Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDS.A)

And I'm now out of direct exposure to energy.

The Fed has done a lot, and is willing to do even more, but for now, is watching Congress. The fiscal side is where the next shoe falls.

In the search for high-quality dividend stocks, investors might take their cues from legendary value investor Warren Buffett.

Now, with retailers and related companies set to report, we likely will see more logs tossed on the fire that is dividend suspensions and quarterly dividend cuts.

Market leadership may be lacking on Thursday despite rising trading volumes, plus an update on Apple, Microsoft, Mastercard, Amazon and Gilead.

Occidental's dividend cut should serve as a warning.

Perhaps investors would be wise to invoke the Jim Cramer 'three day rule' where energy is concerned.

Joining the ranks of BlackRock and Microsoft, BP has come out with a plan to address climate change, and that gives it added appeal.

I don't think any of the takeaways have to do with the political mess in Iowa, nor the 'State of the Union' address scheduled for Tuesday night.

That's the question my wife asked me recently -- here's my answer.

It's no secret that the Fed would like to get out of the short-term repo business.

These names are poised to benefit from both longer-term sector trends as well as near-term geopolitical tensions.

What you have is a geopolitical event that markets were not positioned for.

This company made headlines in 2019, and I'm betting on it as a great play -- in many senses of the word -- for this new year.

Royal Dutch Shell offers over a 6% dividend yield and is in growth mode.

Looking for value? You will find opportunities across a variety of energy markets.

Chevron is a safe name in the oil and gas industry -- and offers a 4% yield.

You could say Aramco's prospectus isn't very refined.

I do think that this Fed Chair has learned to be cautious, in reflection of the policy errors made in late 2018.

When an issue this big comes to market, institutions and fund managers make room in their portfolio ahead of the IPO. This means oil names will be a source of shorts in any portfolio.

Let's check out the charts and indicators of WEX this morning.

How much has central bankers' environment been impacted externally? We will see.

Chevron and Exxon Mobil appear more attractive than this stock right now, and the oil sector as a whole should be watched for at least the next couple days.

The drone attacks on Saudi oil operations even could influence the Fed's thinking on inflation and rates.

The problem with the oil market is not one of supply, it is one of demand.

Should competitors act in a way that puts the U.S. economy at a disadvantage, then by all means the FOMC must act with a level of anger that intimidates.

About the upcoming U.S./China talks, call me skeptical, but I trade the environment, and not my starchy views on what is versus what should be.

OPEC has no idea how much oil prices can fall, but current prices are not acceptable to the organization.