4 Sectors Warren Buffett Binges On: ETFs in Focus, 20 AUGUST

 Billionaire investor Warren Buffett is known for his value investing style. Many want to mirror the legend’s investing strategy and emerge a winner. Buffett’s company Berkshire Hathaway’s latest 13-F filing showed that Berkshire’s $348 billion portfolio was invested in 48 companies in the second quarter of 2023. Berkshire was a net seller of about $8 billion in stocks during the quarter.

The top 5 holdings make up about 79% of the total portfolio. These five stocks are Apple (AAPL - Free Report) , Bank of America (BAC - Free Report) , American Express (AXP - Free Report) , Coca-Cola (KO - Free Report) , and Chevron (CVX - Free Report) . Apart from these, Berkshire has significant weights in Occidental Petroleum (OXY - Free Report) and Kraft Heinz (KHC - Free Report) .

With this, Buffett’s portfolio is heavy on the below-mentioned sectors and ETFs. Let’s delve a little deeper.

Information Technology

Berkshire Hathaway has 51% of weights in Apple. Apple shares have been performing better than the industry year to date. It is benefiting from steady demand for iPhone 14 and 14 Plus as well as expanding footprint in emerging markets. Growing services subscriber base and improving customer engagement are tailwinds for the services business.

Apple’s focus on autonomous vehicles and augmented reality/virtual reality technologies presents a growth opportunity for the long haul. Apple-heavy ETF iShares U.S. Technology ETF  (IYW - Free Report) has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Financials

Buffett’s favorite America Express (with 7.59% exposure) has exposure to  ETFMG Prime Mobile Payments Fund (IPAY - Free Report) while Bank of America (Berkshire has 8.51% weights in BAC) is heavy on the likes of iShares U.S. Financial Services ETF (IYG - Free Report) .

Digital payments have been in the front and center of consumer behavior lately. Apart from showing an increased interest in online shopping, customers are resorting to digital payments to clear their bills. Even, merchants and utility providers are increasingly advocating the same. This explains Buffett’s interest in this field.

As far as banking stocks are concerned, though flattening yield curve could spell trouble to banking stocks, big banks still have strength. Higher rates and decent loan demand will aid net interest income (NII). The opening of financial centers and improving digital capabilities will likely bolster the top line.

Energy

Berkshire invests 3.78% weights in Occidental Petroleum and 5.56% weights in Chevron. Chevron is heavy on energy ETFs like  Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE - Free Report) and iShares U.S. Energy ETF (IYE - Free Report) . Occidental Petroleum has focus on First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF FTXN.

Operating backdrop for the energy sector is also upbeat. Chances of a recession in several economies is also lower (which indicates decent demand for energy), though a soft landing is expected in many geographies.

Consumer Staples

This is a safe sector as it is non-cyclical in nature. The consumer staples sector tends to do well even amid economic growth slowdown and high inflation. Since consumers have to buy staples products even if they cut back on their discretionary spending, big manufacturers of food and beverages normally have the power to pass on the increase in costs to customers.

Buffett’s favorite Coca-Cola has substantial weight in ETFs like iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF (IYK). Kraft Heinz has a focus on Invesco Dynamic Food & Beverage ETF (PBJ).

https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2138319/4-sectors-warren-buffett-binges-on-etfs-in-focus?art_rec=home-home-investment_ideas_stocks-ID13-txt-2138319

The Iraqi dinar is between the hammer of the US Federal Reserve and the anvil of smuggling the dollar abroad, 20 AUGUST

 The rise of the dollar is causing concern for the poor in Iraq due to increasing consumer prices and complicating their daily lives. This segment represents the majority, with the high exchange rate against the dinar adding to their worries.

The US Federal Reserve requires currency sale windows to display lists of sold dollars including the names of buyers and beneficiaries. The goal is to ensure that the purchase process is free of entities subject to international embargoes or sanctions by the US Federal Reserve (Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen). This procedure may delay the sale for up to seven days, according to economists.

I heard that the exchange rate of the dollar went up against the Iraqi dinar in the Baghdad stock exchange recently, reaching almost 160,000 dinars for $100. It’s interesting to note that this is the first time this kind of increase has happened since 2003. However, it seems that the rate has since decreased again.

The increase in the value of the dollar in the Iraqi local market led to a rise in commodity and foodstuff prices.

