Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Bloomberg Analysis: Oil’s Sideways Trend Points to $70 Breakout

Crude oil has a greater chance of rising above $70 a barrel the longer it stays in the sideways pattern that has characterized trading in the past two months, according to National Australia Bank Ltd. Oil has been locked in a band of $65 to $75 a barrel since the start of August as traders weighed optimism over the prospects for a recovery in global demand against a supply glut. As the market has held its floor, prices will soon rise, said Gordon Manning, a Sydney based analyst, citing technical charts.

“The longer we’re in a sideways pattern, when we do break out, potentially the more powerful it’s going to be,” Manning said in an interview. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see that sort of ‘kick’ from around these current levels back up to about $70. There’s more of a risk of a $3 rally than a $3 fall from here”.....Read the entire article

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Crude Oil Rises as Growth in China, Japan Buoys Demand Outlook

Crude oil rose above $67 a barrel in New York as manufacturing expanded in China and Japan, buoying hopes for a rebound in fuel demand.

Oil is nonetheless heading for its first quarterly decline this year amid swelling fuel inventories in the U.S. The Energy Department will probably report that supplies of crude and fuel increased last week, according to a Bloomberg survey. Chinese manufacturing rose for a sixth month in September and Japanese industrial output climbed for a sixth time in August.

“Emerging markets have definitely been driving the demand recovery,” said Thina Saltvedt, an analyst at Nordea Bank AB in Oslo. “Industrial production has increased. We will see a gradual improvement in the economy, but prices have got ahead of the physical fundamentals”.....Read the entire article

Hype hype, hype hype Iran

Oil prices got a bid from a rising stock market and concerns over Iran. Now, while some traders and analysts try to hype the Iran story, the truth is the odds of an imminent military conflict with Iran are being greatly exaggerated. And if we do actually get into a conflict, it is unclear as to whether or not it will have a long term impact on oil prices in a world awash in supply.

Many analysts point to the fact that the Iranians have threatened to close the Straits of Hormuz, a major choke point for global supply. The Straits are located between Oman and Iran and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. According to the Department of Energy, Hormuz is the world's most important oil choke point due to its daily oil flow.....Read the entire article

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Saudi Aramco CEO: Sluggish Demand in West Not Offset by China

Oil demand remains "sluggish" throughout the developed world, and growth in China isn't making up for the loss, said Saudi Aramco CEO Khalid Al Falih. "It will take time to make up for the millions of barrels of lost demand that we have experienced," said Al Falih, the head of Saudi Arabia's state oil company, in an interview to air Monday evening on the Nightly Business Report on PBS. "But ultimately, it will come."

Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, is seeing its efforts pay off to hold down production within the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. While supplies are higher than normal worldwide, prices are holding steady around $70 a barrel, roughly where Al Falih said it is necessary to encourage investment in new production. Al Falih was interviewed .....Read the entire article

Oil Drops as Dollar Rises, Analysts Forecast Supply Increase

Crude oil dropped as a stronger dollar reduced the appeal of commodities as an alternative investment and analysts forecast fuel supplies will climb. Oil futures have almost doubled since February as the dollar declined 17 percent and rising equity markets buoyed investor confidence. U.S. oil and fuel inventories probably increased last week amid refinery maintenance and a sluggish economic recovery.

“The dollar continues to be a leading indicator for oil prices because of the global nature of the asset,” said Gene McGillian, an analyst and broker at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. Crude oil for November delivery declined 13 cents to settle at $66.71 a barrel at 2:44 p.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil prices have increased 50 percent this year. Futures fell 8.4 percent last week, the biggest drop since the week ended July 10.....Read the entire article

Crude Oil Daily Technical Outlook From ONG Focus


Break of 67.02 minor resistance indicates that an intraday low is in place at 65.05 and some consolidation could now be see. Nevertheless, recovery is expected to be limited well below 71.11 resistance an bring fall resumption. Below 65.05 will target 61.8% projection of 75.0 to 67.05 from 73.16 at 60.30 next, which is close to next psychological level of 60.

In the bigger picture, sustained trading below medium term trend line support solidifies that case that medium term rebound from 33.2, which is treated as correction whole down trend form 147.27, has completed at 75.0 on bearish divergence conditions in daily MACD and RSI. Further break of 58.32 cluster support (38.2% retracement of 33.2 to 75.0 at 59.03) will confirm this case and pave the way for a retest of 33.2 low. On the upside, break of 71.77 resistance is needed to invalidate this view. Otherwise, outlook will remain bearish.....Here is the charts!

Crude Drops on Forecast U.S. Oil, Fuel Supplies Rose Last Week

Oil fell before a report forecast to show that U.S. supplies of crude and refined oils accumulated because of a sluggish economic recovery. An Energy Department report due tomorrow will probably show crude stockpiles rose by 1 million barrels last week, according to the median estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News. Gasoline and distillate fuel inventories also increased, the survey said.

Oil prices have gained 50 percent this year as a weaker dollar boosts the appeal of crude as a currency hedge. “With energy fundamentals still uninspiring, prices should remain confined to the $65-$75 trading range for some time to come,” said Edward Meir, an analyst with MF Global Ltd. in Darien, Connecticut. “The dollar’s decline seems to have stalled” and.....Read the entire article

Monday, September 28, 2009

Bottom Pickers Push Crude Oil Higher, Natural Gas Pulls Back

Crude oil closed up $0.89 at $66.91 a barrel today. Prices closed nearer the session high today on short covering and speculative bottom picking. Prices Friday hit a fresh nine week low. Serious near term chart damage has been inflicted recently as prices have seen a bearish downside "breakout" from a trading range at higher price levels.

Natural gas closed down 11.6 cents at $4.832 today. Prices closed nearer the session low today on profit taking. Prices Friday hit a fresh six week high. Prices are in a three week old uptrend on the daily bar chart. Bulls have upside technical momentum.

The U.S. dollar index closed up 21 points at 77.23 today. Prices closed nearer the session high today on more short covering in a bear market. Bears still have the overall near term technical advantage.

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BP, Kuwait to Build Refinery in China

Energy giant BP (BP) is collaborating with Kuwait to build a $9 billion refinery venture in southern China. The facility, in China's Guangdong province, would have a refining capacity of 300,000 barrels per day.

The facility would be 30 percent owned by KPI, Kuwait's state run oil company. Chinese refiner Sinopec (SHI) would have a 50 percent stake, while Dow Chemical (DOW) and Shell (RDS.A) (RDS.B) would each take a ten percent stake. Work on the refinery is expected to commence by March of 2010.