Crude Hovers Near $70 Despite Surprise Drawdown

Despite a surprise drawdown in domestic crude stocks reported today, U.S. crude oil futures fell once more on the New York Mercantile Exchange Wednesday, pressured by oil traders' increasingly bearish outlook regarding the market's underlying fundamentals, as well as concerns about the global economy's recovery. Recording a negative movement on the NYMEX for the sixth consecutive session, the price of light, sweet crude oil closed nearly $2 less than its previous settlement to $70.67 a barrel. Additionally, natural gas spot prices at the Henry Hub reversed to just under the $5-threshold to settle at $4.898 per thousand cubic feet.

"We have broken out to the downside of this $75-$80 range in the crude oil market that had been holding since the middle of October," noted Bill O'Grady, the chief markets strategist at St.Louis based Confluence Investment Management LLC. "We fell out of it yesterday and accelerated today on government data that wasn't really all that bearish, you had a bullish crude number, but the product numbers were not very strong." Interestingly, the dollar's three day advance collapsed against the euro on Wednesday, which did little to prop up energy prices. Typically, a weaker greenback loses its safe haven appeal, spurring traders toward cheaper dollar denominated commodities.....Read the entire article.


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Crude Oil Climbs Above $80 a Barrel in New York as U.S. Equities Rebound

Crude oil fluctuated as Tropical Depression Ida weakened and the dollar gained against the currencies of major U.S. trading partners. Ida’s sustained winds have dropped to 35 miles (56 kilometers) per hour from 45 mph earlier, the National Hurricane Center said on its Web site. Producers have begun preparations to resume operations. A stronger dollar reduces the appeal of commodities to investors looking for an inflation hedge.

“I doubt there was any severe damage caused by Ida,” said Bill O’Grady, chief market strategist at Confluence Investment Management in St. Louis. “There will probably be some impact on next week’s inventory data, but that’s it.” Crude oil for December delivery fell 32 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $79.11 a barrel at 11:36 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Futures dropped as much as 88 cents and climbed as much as $1.08 today. Prices have increased 77 percent this year.....Read the entire article.

Oil Declines Below $70 on Signs Demand Will Be Slow to Recover

Crude oil fell below $70 a barrel in New York on signs that demand will be slow to rebound after a report yesterday showed that inventories unexpectedly rose last week in the U.S., the world’s largest energy consuming country. Oil prices dropped as much as 2.2 percent to their lowest level in a week after the Energy Department said crude stockpiles rose 128,000 barrels last week, compared with forecasts for a 1.15 million barrel reduction. U.S. jobless claims increased more than estimated. They peaked in April in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression. “We’re not seeing anything to suggest demand is recovering, so there’s nothing on the fundamental side that would suggest prices would be this high,” said Bill O’Grady, chief market strategist.....Complete Story

Oil Drops Below $70 as Equities Decline, Dollar Strengthens

Crude oil fell below $70 a barrel in New York U.S. equities dropped and the dollar strengthened for a sixth day. Oil retreated as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost as much as 1.2 percent, the biggest decline in more than a month, after analysts cut ratings on companies including Sprint Nextel Corp. and MBIA Inc. The dollar has risen 2 percent since Aug. 3. “Your bearish pressures are still there,” said Bill O’Grady, chief market strategist for Confluence Investment Management in St. Louis. "The recession probably ended in June, but it’s going to be a slow global recovery, and these prices are probably pretty elevated".....Complete Story