In an effort to combat the crisis, the Central Bank of Iraq has announced measures to control the dollar exchange rate. The Board of Directors of the Central Iraqi Bank discussed the effects and consequences of rising exchange rates in local markets, as well as the temporary pressures that the foreign currency exchange rate has been subject to in recent days due to internal and external factors. They have implemented measures to safeguard the banking sector, customers, and the financial system, and since the requirements of foreign trade (for the purposes of documentary credits or transfers) are fully covered by the official rate, i.e. 1465 dinars to the dollar for documentary credits and 1470 dinars to the dollar for transfers.

Banks review

The Central Bank of Iraq urged merchants to directly review banks instead of relying on brokers or speculators to avoid excessive commissions and expenses. This is in reference to Council of Ministers Resolution 351 of 2022, which calls for the non-payment of customs duties and tax amounts in advance to reduce excess loops, ease procedures, and remove costs resulting from pre-demarcation problems. Additionally, the Central Bank of Iraq announced the facilitation of foreign currency (dollars) procedures for travelers by expanding the outlets for selling foreign currency in cash through an increase in bank outlets.

On December 27th, Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani met with Governor Mustafa Ghaleb Makhaif of the Central Bank of Iraq. Al-Sudani received a detailed presentation on the rise in foreign currency exchange rates and the bank’s measures in this field.

The Prime Minister called on the Central Bank to achieve stability in prices and the exchange rate, as mandated by Articles Two and Three of the Iraqi Central Law. These provisions require the Central Bank to promote exchange rate stability, regulate and supervise the activities of banks, enhance payment system safety and efficiency, and develop the payment system. Al-Sudani emphasized the need to take measures to prevent illicit speculation, and anything that harms the local market and contributes to price increases.

electronic cards

He suggested implementing measures to allow citizens to buy foreign currency at official prices using electronic cards, opening sales outlets for travelers and clients outside Iraq, and financing foreign trade. These measures are in line with fundamentalist contexts and international standards for opening documentary credits and remittances.

The bank governor presented a positive financial report to the Prime Minister. He emphasized that the foreign currency crisis was an emergency due to technical issues, and it coincided with the work on the new electronic platform. The delay in transfers was also due to the Christmas holidays. The governor praised Cabinet Resolution No. Customs for preventing double taxation and collecting taxes at border crossings for goods entering from government ports.

A major economic recession in Iraq may result from the fluctuation of the exchange rate, which could impact investor appetite for new projects.

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4 in 10 Americans Think AI Could Help Them Manage Their Money, 20 AUGUST

 Investing in artificial intelligence is becoming popular, but what about artificial intelligence investing in you? According to new poll results shared exclusively with Money, Americans are becoming increasingly willing to let AI manage their personal finances as the technology goes mainstream.

Personal finance company Credit Karma conducted an online survey in early July, asking roughly 1,000 U.S. adults for their thoughts on using AI for managing their money.

What the data says

The Credit Karma data shows that Americans are warming up to mixing AI and money. Of the investors who responded to the survey, 4 in 10 say they think AI can be a useful tool for managing their finances.

For investors who have already used AI, this openness trends higher. Of the roughly one-quarter of respondents who have used AI before, 57% say they are willing to use the technology for financial purposes if it eliminates their money problems. In fact, one-third of this experienced bunch say that they would trust AI more than a human to manage their finances.

Of course, the level of money management people are willing to cede to AI is different from person to person. At least one-quarter of respondents say they would use it to help pay down debts, manage expenses and budgeting, or plan for retirement.

The most popular potential applications for the technology, though, seem to be more hands-off: Some 4 in 10 say they’d use AI simply to answer financial questions, while 3 in 10 want to use the technology to better understand their range of accounts and investments.

What it means

It might be surprising to see so much optimism toward AI, especially in letting it make financial decisions for investors. Not only is it a new concept to most people, but it’s also been scrutinized for being incorrect and impersonal. This runs contrary to a longstanding emphasis on finding financial advisors who can tailor their expert guidance to each individual.

After all, other polls have shown a sizable distrust toward AI in making a number of other important decisions; a majority of people think humans are better than AI in anything from writing laws or doing jobs to simply picking out a decent work outfit.

A survey by insurance company Nationwide shows this skepticism doesn’t fall short of the finance world: Some 35% of Americans say they don’t see AI providing financial insight more valuable than a human expert’s at all in the next five years.

