The Crude Oil Trader

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Are Gulf Oil Disaster Stocks Way Oversold?

Goldman Sachs Daniel Boyd feels the market sell down for offshore drillers is overdone.

Goldman:
Investor fears related to the six month moratorium on deepwater drilling in the US Gulf are overdone from a fundamental perspective, in our view as this represents just 3%-5% of annual revenues for the major companies. We ultimately expect the financial impact to be minimal (3%-7% of EPS in 2010 and we are slightly lowering our estimates to reflect this) and temporary given not only the importance of DW to US oil supply but that many of the rigs will move to international locations where there are current shortages.

They're approaching the trough valuations they hit when the world was ending in early 2009:

Here's a stock-by-stock breakdown of the price to book valuations:

Look for 2Q earnings as a positive catalyst:

With P/B and EV/GCI at “reasonable” trough levels, we recommend longer-term investors buy the group now though recognize that short-term investors might prefer to wait until either the oil spill is contained, which will give more confidence that the DW drilling ban will be lifted in six months, or 2Q results which we expect to confirm our view that global fundamentals will remain strong.

Mr. Boyd is also particularly bullish on another gulf disaster stock, outside of the drillers, Halliburton

(HAL)

We maintain our Buy rating on Halliburton. We think that the shares are now discounting trough assumptions given that it is trading at just an average historical multiple of the actual 1Q2010 trough in earnings.

Perhaps these are the smarter BP-disaster plays, the stocks which have fallen hard along with BP due to the gulf disaster, but aren't nearly as exposed to the ballooning potential liabilities.

From Vincent Fernando at The Business Insider

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The World’s Biggest LNG Producer Holding Onto it’s Gas

On paper, it should be a perfect match. Qatar has huge amounts of gas to export and its neighbours are desperately prowling for reliable energy supplies to power their emerging economies. But Qatar’s recent decision to rule out significant gas exports to its allies in the Gulf Cooperation Council from a huge gas project inaugurated earlier this month illustrates just how acute the gas needs are among some of the globe’s biggest oil producers.

The new Qatari jewel is the second phase of Al-Khaleej Gas, which is now producing about 1.25 billion cubic feet a day, equivalent to about 17% of the country’s production. Combined with AKG-1, the two projects account for more than a quarter of the country’s overall output. (Most of the remainder is liquefied and exported around the world.)

Qatar’s deputy prime minister and energy minister, Abdullah al-Attiyah, recently said that all of the gas production from AKG-2 would be used to meet domestic demand, especially for electricity generation, and to continue feeding the relentless double-digit economic growth of the past few years.

Qatar is already the world’s biggest LNG producer. It’s also a growing player in gas to liquids. But over the next decades, the country’s domestic gas demand is expected to double. And that increased gas demand can be seen throughout the region as oil rich countries work to grow their economies, especially for petrochemical and industrial sectors, as well as domestic desalination and electricity demand.

Regional electricity demand is expected to increase annually by more than 6% and it is already competing with gas demand from petrochemical plants, with countries like Kuwait forced to prioritize power over industrial output.....Read the entire article.

Just click here for your FREE trend analysis of natural gas ETF UNG

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Crude Oil Daily Technical Outlook For Thursday Morning

Intraday bias in crude oil remains neutral as sideway trading continues between 71.23 and 75.72. Break of 71.23 minor support will indicate that rebound from 64.23 is finished and will flip intraday bias back to the downside for retesting this low first. On the upside, above 75.72 will bring another rise, but after all, upside should be limited by 61.8% retracement of 87.15 to 64.23 at 78.39 and bring fall resumption.

In the bigger picture, prior break of 68.59/69.50 support zone affirms our view that whole medium term rebound from 33.2 has completed at 87.15 already, just ahead of 50% retracement of 147.27 to 33.2 at 90.24. Further decline should be seen to 50% retracement of 33.2 to 87.15 at 60.18 at least. Also, as rebound from 33.2 is viewed as as a correction to the whole correction that started at 2008 at 147.27, we'd anticipate a break of 33.2 low in the longer term. On the upside, break of resistance at 78 level is needed to be indicate that fall from 87.15 is completed. Otherwise, we'll stay bearish.....Nymex Crude Oil Continuous Contract 4 Hours Chart.

