Weekly Futures Market Recap with Mike Seery for Week Ending January 23rd

Our trading partner Mike Seery is back with his weekly futures market recap. As always he includes where he is placing stops to lock in profits we have all been enjoying if you have been following Mike this year.

Crude oil futures in the March contract are trading far below their 20 and 100 day moving average settling last Friday in New York at 49.13 a barrel while currently trading at 46.00 down over $3 for the trading week continuing its bearish trend and if you’re still short this market my recommendation would be to continue to place your stop loss above the 10 day high which currently stands at 51.73 risking about $6 or $6,000 per contract plus slippage and commission from today’s price levels.

The next level of major resistance is the January 13th low of 44.78 and if that level is broken I think prices could head into the mid-30s as over supplies are overwhelming at the current time plus the fact that the U.S dollar is hitting an 11 year high with the Euro currency down over another 100 points this Friday afternoon continuing to put pressure on the entire commodity sector.

The king of Saudi Arabia died this week sending prices up to 47.76 on the night session before succumbing to pressure once again as the U.S dollar is starting an exponential move to the upside as traders continue to sell all rallies in crude oil. If you have not been short this market I certainly would sit on the sidelines as you have missed the boat, however I am definitely not recommending any type of bullish position as I still think prices go lower, however the 10 day stop will not be lowered until next Friday so you’re going to have to be patient with this trade as the trend still remains bearish in my opinion.
Trend: Lower
Chart structure: Improving

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Gold futures in the February contract are trading above their 20 and 100 day moving average settling last Friday in New York at 1,277 while currently trading at 1,288 an ounce down about $12 this afternoon as I have been recommending a bullish position when prices cracked 1,245 and if you took that trade place your stop at the 10 day low which in Monday’s trade will be 1,217 still risking about $70 or $7,000 per contract plus slippage and commission, however the chart structure will start to improve on a daily basis starting next week.

Gold prices hit a 5 month high this week and now is being considered as a currency and not a commodity as nobody wants to own any of the foreign currencies especially the Euro currency which was down another 100 points today sending the U.S dollar to an 11 year high as countries like Yemen are collapsing right in front of our eyes and many other countries are getting crushed by the low crude oil prices so investors are seeking a safe haven in gold despite today’s negative tape.

The chart structure in gold is poor at the current time as prices have gone up sharply in recent days as that will tighten up but the trend is your friend in the commodity markets and the trend in the precious metals is higher as I have been very bearish the entire commodity sector except for gold and silver and I will stay with that theory, but continue to make sure you place the proper amount of contracts risking 2% of your account balance on any given trade. If you have not entered this market on the bullish side wait for another price dip lowering risk so keep an eye and sit on the sidelines waiting for a retracement before entering and then continue to place the stop at the proper level.
Trend: Higher
Chart Structure: Improving

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Coffee futures in the March contract settled last Friday at 171 while currently trading at 159.80 down around 1500 points for the trading week as I’m still sitting on the sidelines waiting for a trend to develop as prices have traded down for the 6th consecutive trading session right at major support at 160 & if prices break that level you’re looking at a bear market as we have not seen these prices since last February.

Coffee futures are trading below their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you that the trend is to the downside, however the chart structure is terrible at the current time but I do believe lower prices are ahead but I’m not recommending any type of futures position as rain has hit key coffee growing regions and it certainly doesn’t look at this time that we are going to have a back to back drought situation so the trend is lower and I do think prices can trade as low as 140 in coming weeks as the commodity markets in general are still are headed lower in my opinion.

Coffee is considered a luxury item and is still historically relatively expensive as I will keep an eye on this market and wait for better chart structure to develop as right now the 10 day high is too far away & does not meet my criteria that’s why I’m sitting on the sidelines as the risk is too high but I certainly am not recommending any type of bullish position in this market at all.
Trend: Lower
Chart Structure: Awful

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Commodity Market Summary for Week Ending Friday October 17th - Crude Oil, Gold, U.S. Dollar, Coffee and More

Our trading partner Mike Seery brings us his take on this volatile commodities market, read in detail as Mike includes his stops and so much more......