Bottom line

Supriya Gupta, vice president of product at Credit Karma, theorizes that this welcoming attitude is simply people getting more familiar with the tech behind AI.

“Things that have the potential to change our everyday lives can feel scary,” Gupta tells Money. “But, like we’ve seen with previous technological shifts, technology can make our lives easier.”

Gupta goes on to say that generative AI technology has, to its own benefit, become increasingly accessible to investors. For years, AI seemed like nothing more than a buzzword or a technology used exclusively in lab settings. With the advent of tools like ChatGPT and Bard, however, people are growing accustomed to it in a way they hadn’t before, perhaps increasing the trust reflected in the poll.

“When you apply this technology to more complex aspects of life — like finances — something nearly everyone struggles with, the promise of generative AI becomes even more meaningful for consumers,” she says.

As for the still-skeptical investors out there, it looks as though more trust-building is still required. Some of those who are less willing to use AI say they are looking for institutions they already trust (banks and personal finance apps, for example) to build their own AI products.

Others say regulations would put them more at ease. Almost 4 in 10 say tighter rules and security are crucial to earning their trust. While there haven’t been new federal regulations since the surge in popularity of AI bots, the White House has issued an “AI Bill of Rights” intended to protect consumers from misuse of the technology.

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/4-in-10-americans-think-ai-could-help-them-manage-their-money

Undersecretary of Ministry of Oil Emphasizes Accelerated Transition to Full Capacity at Karbala Oil Refinery, 20 AUGUST

Undersecretary of Ministry of Oil Emphasizes Accelerated Transition to Full Capacity at Karbala Oil Refinery

Shafaq News/ Hamid Younes, the Undersecretary of the Iraqi Ministry of Oil for Refining Affairs, reaffirmed the ministry's dedication to expediting the phased transition towards total operational capacity at the Karbala oil refinery, with an envisaged output of 140,000 barrels per day. 

The move followed the successful completion of contractual obligations by a consortium of Korean companies responsible for overseeing the refinery's engineering, technical, and operational requirements.

During a visit to the Karbala Oil Refinery, Younes conducted an extensive inspection of the ongoing operations. He articulated that his visit encompassed a strategic meeting involving key refinery officials, stakeholders, and representatives from the international consulting office. 

The agenda of the discussion revolved around deliberations on the sequential integration of production units, ultimately culminating in the commencement of operational activities at full design capacities.

Younes highlighted that his visit also entailed a comprehensive field tour, encompassing the entirety of the refinery's infrastructure, including control centers and production units.

The Karbala Oil Refinery project marks a significant stride in Iraq's petroleum sector, with the meticulous collaboration between the Ministry of Oil and the consortium of Korean companies. As global oil demand maintains its upward trajectory, the successful operation of this refinery is poised to bolster Iraq's production capacity and further cement its position as a critical player in the global energy landscape.

https://shafaq.com/en/Economy/Undersecretary-of-Ministry-of-Oil-Emphasizes-Accelerated-Transition-to-Full-Capacity-at-Karbala-Oil-Refinery

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Iraqi oil exports to the U.S. outpace Saudi Arabia as North American intake climbs

Shafaq News/ Iraq's crude oil exports to the U.S. has trumped those from Saudi Arabia last week, despite a marginal decline in the rate of supply, data by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed on Sunday. 

Drawing on a recent data chart, the EIA illustrated that the average daily crude oil imports by the U.S. from its top nine suppliers stood at 5.953 million barrels last week. This marked a surge of 143 million barrels per day over the preceding week, which registered a daily intake of 5.810 million barrels.

Despite the overarching uptick in imports, Iraq's crude oil exports to the U.S. saw a marginal decline. The EIA's data indicated that exports settled at an average of 304,000 barrels per day last week, a mere dip of 1,000 barrels from the 305,000 barrels per day the week before.

Canada remains the predominant oil exporter to the U.S., with a staggering 3.505 million barrels per day. Mexico followee with an average daily export of 901,000 barrels, Ecuador at 363,000 barrels, and Nigeria, closely tailing Iraq, with 307,000 barrels per day.

Saudi Arabia's average daily exports to the U.S. were pegged at 285,000 barrels, trailed by Brazil at 130,000 barrels, Libya at 85,000 barrels, and Colombia at 75,000 barrels.