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Crude Oil Rises a Second Day on U.S. Home Sales Growth, Crude Stockpile Decline

Oil gained for a second day in New York after U.S. home sales rose and an industry funded report showed a decline in the country’s gasoline inventories, bolstering optimism that the economic recovery will accelerate. Oil advanced as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index climbed after pending sales of existing homes rose to the highest level since October.

The American Petroleum Institute said last week’s gasoline supplies fell to the lowest this year. “The flow of data from the U.S. is still on the positive side, suggesting recovery,” said Toby Hassall, commodity analyst at CWA Global Markets Pty in Sydney. “If we start to see inventories decline in line with their seasonal pattern then that should offer support to the market.”

Crude oil for July delivery increased as much as $1.03, or 1.4 percent, to $73.89 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and was at $73.77 at 1:36 p.m. Singapore time. Yesterday, the contract rose 28 cents, or 0.4 percent, to settle at $72.86. The S&P 500 increased 2.6 percent yesterday. That has pushed Asia stocks higher today with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbing the most since February. The index of pending U.S. home sales gained 6 percent after they were projected to rise 5 percent in April, according to the median of 40 forecasts in the Bloomberg survey.

“The economic numbers out of the U.S. have been improving gradually this month,” said Serene Lim, an energy commodity strategist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. in Singapore. “Yesterday’s API data was quite encouraging. We’ll have to see if the Department of Energy numbers match that, especially if the Cushing inventories fall”....Read the entire article.

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Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Crude Oil Bulls Gain Momentum on High Range Close

Crude oil closed higher due to short covering on Wednesday ending a two day correction off last Friday's high. The high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Thursday. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 75.05 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted. If July renews the decline off May's high, last July's low crossing at 66.11 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 75.05. Second resistance is last Friday's high crossing at 75.72. First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 71.82. Second support is last Tuesday's low crossing at 67.15.

Natural gas closed higher on Wednesday as it extends the rally off last week's low. The high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Thursday. Stochastics and the RSI are bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. If July extends this week's rally, May's high crossing at 4.587 is the next upside target. If July renews the decline off May's high, the reaction low crossing at 3.971 is the next downside target. First resistance is today's high crossing at 4.440. Second resistance is May's high crossing at 4.587. First support is last Tuesday's low crossing at 4.036. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 3.971.

The U.S. Dollar closed higher on Wednesday but the mid-range close sets the stage for a steady opening on Thursday. Stochastics and the RSI are diverging but are neutral to bearish signaling that sideways trading is possible near term. If June renews this year's rally, the 87% retracement level of 2009's decline on the weekly continuation chart crossing at 87.79 is the next upside target. Closes below the reaction low crossing at 85.33 are needed to confirm that a short term top has been posted. First resistance is the reaction high crossing at 87.63. Second resistance is weekly resistance crossing at 87.79. First support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 86.01. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 85.33.

Gold closed lower due to profit taking on Wednesday. The high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Thursday. Stochastics and the RSI are bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. If August extends this week's rally, May's high crossing at 1251.40 is the next upside target. First resistance is Tuesday's high crossing at 1230.60. Second resistance is May's high crossing at 1251.40. First support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 1210.80. Second support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 1205.40.

Oil prices rose on Wednesday as investors began to place bets ahead of Friday's monthly jobs report that figures to provide fresh clues about the strength of the rebounding economy and demand for oil. At the same time, gasoline pump prices across the country continued their slow slide toward levels not seen since a year ago. Benchmark crude for July delivery climbed 90 cents at $73.48 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $1.39 to settle at $72.58 on Tuesday.