Crude oil futures in the November contract had a wild trading week in New York currently trading at $83 a barrel after settling last Friday at 85.82 as prices actually breached the $80 mark before reversing in yesterday’s trade to settle down nearly $3 for the trading week. Crude oil futures are trading below their 20 day and $13 below their 100 day moving average telling you the trend is clearly bearish and if you are short this market place your stop above the 10 day high which currently stands at 90.75 and that stop will be lowered on a daily basis as I missed this market and am currently sitting on the sidelines as the chart structure was awful when the breakout occurred so I’m kicking myself at the current time.

I definitely am not recommending any type of long position in crude oil as I think prices will continue to head lower especially with Saudi Arabia coming out stating that they will not cut production as they are looking for lower prices to squeeze U.S output as this market still has further to go in my opinion and 79.78 in yesterday’s trade will be retested once again so continue to take advantage of any rally making sure you place the proper stop loss also maintaining a proper risk management of 2% of your account balance on any given trade. Crude oil prices have dropped from $104 a barrel in late June to today’s price levels dropping over $20 or 20% as consumers will definitely benefit when they hit their local gas stations and that should also help improve the U.S economy.

The fundamentals in crude oil are extremely bearish as worldwide supplies are extremely high while supplies here in the United States are at record highs so it’s very difficult to rally as we don’t have the spike up in price like we used to when Middle East conflicts erupted which is a good thing for the United States. TREND: LOWER
CHART STRUCTURE: POOR

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Gold futures in the December contract had a volatile trading week in New York still trading above its 20 day but below its 100 day moving average telling you that the trend currently is mixed as prices hit a 4 week high in Wednesday’s trade at 1,250 however we are down about $3 this Friday afternoon currently trading at 1,239 as the trend still remains neutral as I’m sitting on the sidelines. A possible spike bottom was created around the 1,185 level as I was short this market from around 1,278 getting stopped out at the 2 week high around 1,235 so right now I’m waiting for a better chart pattern to develop as the chart structure is somewhat poor at the current time as the U.S dollar has been pressuring gold in recent weeks but the dollar looks like its created a short term top as well.

The problem I have with gold at the current time is with all worldwide problems and the stock market experiencing huge volatility this week gold prices should be sharply higher from today’s prices levels so this tells me that this market remains weak and if you think a top has been created at 1,250 sell at today’s price of 1,239 risking $11 or $1,100 per contract, however like I’ve stated before I am sitting on the sidelines waiting for a trend to develop. At the current time many of the commodity markets are experiencing very few trends and as a commodity trader you do not want to trade just too trade so you must have patience as at the current time there have not been any new breakouts in several weeks except for a select few.
TREND: MIXED
CHART STRUCTURE: POOR

The U.S Dollar experienced an extremely volatile trading week settling last Friday at 86.00 currently trading at 85.28 up about 20 points this Friday afternoon as volatility has exploded in bonds, stocks and many of the commodities as prices hit a 2 week low this week stopping out my recommendation around 85.30 as currently I’m sitting on the sidelines. If you took my original recommendation when prices broke out above the contract high of 81.20 back on the 25th of July this trade worked out very well but now look for other markets that are trending as this market will probably consolidate as it rallied about 600 points in the last 4 months, however I do believe we are in the midst of a long term bull market as Europe and Japan continue their quantitative easing as the United States has basically ended there quantitative easing so fundamentally speaking that should keep the foreign currencies weak against the U.S dollar. The chart structure currently is poor as this market generally is one of the least volatile of all the commodities, however with the stock market swings this week that sent volatility back into the dollar while sending shock waves through the currency markets as well so sit on the sidelines and look for another market with better chart structure. TREND: MIXED
CHART STRUCTURE: POOR

Coffee futures in the December contract are trading above their 20 & 100 day moving average however prices hit a 2 week low today as prices have become extremely volatile to the fact of hot & dry weather once again in Brazil causing concerns of another poor crop as prices settled last Friday at 220.40 currently trading at 210.70 down this Friday afternoon on a forecast of rain hitting key coffee growing regions next week. At the current time I’m sitting on the sidelines in this market as prices have become extremely volatile as I will wait for better chart structure to develop however I do think prices are limited to the downside due to the fact that Brazil probably will produce another poor crop this year as coffee is grown on trees and when a drought occurs those trees can be stressed for several years unlike the grain market where you can grow a brand new crop the next year. I’ve talked to a large coffee producer down in Brazil and he still is extremely bullish stating that he thinks the crop production numbers will be lower than what is currently estimated but only time will tell but the trend is neutral to higher at the current time but look for a better market with better chart structure.
TREND: NEUTRAL
CHART STRUCTURE: POOR

