Blockchain Platform for Finalizing Crude Oil Deals Goes Live
Another industry has officially adopted blockchain to improve their operations. Reuters reported that “oil majors and trading firms can start finalizing crude oil deals on a live blockchain-based platform for the first time,” using its technology to mitigate longstanding issues.
Blockchain is adept at improving efficiency and transparency across use cases – its immutable ledger makes fraud almost impossible, and it has the capacity to take labor-intensive, paper-based processes and move them into the digital world. Those characteristics were enticing to several large energy companies, who saw potential in its ability to “drastically cut costs in an environment of razor-thin profit margins.”
With those goals in mind, nine of the world’s most prominent energy companies and banks – BP, Royal Dutch Shell, Equinor, Mercuria Energy Group, Koch Supply and Trading, Gunvor Group, ABN AMRO, ING, and Societe General – banded together to create VAKT, a platform functioning as “a digital ecosystem for physical post-trade processing.”
VAKT uses JPMorgan’s Quorum ledger to create “a single source of the truth for the trade lifecycle…[that] will eliminate reconciliation and paper-based processes, enhance efficiency and create new trade finance opportunities.” It runs side-by-side with its users’ internal systems – a feature that should increase its chances of achieving the “widespread adoption” so critical to success, says John Jimenez, VAKT’s interim CEO.
Reuters reports that VAKT will eventually link to Komgo, a new platform backed by many of VAKT’s founders “which will provide financing including digital letters of credit.” “VAKT is the logistical arm...once a deal is executed through our book of records, it gets pushed through VAKT. The next leg is the financing, and the link-up with Komgo gives access to several banks,” explained Eren Zekioglu, Chief Operations and IT Officer at Gunvor Group, who believes VAKT offers a “big step [forward] for the physical energy trading markets.”
BP, Equinor, Shell, Gunvor, and Mercuria are the platform’s initial users; it will launch on a larger scale in January 2019. VAKT eventually hopes “to extend the platform to all physically traded energy commodities” as it expands.
Industry figures are bullish on its prospects. Andrew Smith, Shell International’s EVP of Trading & Supply, called it “an exciting time” for companies as technology improves processes and operations. “Collaboration with our peers and some of the industry’s key players is the best way to combine market expertise and achieve the scale necessary to launch a digital transaction platform that could transform the way we all do business,” said Smith. Blockchain’s value and transformative powers are becoming harder for businesses to ignore.
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JPM in -2.36% downward trend, declining for three consecutive days on September 08, 2026
Moving lower for three straight days is viewed as a bearish sign. Keep an eye on this stock for future declines. Considering data from situations where JPM declined for three days, in 152 of 263 cases, the price declined further within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 58%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bearish Trend Analysis
The 10-day RSI Indicator for JPM moved out of overbought territory on August 13, 2026. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 43 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In 15 of the 43 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at 35%.
The Momentum Indicator moved below the 0 level on September 14, 2026. You may want to consider selling the stock, shorting the stock, or exploring put options on JPM as a result. In 42 of 83 cases where the Momentum Indicator fell below 0, the stock fell further within the subsequent month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 51%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) for JPM turned negative on August 14, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to turn lower in the coming weeks. Traders may want to sell the stock or buy put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 44 similar instances when the indicator turned negative. In 19 of the 44 cases the stock turned lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of success at 43%.
JPM moved below its 50-day moving average on September 16, 2026 date and that indicates a change from an upward trend to a downward trend.
The Aroon Indicator for JPM entered a downward trend on September 16, 2026. This could indicate a strong downward move is ahead for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options.
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Stochastic Oscillator suggests the stock price trend may be in a reversal from a downward trend to an upward trend. 39 of 54 cases where JPM's Stochastic Oscillator exited the oversold zone resulted in an increase in price. Tickeron's analysis proposes that the odds of a continued upward trend are 72%.
Following a +2.00% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where JPM advanced for three days, in 221 of 363 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 61%.
JPM may jump back above the lower band and head toward the middle band. Traders may consider buying the stock or exploring call options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 1 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating very strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 8 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating low risk on high returns. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 20, placing this stock better than average.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 45 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating fairly steady price growth. JPM’s price grows at a lower rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 47 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to average earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 50 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 88 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is significantly overvalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: JPM's P/B Ratio (2.623) is slightly higher than the industry average of (1.874). P/E Ratio (14.949) is within average values for comparable stocks, (14.999). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (1.623) is also within normal values, averaging (1.323). JPM has a moderately low Dividend Yield (0.017) as compared to the industry average of (0.026). P/S Ratio (4.888) is also within normal values, averaging (3.867).
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