Phil Flynn: Confidence Game

When it comes to the markets confidence is key. Yet obviously if you look at the last 24 hours confidence has been shaken. Whether it be the call for a Greek referendum on the EU bailout or the weakness in the Chinese manufacturing data or the situation with the bankruptcy of MF Global confidence has been shaken. And despite the blow to confidence, the markets are something that you can believe in. You can also believe in the protections offered the customer provided by the exchanges.

The oil market, despite the absence of MF Global traders, had a very low volume and oil prices acted like they would have if all traders were present. They reacted as you might expect to the movement from the Japanese yen and dollar intervention and the economic data. They reacted to strong Libyan oil production that rose 245,000 barrels to 345,000, the highest level since March. Or strong production out of Iraq and the highest OPEC oil production since 2008.....Read Phil's entire article.


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Phil Flynn: Meeting Madness

Meeting or no meeting West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil continued to fly and the spread between the Brent crude continued to come in. The upward momentum in WTI was slowed a bit when European finance ministers sent chills down trader's spines. With the Euro Zone in termoil it is another reason why the WTI/ Brent spread has come in recent days.

The other reasons are as follows:
The market is pricing in the faster than expected return of Libyan crude. We continue to get reports from Libya that the damage to some of the major oil and gas fields are not that bad and the market expects production to ramp up quickly. The price of Brent was pricing in some worst case scenarios for the return of Libyan crude.

The other reason is that we have seen the spread come in is because of the continued decline in stocks of crude in Cushing, Oklahoma since the beginning of this conflict. In April Cushing stocks were at 41.9 million barrels in the beginning of the conflict and are now close to 31.1 million. That was ok when we thought the US was sinking into recession but now the US will have to see a higher price for WTI if we are going to be competitive for imports.

The other reason is that the Fed is laying the groundwork for QE3D! That will support oil as it has the gold and the silver markets.

The market will focus on Europe today but also the weekly supply reports from the Energy Information Agency. The API reported crude oil stocks up 2.7 million barrels. Gasoline up 153,000. Distillates down 1.8 million barrels. Stay tuned.

Phil Flynn

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Phil Flynn: United They Stand

United they stand, divided we fall and Greece's problems has Europe's back to the wall as divisions, divisions bring us down. So much for the euphoric rally on the hope and promise of a deal to meet Greece's debt obligations as divisions in the Euro Zone is stealing some of that incredible market momentum. This Greek tragedy continues to be a major driving force behind the value of oil and every stock and commodity around the globe.

The most obvious and direct impact on the price of oil is reflected in the value of the dollar. The day before yesterday when the market feared that a Greek default may lead to the end of the Euro Zone the dollar became the safe haven of last resort. The market feared that a breakup of the zone and a Greek default could create the same type of contagion mood the globe felt after the Lehman failure.

We see the market was predicting that an unmanaged Greek default would put the world into a deflationary downdraft. If Greece falls then what about Italy? Would they be next? How about Spain or Ireland? The market feared a freezing of the global economy and banking system as banks would refuse to deal with each other as they tried to determine their exposure to the Greek ruins.

Yet when the EU promised a deal that Europe would stand idly by while the world economy fell apart was well. Stocks and commodities soared across the board and the market now believes that there is no way that Europe would stand by while the global economic system fell apart.

In fact even a Financial Times report that said that a split over the terms of Greece’s second 109 billion Euro bail out developed wasn't enough to shake the confidence in the market that the EU would stand idly by while Rome or Athens burned. The FT said that" as many as seven of the bloc’s 17 members arguing for private creditors to swallow a bigger write down on their Greek bond holdings, according to senior European officials. The divisions have emerged amid mounting concerns that Athens’ funding needs are much bigger than estimated just two months ago. They threaten to unpick a painfully negotiated deal reached with private sector bond holders in July."

Still it did slow the buying as traders wait to see just what kind of deal would be done. We are still waiting.

The return of Libyan oil to the export market brought it the Brent/wti spread. We may have topped of course beware of a quick pop on positive bailout news. The API reported That crude oil increased by 568,000 barrels! Of Course the EIA should show a much larger increase as it catches up with the AP!.The API also showed a massive 4.63million barrel build in gasoline supply. Is anybody driving anymore?

We still feel the low for WTI oil is in for the year but we are nervous!

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Crude Oil Technical Outlook For Wednesday Morning Sept. 14th

Crude oil met strong resistance in overnight trading as the continued financial crisis in Europe weighs on traders. Worse then expected retail spending in the U.S., the IEA cut in global oil consumption forecasts for 2011 and 2012, the prospect of Libyan oil production coming back online and the end of hurricane season all contribute to the inability of oil to push through the 50 moving average near $91 per barrel.

Closes below last Tuesday's low crossing at 83.47 would confirm that the corrective rally off August's low has ended while opening the door for a possible test of August's low crossing at 76.61 later this fall. If November extends the rebound off August's low, the May-July downtrend line crossing near 92.92 is the next upside target. WTI Stochastics and RSI are overbought this morning.

First resistance is last Wednesday's high crossing at 90.48. Second resistance is the May-July downtrend line crossing near 92.66. First support is last Tuesday's low crossing at 83.47. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 79.76. Crude oil pivot point for Wednesday morning trading is 89.51.