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Crude Oil Declines the Most in Five Weeks

Crude oil fell the most in more than five weeks as U.S. orders for durable goods dropped in January by the most in three years, signaling slower economic growth and lower fuel demand.

Futures declined 1.9 percent in New York as data from the Commerce Department showed bookings for goods meant to last at least three years slumped 4 percent. An Energy Department report tomorrow will show U.S. crude supplies rose to the highest level in five months last week, according to the median of analyst responses in a Bloomberg News survey.

“The durable goods numbers do not paint a picture of robust demand going forward,” said Addison Armstrong, director of market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. “We’re going to see builds in this week’s report, which is also putting downward pressure on prices.”

Read the entire Bloomberg article

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Brent Crude Dips After Platts Changes Formula

US benchmark crude contracts fell on concerns that the economic recovery in the US is slowing, while Brent crude was on the rise in London as the outlook for the European debt crisis brightened. However, the trends changed late in the week as Brent fell after Platts decided to change the way it calculates the benchmark price. Oil futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) were hit by a slew of downbeat US data that came out late in the week. Thursday’s employment report from the US Labor Department revealed s surprise increase in US jobless claims to 428,000 last week.

Manufacturing data that was released on the same day also disappointed, showing a decline in the Empire State index from minus-7.7 in August to minus-8.8 in September, while the Philly Fed rose 13.2 to minus-17.5 in September, but still missed expectations. In the meantime, Brent contracts were on the rise, enjoying support from reassuring statements from European politicians that Greece will not quit the euro zone and the EU will go as far as necessary to prevent it from going into a default.

Demand for Brent was also supported by lingering concerns over supplies from the North Sea following a series of delays over the past few weeks. However, Brent futures fell sharply late on Friday after Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw Hill, said it will change the Brent crude pricing formula sooner than expected. The changes to the benchmark that is used to price two third of the world’s oil will come into effect in January 2012 instead of the first quarter of 2013 as was planned before.

Platts has decided to change the pricing benchmark due to a reduction in Brent crude supplies in recent years, which has made it easier for traders to manipulate the market. The Brent crude prices will now be assessed based on contracts signed over a 16 day period instead of the previous 12 day span. “Recent events in the market, including disruptions to the Forties pipeline system and shortfalls in cargo deliveries, show clearly that timely action is needed to maintain the strength of the physical benchmark,” said vice president of editorial at Platts Dan Tanz.


Posted courtesy of Pro Active Investors

Phil Flynn: Babys It's Cold Outside

It may not be cold yet but the first real blast of winter is coming. How do I know that? I am looking at natural gas prices. Despite record supplies, natural gas has been keeping up as Middle America scrambles through our closets to find gloves and ear muffs. Natural gas prices are rebounding from its sharp selloff now testing the high for the month in anticipations of frosty future. Does this signal that the bottom in natural gas has arrived or is this just a great selling opportunity?

In a normal year in gas you might assume that prices would go higher but since the onslaught of new unconventional gas production from shale, now you cannot be too sure. You see according to the Energy Information Agency natural gas proven reserves (those volumes of oil and natural gas that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions) rose enough not only to replace production, but also to grow by almost 3 percent over 2007.

In contrast, the EIA says that even though discoveries of crude oil rose for the third year in a row, proved reserves of crude oil fell by more than 10 percent. Under Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules for determining reserves that have been in effect since 1982, operators assessed their 2008 reserves based on what they could produce with reasonable certainty at the market price on the last day of the year......Read the entire article.



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Phil Flynn: Be Careful Of What You Wish For

The Federal Reserve wanted inflation and inflation is what they got! The Feds plan to restore activity to the economy by printing money and inspiring people to spend may have hit what you might call a reality check. While after a very weak jobs report showing that the economy lost 9500 jobs increasing the odds of quantitative easing, a report released simultaneously from the Department of Agriculture shows the perils of this policy. The USDA dramatically lowered its corn stocks to the lowest level in 14 years.

