days of sleep, a NASA spacecraft woke up in the cold outer fringes of the solar system. New Horizons, the spacecraft that flew past Pluto in 2015, entered hibernation on purpose to save energy as it drifted deeper into the Kuiper Belt, a disk beyond Neptune of comets …
热浪正成为经济的长期拖累
热浪正凸显出全球变暖已成为经济学家们面临的一个迫在眉睫问题。 7月4日周末到来之际，气温正在升高，预计美国中东部多个地区将出现华氏100度的高温，而潮湿的天气让人感觉更热。截至本周中，美国国家气象局发布的高温预警覆盖了超过1.5亿人居住的地区。 Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Heat waves are becoming a chronic drag on the economy
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Nasdaq Opens Lower, Warsh Dodges Questions on July Rate Decision
Brent crude holds below $73 a barrel as Trump appears inclined to stick with Iran talks Updated July 1, 2026 10:08 am ET Investors are digesting comments by Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh for clues about the path of interest rates. Warsh dodged questions about whether an interest-rate hike is in the cards this month, but said inflationary risks have eased since the last FOMC meeting. He took part in a panel discussion with the heads of the ECB, the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada.
Nasdaq Opens Lower, Warsh Dodges Questions on July Rate Decision — WSJ
Nasdaq Opens Lower, Warsh Dodges Questions on July Rate Decision — WSJ U.S. stocks are slipping as investors scrutinize comments by Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh for clues about the path of interest rates. Warsh dodged questions about whether an interest-rate hike is in the cards at the next FOMC meeting during a panel discussion with the heads of the ECB, the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada. Follow along as we cover it here.
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Investors Await Warsh Comments
- Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters U.S. stock futures are slipping as investors await comments by Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh that will be closely parsed for clues about the path of interest rates. U.S. Treasury yields are little changed after rising yesterday on strong job-opening numbers that supported the case for rate hikes.
SpaceX Satellites Are Creating an Accidental Geoengineering Experiment
A fast-expanding cloud of space waste is turning the Earth’s atmosphere into a chemistry lab. As SpaceX prepares to go public, investors are pondering the practicalities of Elon Musk’s multiplanetary vision. Will SpaceX perfect a reusable rocket that can enable multiple launches a week? Can orbiting data centers really power artificial intelligence? But the space industry’s white-hot growth is also raising questions for scientists who study the atmosphere.
SpaceX satellites are creating an accidental geoengineering experiment
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The never-ending demise of Biden’s zombie climate rule
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S&P 500 Posts Longest Winning Streak in a Year
All three indexes have now closed at records five sessions in a row for the first time since February 2017 Updated June 2, 2026 5:25 pm ET Matt Murphy, CEO of Marvell Technology, right, and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang. Vernon Yuen/Nexpher Images/ZUMA Press New developments in artificial intelligence lifted the S&P 500 to a ninth-consecutive day of gains on Tuesday, its longest winning streak in more than a year.
US stock futures dip as investors weigh AI fervor against Mideast worries
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U.S. Stock Futures Dip as Investors Weigh AI Fervor Against Mideast Worries
Bond yields ease, oil slips after Trump pushes for pause in Israel-Hezbollah fighting Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images It’s shaping up to be another tug-of-war day for markets as AI fever contends with Mideast disquiet. U.S. stock futures point to small losses for all three major indexes. Stock markets in Europe and Asia were largely in positive territory, with stocks linked to the artificial intelligence boom doing well. Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
El Niño is the next risk hanging over the global economy
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El Niño Is the Next Risk Hanging Over the Global Economy
Plus: Ferrari’s EV haters, a ‘mind-bogglingly crazy’ heat wave and a fight over coal pollution in Texas Air conditioners in Varanasi, India, where electricity demand is picking up during a heat wave. Niharika Kulkarni/AFP/Getty The expected return of the El Niño weather pattern, supercharged by climate change, is shaping up to be the next test for a global economy already strained by the fallout from the Iran war.
ホルムズ回避の新ルート、大規模トラック輸送が担う
アラビア砂漠を疾走する大型トラックの車列が、世界経済の安全弁となっている。 かつてアラブの交易を支えた隊商の現代版ともいえるこの動きの中で、サウジアラビアやアラブ首長国連邦（UAE）、オマーンの幹線道路・鉄道・港湾が、ホルムズ海峡を迂回（うかい）する緊急物流の生命線へと変貌した。 Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
A climate fix that could cut your water bill
Ed Ballard Helping the climate can be a tough sell when the green option costs more. But what if it saves you $400 million? That's the head-scratcher confronting Charles Bott. He is the technology chief for Hampton Roads Sanitation District, a public water utility in coastal Virginia serving nearly 2 million people. Tough water-quality rules are straining its wastewater plants, and it has been considering an expensive upgrade at one of them.
A Climate Fix That Could Cut Your Water Bill
Plus, an IPO heated by the Earth’s core, and a new foothold for Chinese electric vehicles in Europe Helping the climate can be a tough sell when the green option costs more. But what if it saves you $400 million? That’s the head-scratcher confronting Charles Bott. He is the technology chief for Hampton Roads Sanitation District, a public water utility in coastal Virginia serving nearly 2 million people.
The new route around Hormuz involves a massive convoy of trucks
By Ed Ballard and Georgi Kantchev • May 13, 2026 Convoys of heavy-duty trucks barreling across the Arabian desert have become an escape valve for the global economy. In a mechanized revival of the caravans of goods-laden camels that once sustained Arabian commerce, highways, railroads and ports in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman have been transformed into an emergency logistics lifeline, circumventing the Strait of Hormuz waterway.
The New Route Around Hormuz Involves a Massive Convoy of Trucks
The Iran war has spurred an expansion of overland shipping that avoids the waterway Trucks lined up at a U.A.E.-Oman border crossing. The Wall Street Journal Convoys of heavy-duty trucks barreling across the Arabian desert have become an escape valve for the global economy.
WSJ: Rekameeste Meka ehk kuidas Iraani sõda kaasaegsed kaamelikaravanid sünnitas
Päevatoimetaja: Urho Meister urho.meister@postimees.ee Saada vihje THE WALL STREET JOURNAL TELLIJALE Artikli sisu pärineb partnerväljaandest The Wall Street Journal. Rekad sabas AÜE ja Omaani piiripunktis. Foto: The Wall Street Journal Loe kokkuvõtet Araabia kõrbes põrutavad ringi võimsad veoautod – globaalmajanduse päästeventiil. Araabia poolsaare kõrbetel on vaikselt sündinud uus eluliin: tuhanded rekad ja pikenevad raudteed asendavad üha enam sõja tõttu riskantseid mereteid.
绕道霍尔木兹，庞大卡车车队正开辟中东货运新路线
呼啸着穿越阿拉伯沙漠的重型卡车车队已成为全球经济的减压阀。 满载货物的骆驼商队曾是阿拉伯商业的命脉，如今，这一古老贸易方式在机械化背景下迎来重生。在沙特阿拉伯、阿联酋和阿曼，高速公路、铁路和港口已被改造为一条紧急物流生命线，绕过了霍尔木兹海峡。 Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
The new route around Hormuz involves a massive convoy of trucks
Ed Ballard, Georgi Kantchev Convoys of heavy-duty trucks barreling across the Arabian desert have become an escape valve for the global economy. In a mechanized revival of the caravans of goods-laden camels that once sustained Arabian commerce, highways, railroads and ports in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman have been transformed into an emergency logistics lifeline, circumventing the Strait of Hormuz waterway.
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