The Crude Oil Trader

Friday, October 29, 2010

Why Producers Aren't Hedging Natural Gas

Natural gas prices in Canada are so low that end users are now trying to seduce producers to hedge, so they can lock in longer term low prices. But few producers are keen to lock in long term losses. RBC, Canada’s largest brokerage firm, suggested in a weekly comment that producers still have many reasons to hedge at $3.27 a gigajoule (GJ) now, and $4.11/GJ in April 2011. For context, the full cycle cost for new gas in North America is $5.60/mmcf and in Canada is $6.85/mmcf, according to independent analysts Ziff Energy. So producers would be selling at a significant loss.

But some quick calls to the energy desks of the major Canadian firms showed that few producers are biting, and even one of my contacts at RBC said these “hedging strategies are geared more towards the end user market; the end users are trying to lock in really good prices. But nobody’s hedging.”

RBC lists several potential reasons for hedging, which often mirror the Ziff Energy white paper from June 2010 on the state of Canadian natural gas (a GREAT read – not too technical).

1. Strengthening Canadian Dollar

2. US Production Growth

3. Reduced Canadian Imports

4. Heightened Pipeline Delivery Competition in the US

5. Abundance of Canadian Storage

6. Material Expansion of Canadian Shale Gas Production

7. Growth in Marcellus Shale Gas Production – Production has increased by over 1 bcf/d since January 2010

That’s a big list! And it’s not good news for producers or their investors – especially the junior ones who either have high gas weightings or are close to their debt limit.

But despite producers losing money on every mmcf out of the ground, some may be inclined to hedge, says Ralph Glass of AJM Consultants.

“The bigger producers are still drilling and they can afford to (hedge); it’s part of their long term plan and their economics of scale allow it. The only advantage I can see is that if you’re making positive cash flow at $3.50/mmcf, this gives you stability to hang in for one more year. But it’s not an investment strategy.”

He added even small producers may consider it: “A small producer that has limited cash flow cannot afford to pay for capacity costs without actually producing the volumes.” This means they may have “take or pay” like provisions, where the producer must pay the pipeline companies their transportation tolls even if they don’t produce the gas.

For producers, it comes down to the same issue it always does, are prices going lower or higher? By not hedging, major producers are saying that despite all the gloomy market data, they see prices stable or higher.

Long term dated future gas prices are now below $5/mmcf for a full two years out now. With such a low, and flat futures pricing curve, producers are saying they would rather take their chances in the spot market then, rather than lock in losses now.

Keith Schaefer's Hottest Investment Plays in North America: Crude Oil and Natural Gas Bulletin

Share

Phil Flynn: Spooky QE2

Oil, boil, toil and trouble, we’re going to print more money. Count Bernanke is out to suck more blood out us poor turnips as the Fed looks like QE2 might be a whopper after all! Hey wait a minute! What? Is it possible that the Fed and the upcoming Mid-Term elections are not scaring the oil bear anymore? Well at least for a day the oil market seemed more spooked about mounting supply and decreasing demand then any spell that the Fed was going to cast upon the economy. Despite weakness in the dollar and the most impressive gold rush in weeks, oil struggled to close higher on the day.

Perhaps the market is still coming to grips with the horror of this week’s big build in U.S. supply which, according to the Energy Information Agency, is the highest level ever ending the month of October sitting at 366.2 million barrels. Now that’s scary! Not only that, the supply numbers are daunting with concern that demand from Asia is weakening. Dow Jones news wires reported that India's crude oil imports fell 21.9% to 10.94 million tons in September, or 2.67 million barrels a day, from 14.01 million tons a year earlier. Crude imports were up 14% from 9.57 million tons in August.

But there is still some concern about Indian demand. India imports about three quarters of its crude oil for its demand needs. We know that the global oil market feeds off of China and India feeds off of China and in China this week they took more steps to slow energy demand. After increasing interest rates, the Chinese attacked oil demand directly by increasing the cost of diesel and gasoline by 3%. Now we do not know whether or not a 3% increase will significantly slow demand but it might. Now take into account rising OPEC production and a glut of spare production capacity around the globe and it is no wonder why the oil upward momentum has been limited.