Corn shot up to the daily price limit sending shockwaves across the grain complex and the stock market as well. The Wall street Journal reported that, “A steep cut to U.S. corn harvest estimates triggered a rash of trades by investors who bet that tighter corn supplies could keep rippling through the stock market.“ “Analysts called the U.S. Department of Agriculture report a shocker. It shaved a record 6.7 bushels per acre from last month's corn yield estimate, pushing the figures well below.......Read the entire article.


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Crude Oil Gains as Earnings Exceed Estimates, IMF Raises Global Growth Target

Crude oil rose as U.S. companies posted better than estimated earnings and the International Monetary Fund raised its forecast for global growth this year, signaling fuel consumption will climb. Oil rebounded after Morgan Stanley profits rose as fixed income trading revenue more than doubled from a year earlier. The IMF said the economy will expand 4.2 percent in 2010, the fastest pace since 2007, compared with a January projection of 3.9 percent. Prices dropped as much as 1.1 percent earlier when a report showed that U.S. supplies gained last week.

“These markets tend to move on expectations of what will be, rather than what is,” said John Kilduff, a partner at Round Earth Capital, a New York based hedge fund that focuses on food and energy. “The earnings are pointing to a significant recovery and today’s IMF report also points to increased growth. Demand is poised to grow, outpacing output.” Crude oil for June delivery rose 31 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $84.16 a barrel at 12:31 p.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil traded at $84.30 before the release of the inventory report at 10:30 a.m. in Washington.

U.S. supplies of crude oil rose 1.89 million barrels to 355.9 million, the Energy Department report showed. A 750,000 barrel drop was forecast, according to a Bloomberg survey. Inventories of crude at Cushing, Oklahoma, where New York traded West Texas Intermediate oil is stored, surged 5.8 percent to 34.1 million barrels, the highest since the week ended Jan. 8. “There was a massive build at Cushing, which should be very bearish,” said Stephen Schork, president of consultant Schork Group Inc. in Villanova, Pennsylvania. “Between mid-February and mid-April supplies at Cushing have gone from a year on year deficit of 13 percent to a 15 percent surplus.”

Reporter Mark Shenk can be contacted at mshenk1@bloomberg.net


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Phil Flynn: In Like a Lion and Out Like a Lamb?

In like a lion and out like a lamb? Ok, I know it is a tired cliché about the month of March but probably apropos for the energy and stock markets. Last week’s blistering hot GDP at 5.9% coupled with some strong data out of the Euro zone this morning has the market charging, well, like a lion. But is this aggressive move sustainable when you see weaker than expected data out of China. And if the economic data is so darned good, then why is oil demand just so darned bad?

Strong data out of Europe and weak data out of China should give us a mixed picture. In the Euro Zone manufacturing hit 30-month high in February. The unemployment rate in Europe came in at a better than expected 9.9%. This seemed to over shadow the fact that the HSBC China Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index fell to 55.8 in February from 57.4 in January. While still showing expansion it also shows that the world’s second largest oil consumer may be slowing its demand for oil. We see that demand is still weak with ample global supply.

In fact just last week the Energy Information Agency estimated that supply in OECD countries was 2.69 billion barrels at the end of 2009 which is the equivalent of about 58 days of forward demand cover and a whopping 90 million barrels above the 5-year average. With supplies so strong it is hard to imagine that even an increase in demand will really start getting us going.

The EIA says that they expect the world oil market will gradually tighten in 2010 and 2011, as the global economic recovery continues and world oil demand begins to grow again. Of course for that to happen they are counting on OPEC to hold back supply. And as the EIA said OPEC cut its crude oil production by 2.2 million barrels per day in 2009 and is one reason why WTI crude oil prices stabilized between $70 to $80 per barrel since the middle of last year. This range is consistent with the "fair price" range for crude oil proposed by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the beginning of 2009.