Retail gasoline prices fell for the 27th straight day, dropping 0.4 cent overnight to a national average of $2.723 per gallon, according to AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. Prices have dropped 4.8 cents in the past week and 17.2 cents in the past month. Prices remain 19.8 cents over year ago levels. Oil prices have been supported by recent economic data that have come in better than expected, including a report Wednesday that showed pending home sales at their highest level in April since October. Demand for crude products also has been increasing.

The latest read on how the U.S. economy is doing comes Friday when the unemployment report for May is released. "If this market is disappointed, it could be a new leg down for gas prices," said Phil Flynn of PFGBest. Rising stock markets helped oil prices on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up about 120 points at midday. The NASDAQ and the S&P 500 posted gains as well. Oil and gasoline prices have fallen about 16 percent in the past month, even as the spill in the Gulf of Mexico worsens. Tankers bringing imported oil to Gulf ports and taking refined product out continue to work around the huge slick at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

In other Nymex trading in July contracts, heating oil rose 3.99 cents to $2.0103 a gallon, and gasoline added 4.67 cents to $2.292 a gallon. Natural gas was up 14.3 cents at $4.391 per 1,000 cubic feet. In London, the Brent crude July contact was up $1.50 at $74.21 on the ICE futures exchange.....Here's more AP business news!

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Dan Dicker: BP Stock Is Bad News

Dan Dicker, TSC senior contributor, says he got the BP stock call wrong and is looking for a micro rally to sell his shares. Follow Dan on Twitter at Dan_Dicker.

Just click here for your FREE trend analysis for British Petroleum

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Crude Oil Daily Technical Outlook Wednesday Morning

Intraday bias in crude oil remains neutral for the moment. Break of 71.23 minor support will indicate that rebound from 64.23 is finished and will flip intraday bias back to the downside for retesting this low first. On the upside, above 75.72 will bring another rise, but after all, upside should be limited by 61.8% retracement of 87.15 to 64.23 at 78.39 and bring fall resumption.

In the bigger picture, prior break of 68.59/69.50 support zone affirms our view that whole medium term rebound from 33.2 has completed at 87.15 already, just ahead of 50% retracement of 147.27 to 33.2 at 90.24. Further decline should be seen to 50% retracement of 33.2 to 87.15 at 60.18 at least. Also, as rebound from 33.2 is viewed as as a correction to the whole correction that started at 2008 at 147.27, we'd anticipate a break of 33.2 low in the longer term. On the upside, break of resistance at 78 level is needed to be indicate that fall from 87.15 is completed. Otherwise, we'll stay bearish......Nymex Crude Oil Continuous Contract 4 Hours Chart.

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Crude Oil Falls for Third Day on Concern Slower Growth to Cut Fuel Demand

Oil fell for a third day as Chinese equities dropped, highlighting concerns about flagging fuel demand in the world’s second largest crude user, and as the euro fell against the dollar, limiting the appeal of commodities. Oil gave up earlier gains as China’s Shanghai Composite Exchange slumped to a 13 month low on concerns about banks’ abilities to raise funds. The country’s manufacturing index yesterday showed less than expected growth. The euro declined for a second day following reports yesterday European unemployment reached a 12 year high in April.

“The market is very sensitive to any news right now,” said Clarence Chu, a trader at options dealer Hudson Capital Energy in Singapore. “The dollar and euro exchange has been very volatile so that translates to the oil price. The soft euro will impact the dollar and that will hurt China’s export sector.” Crude oil for July delivery dropped 50 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $72.08 a barrel at 12:38 p.m. Singapore time on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices have swung between gains of 0.5 percent and losses of as much as 1.1 percent today.

Yesterday, the contract lost $1.39, or 1.9 percent, to $72.58. Futures fell 14 percent in May. The euro retreated as much as 0.3 percent today after hitting a four year low of $1.2111 yesterday. It was at $1.2191 at 12:39 p.m. Singapore time.
China’s purchasing manager’s index declined to 53.9 in May from 55.7 in the previous month. It fell short of a median 54.5 estimate from 18 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. A gauge of manufacturing in the 16 member euro region declined to 55.8 from 57.6 the previous month, London based Markit Economics said.....Read the entire article.

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