Check Phil out on the Fox Business Network! And sign up for his trade buy and sell points by calling him at 800-935-6487 or emailing him at pflynn@pfgbest.com.

Share

Total Profits Soar on Higher Oil, Refining

French oil company Total posted a 54 percent profit rise on Friday as higher oil and gas prices and strong refining margins lift industry earnings worldwide. Finnish refiner Neste Oil also reported improved profits after similarly strong performances from sector heavyweights Exxon Mobil and Shell on Thursday. Total said net income, excluding unrealized gains related to changes in the value of inventories, was 2.875 billion euros in the third quarter, boosted by gains from selling oil fields.

Stripping out one offs, the result was up 32 percent and in line with analysts' average forecasts. Neste said fatter refining margins lifted its operating profit, excluding inventory gains or losses, by 36 percent to 57 million euros ($79 million), in line with a mean forecast in a Reuters poll. The world's largest non government controlled oil company by market value, Dallas based ExxonMobil, reported a 55 percent jump in net income on Thursday, while industry No. 2, Royal Dutch Shell reported an 18 percent rise, which would have been higher but for non cash charges......Read the entire Reuters article.

How To Find Winning Trades In Any Market

Share

Crude Oil Daily Technical Outlook For Friday Morning Oct. 29th

Crude oil was lower overnight as it extends this week's decline. Stochastics and the RSI are turning neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term.

If December renews last week's decline, trendline support drawn off the August-September lows crossing near 78.72 is the next downside target. Closes above Monday's high crossing at 83.28 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted.

First resistance is Monday's high crossing at 83.28
Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 84.80

Crude oil pivot point for Friday morning is 82.11

First support is last Wednesday's low crossing at 79.90
Second support is the uptrend line drawn off the August-September lows crossing near 78.72

Jump Start Your Trading, Get Market Club Today

Share

Crude Oil Pares Monthly Gain as Asian Shares Decline, Dollar Rebounds

Crude oil fell in New York, trimming a second monthly gain, as Asian equities dropped and the dollar’s rebound curbed investor demand for raw materials. Crude gave up yesterday’s 0.3 percent increase as equities declined, driving the MSCI Asia Pacific Index toward its second weekly drop. Crude stockpiles in the U.S., the world’s biggest oil consuming nation, reached the highest in 17 months after surging 5 million barrels in the week ended Oct. 22, according to Energy Department data. Futures have climbed 2.2 percent this month after an 11 percent rally in September.

“There’s no real consensus in markets so that’s why you’re getting this choppy trading where people are changing their view quite regularly, and that’s creating volatility,” said Ben Westmore, a minerals and energy economist at National Australia Bank Ltd. in Melbourne. “It does seem to be more sentiment driven and currency driven.” Crude for December delivery declined as much as 55 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $81.63 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was at $81.71 at 1:50 p.m. Singapore time. Yesterday, the contract added 24 cents to $82.18. Prices, little changed this week, have gained 3 percent since the start of the year.

The dollar climbed 0.4 percent to $1.3876 against the 16 nation euro, damping the appeal of commodities as a hedge against inflation. The yen rose against all major currencies......Read the entire article.

Every Once in a While, You Find Something Amazing....Check out Trend TV Share

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Sharon Epperson: Where is Crude Oil and Gold Headed on Friday?

CNBC's Sharon Epperson discusses the day's top business and financial stories, and looks ahead to where oil and gold are likely headed tomorrow.

John Murphy is one of the best technical analysts out there....check out this exclusive seminar for free

Share

Live SP500 Trading Video & Analysis

From Chris Vermeulen at The Gold And Oil Guy.com.....

Many have been wondering what the newly upgraded service The Gold And Oil Guy.com provides so I have put together this report so you can see the pre-market morning video, updates, charts and trades.

