5 Stocks Investors Are Watching Closely This Week

2. Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC)

Sable Offshore skyrocketed by 74 percent week-on-week, as investors placed bets following an executive department’s opinion confirming that President Donald Trump could override conflicting federal laws that prevent the listed firm from conducting full operations at its California pipeline system.

Thomas Elliot Gaiser, assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel of the Department of Justice, said that a presidential order could preempt California laws currently impeding Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC) from fully operating its Las Flores onshore pipeline.

Operations at its offshore unit, Santa Ynez, have already started in May, but Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC) remains unable to sell or transport hydrocarbons through its Las Flores unit pending court approval.

“We conclude that it (a presidential order) would. An order issued as an exercise of congressionally delegated authority or the President’s constitutional powers has the force of federal law under the Supremacy Clause and may preempt contrary state law,” he said.

“Because the DPA (Defense Production Act) authorizes the President to order certain actions that may otherwise be prohibited by state law, an order issued pursuant to the DPA could preempt those laws expressly or by conflict,” he noted.

The statement sparked renewed optimism and buying appetite for Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE:SOC), which has been battling for the revival of the pipeline for 10 years since it was ordered shut in June 2015 following a leak that caused a major oil spill.