Oil prices hovered in this range despite sustained high levels of oil inventories and rising spare production capacity, which rose, in part, because of cuts in OPEC production. OPEC surplus crude oil production capacity currently stands at about 5 million bbl/d and could grow to 6 million barrel per day. However the EIA warns that most of this surplus capacity is concentrated in Saudi Arabia, which is not likely to use it as long as the oil market is stable and its price target range is being met.
Yet the Saudis might get tired of carry the burden as the rest of the cartel cheats away. Bloomberg News reported that OPEC increased crude oil production to a 14 month high in February, led by a Saudi Arabian gain.

According to the Bloomberg Survey OPEC output rose 125,000 barrels a day, or 0.4 percent, to an average 29.17 million barrels a day, the highest level since December 2008. January production total was revised 45,000 barrels a day higher. Bloomberg says that OPEC cut its production quotas by 4.2 million barrels to 24.845 million barrels a day beginning in January 2009 as fuel demand tumbled during the worst global recession since World War II. The Saudis boosted output by 100,000 barrels to 8.25 million barrels a day, the highest level since December 2008. It was the largest increase of any member. The kingdom exceeded its quota by 199,000 barrels a day.

Despite oil marching in like a Lion, we fully expect the month to go out like a lamb. With OPEC cheating and demand still weak we feel the bulls are on borrowed time!

You can contact Phil directly at pflynn@pfgbest.com You can also see him each day on the Fox Business Network!



The "Super Cycle" in Gold and How It Will Affect Your Pocketbook in 2010




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Phil Flynn: Is This Santa For Real?

Oil prices get swept up in a Santa Claus rally as light volume a strong stock market as well as a surprise drawdown in inventory gives the illusion of strong demand. Ho, Ho, Ho! Yet we may find out that yes, Virginia, indeed this Santa rally, despite my better judgment, may be real if oil closes above $79 a barrel.

Last week the market got a bullish boost on a surprise draw down in oil supply when the Energy Information Agency, an arm of the Department of Energy, reported that U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) decreased by 4.9 million barrels from the previous week. That caught the market by surprise because we also saw a drawdown in the supply of distillates to the tune of 3.1 million barrels. Don’t try to reason that supply is way above normal or that most likely the draws are skewered due to bad weather conditions impacting imports because none of these justifications seem to matter. You just have to believe. You really will have to believe if oil closes above $79 a barrel.

Now some think the rally is for real because of the early blast of winter. Despite the worries over global warming, it is cold weather that is inspiring demand. In other words even though supplies are above the five year average, weather may be colder this winter than the five year average. The EIA on demand said that over last four weeks, total products supplied by refiners came in at an average 18.9 million barrels per day which was down by 1.1 percent compared to last year. For gasoline, over the last four weeks demand averaged 9.0 million barrels per day, up by 0.8 percent from the same period last year. Distillate fuel demand has averaged 3.7 million barrels per day over the last four weeks, down by 3.9 percent from the same period last year despite the fact that it was colder.....Read the entire article.

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Oil Falls After Industry Report Shows Increase in Fuel Supplies

Crude oil fell in New York after an industry report showed an increase in fuel supplies in the U.S., adding to signs demand has yet to recover in the world’s largest energy consumer.Oil pared yesterday’s 2.6 percent gain after a report from the industry funded American Petroleum Institute showed U.S. gasoline stockpiles climbed the most since January. The Energy Department report today is expected to show increases in the nation’s fuel inventories, according to a Bloomberg News survey.


“We’ve been expecting a demand recovery but we still haven’t seen much of a justification in the supply demand fundamentals,” said Toby Hassall, a research analyst with CWA Global Markets Pty in Sydney. “The underlying supply-demand profile still suggests the market could be vulnerable to a pullback”.....Read the entire article

Crude Oil, Gasoline Rise as Earnings Signal Recession Is Easing

Crude oil rose and gasoline climbed a sixth day, the longest stretch since January, as better than expected earnings at Caterpillar Inc. signaled the recession may be easing in the world’s biggest fuel consuming country. Oil increased as stimulus programs and improved credit markets bolstered profits at the biggest maker of earth moving equipment. Per share earnings beat projections by an average of 14 percent for the 70 companies in the S&P 500 that reported quarterly results since July 8. U.S. crude oil supplies probably fell last week.....Complete Story