Watch "Live SP500 Trading Video & Analysis"

The S&P 500 index closed slightly higher on Thursday and the mid range close sets the stage for a steady opening on Friday. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought, diverging and are turning bearish hinting that a short term top might be in or is near. Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 1167.57 are needed to confirm that a short term top has been posted. If December extends the aforementioned rally, April's high crossing at 1203.00 is the next upside target. First resistance is Monday's high crossing at 1193.00. Second resistance is April's high crossing at 1203.00. First support is Wednesday's low crossing at 1167.80. Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 1167.58.

Crude oil closed higher on Thursday and the mid range close sets the stage for a steady opening on Friday. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that a short term low might be in or is near. Closes above the reaction high crossing at 83.28 are needed to confirm that a low has been posted. Closes below the reaction low crossing at 79.90 are needed to confirm that a short term top has been posted. First resistance is Monday's high crossing at 83.28. Second resistance is last week's high crossing at 84.80. First support last week's low crossing at 79.90. Second support is the August-September uptrend line crossing near 78.55.

Natural gas closed sharply higher on Thursday as it extends this week's short covering rally. Stochastics and the RSI are bullish hinting that a low might be in or is near. Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 3.930 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted. If December renews this year's decline, weekly support crossing at 3.390 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 3.930. Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 4.207. First support is Monday's low crossing at 3.500. Second support is weekly support crossing at 3.390.

Gold closed higher due to short covering on Thursday but remains poised to extend this month's decline. The high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Friday. Stochastics and the RSI remain neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices is possible near term. If December extends this month's decline, the 25% retracement level of this year's rally crossing at 1303.50 is the next downside target. Closes above Monday's high crossing at 1349.50 would confirm that a short term low has been posted. First resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 1343.40. Second resistance is Monday's high crossing at 1349.50. First support is last Friday's low crossing at 1315.60. Second support is the 25% retracement level of this year's rally crossing at 1303.50.

The U.S. Dollar closed lower on Thursday ending a two day short covering bounce. The low range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening on Friday. Stochastics and the RSI remain bullish hinting that a short term low might be in or is near. Closes above the reaction high crossing at 78.61 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted. If December renews the decline off August's high, the November 2009 low on the weekly continuation chart crossing at 74.21 is the next downside target. First resistance is Wednesday's high crossing at 78.51. Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 78.61. First support is last Friday's low crossing at 75.85. Second support is the November 2009 low on the weekly continuation chart crossing at 74.21.

Why Diversification Doesn't Work

Share

Phil Flynn: Crude Surge!

Let’s forget all that quantitative easing stuff for a moment and focus on some of that old time supply and demand stuff. The Energy Information Agency reported that crude oil supplies hit the highest level ever, in this county, for this time of year. Well at least since the EIA has been tracking monthly data. After a whopper build of 5.0 million barrels, we see supply hit a hefty 366.2 million barrels which according to Dow Jones newswires is the highest level of supply at this time of year since 1931. To put that in perspective, that was a year when the “Model A” was the car of choice for many Americans and Herbert Hoover was President.

Of course this bounty of crude supply did not translate to gasoline supply which according to the EIA fell 4. 4million barrels last week and probably kept the entire petroleum complex from falling totally apart. Gas exports were a contributing factor as the strike in France created an increased demand for our supply. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.2 million barrels per day while imports a mere 1.0 million barrels per day. Over the last four weeks, motor gasoline demand has averaged 9.0 million barrels per day, down by 0.8 percent from the same period last year.

Distillates, according the EIA, fell by 1.6 million barrels. If the French had not been siphoning off supply, that number might have been larger. The impact of the strike influenced our demand numbers which averaged 3.9 million barrels per day over the last four weeks, up by 8.7 percent from the same period last year. Distillate fuel demand has averaged 3.9 million barrels per day over the last four weeks, up by 8.7 percent from the same period last year.

The EIA reported that refineries operated at 83.7 percent of their operable capacity last week and over all oil use hit the lowest level since December. Demand is still weak over all and may be restricted somewhat by the price spike caused by the QE2 threat! With oil trading in a tight trading range for the majority of this year it is time to get Phil's daily buy and sell points. Just call him at 800-935-6487 or email him at pflynn@pfgbest.com. You can also catch him every day on the Fox Business Network!

Share