“This can be very difficult because admitting that the wrong trade was executed (or the right trade, but at the wrong time) is admitting that you were wrong. It is human nature to not like being wrong.” — unknown

1. Pioneer Natural Resources plans to double US oil exports in 2015 — Reuters, Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD) expects to double its U.S. exports of condensate to 50K barrels per day next year. The U.S. shale resources explorer, along with Enterprise Product Partners (NYSE:EPD), received permits in June to export the ultra-light oil, after the country eased its 40-year ban on oil exports. Pioneer (NYSE:PXD) sells condensate from its Eagle Ford shale site to Enterprise, which markets the oil to foreign buyers.
2. NiSource to separate into two publicly traded companies — NiSource Inc (NYSE:NI) announced its board had approved plans to split into two publicly traded companies, separating its utilities and pipeline businesses. NiSource plans to list its natural gas pipeline division as Columbia Pipeline Group, which is expected to trade on the NYSE under the ticker “COLP.”
3. Hong Kong Protests Swell as Demonstrators Press Demands — Protestors continue to block many central roads and highways in Hong Kong, as pro-democracy demonstrations extend into their fifth day. Leaders have now issued a warning that the standoff would escalate in coming days if their demands aren’t met. The number of protestors have swelled into the tens of thousands, calling for Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to resign and for the government in Beijing to drop plans to control the 2017 leadership election.
4. U.S. poised to become the world’s largest oil producer — FT, US oil output likely to exceed Saudi Arabia’s this month or next for the first time since 1991. U.S. production of oil and related liquids such as ethane and propane was level with Saudi Arabia in June and again in August at about 11.5M barrels a day, according to the International Energy Agency. U.S. crude production in August was still lower than both Saudi Arabia and Russia.
5. CDC confirms first case of Ebola in US— The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that a patient being treated at a Dallas hospital has tested positive for Ebola, the first case diagnosed in the U.S. The patient was placed under strict isolation, and CDC and Texas health officials are working to identify and monitor anyone who may have come into contact with the patient. Ebola is known to be incurable. Currently, there are a few pharma companies working on vaccines, drugs and other treatments for Ebola. These are Glaxo (GSK), Tekmira (TKMR), BioCryst (BCRX) and Sarepta (SRPT).
6. Pimco Total Return Fund outflows estimated at $23.5B in September — Pimco’s flagship Total Return Fund saw an estimated $23.5 billion in outflows in September as longtime Chief Investment Officer Bill Gross announced last week that he left for Janus Capital Group. This means the fund saw a drain of more than 10 percent of its total net assets in one month, according to data from Morningstar, which assessed it at $221.61 billion as of Aug. 31.
7. Exxon sees some disruption from Ebola outbreak — Reuters, Exxon Mobil is one of the first major U.S. companies to address the business impact of the Ebola outbreak in west Africa, with CEO Rex Tillerson announcing that the company is delaying plans to start offshore drilling in some areas. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) acquired an 80% stake in an oil prospect off the coast of Liberia last year, and has spent more than a year planning and preparing to drill there.

The week ahead — Economic data from Econoday.com: