Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Commodity Corner: Crude Oil Passes $85 Mark

December crude oil surged past $85.00 Wednesday, thanks in part to an expected move by the Federal Reserve that should have a bullish effect on oil. Oil settled 79 cents higher to end the day at $84.69 a barrel after peaking at $85.36 and bottoming out at $83.57. The Fed on Wednesday afternoon announced a decision to buy $600 billion in government debt by mid-2011.

The central bank's action, commonly called "QE2" to reflect the Fed's second attempt to stimulate the economy by printing more money through a policy of "quantitative easing," is meant to induce businesses and consumers to borrow more from lenders. Because more money will be in circulation, it should also devalue the dollar. Consequently, oil and other commodities priced in dollars are expected to become a better buy for those holding other currencies.

Also supporting oil was a weekly U.S. Department of Energy report observing that the country's gasoline stocks fell again last week. December gasoline futures consequently rose three cents to settle at $2.14 a gallon. According to the Energy Information Administration, U.S. gasoline inventories remain relatively high; however, they have declined sharply and continuously for five of the past six weeks.

EIA attributes the decline to reduced imports from Europe and Canada as well as higher than average domestic refinery outages in September and October. Gasoline traded from $2.11 to $2.15 Wednesday. Natural gas for December delivery slipped three cents to end the day at $3.84 per thousand cubic feet. During Wednesday's trading, natural gas traded within a range from $3.79 to $3.90.


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Matt Nesto: Where is Crude Oil and Gold Headed on Thursday?

CNBC's Matt Nesto discusses the day's activity in the commodities markets, and looks at where oil and gold are likely headed tomorrow.



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Traders View QE News as Neutral to Bullish for Stocks

The U.S. stock indexes closed higher again today. Stock traders viewed the QE news as neutral to bullish for stocks, and mostly had the news factored into prices. The indexes are at or near for the move and multi month highs. The stock index bulls have the solid overall near term technical advantage as price uptrends are in place on the daily bar charts. Traders are now anxiously awaiting Friday morning's U.S. jobs report. Trading action in the stock indexes could become more volatile late this week.

Crude oil closed up $1.16 at $85.06 a barrel today. Prices closed nearer the session high today and hit a fresh six month high today. Prices also produced a bullish upside "breakout" from the recent sideways trading range. The bulls have gained fresh upside momentum.

Natural gas closed down 3.0 cents at $3.84 today. Prices closed near mid range today. The bears still have the solid overall near term technical advantage. However, technical odds are increasing that a market low is in place.

Gold futures closed down $16.90 at $1,340.00 today. Profit taking pressure and position evening ahead of the FOMC "QE" statement Wednesday afternoon was featured. The gold market did recover half of its losses in after hours trading following the QE announcement, which had a package that was at the high end of what the market expected. A weaker U.S. dollar index after the QE announcement also helped to lift gold up from lower price levels.

The U.S. dollar index closed down 38 points at 76.51 today. Prices closed near mid range today and did not a fresh contract and multi month low. The QE package announced by the Fed today was a bit larger than expected, which was dollar bearish. However, prices did close well off the daily low. Dollar index bears have the firm overall near term technical advantage and gained some fresh downside momentum today.


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The Gold and SP 500 Bull Markets Continue to Leave Investors Behind

From David A. Banister at Market Trend Forecast.Com.....

In my recent forecast updates for my subscribers and also in my free articles online, I have expounded on the virtues of Elliott Wave Theory, which I use as my linchpin for my short and long term views. To wit, back in August 2009 I made it clear that we would enter a five year period of a massive move up in both Gold and Gold Stocks. Gold was $900 an ounce at the time, and is now at $1360 an ounce. I made that forecast based on human behavioral patterns that go back centuries.

Crowds love to all act like a swarm of bees flying together. Everyone hates stocks or sectors when they are down, and the crowd loves them when they are up or going up. Investors like to chase stocks and sectors when they are up high and running near parabolic, but they don’t like to buy large dips or consolidations ahead of moves. Once you learn that Elliott Wave patterns and a few other indicators sprinkled in can give you a heads up on when the crowd is about to jump in, you can basically front run the crowds.

I digress and go back to the Gold Bull Market. The reason I knew in August of 2009 that from $900 Gold we would enter a five year “massive” Bull Run is due to crowd patterns. To refresh, I see Gold as being in a Fibonacci 13 year cycle up that started in 2001. The first five years not too many investors participate in the Bull Run because the prior 20 did nothing. By the time everyone realized in 2006 that Gold mutual funds had compounded 30% a year for five years, it was too late to jump in.

Of course, that is when everyone started buying Gold mutual funds and stocks. The problem is the first move was over, and we had 3 Fibonacci years of chop with no net gains. The crowd gives up around the summer of 2009, and that is when I forecasted a huge five year move to come. So far Gold is up over 50% in 13 months and Gold Stocks are up well north of that. The junior stocks started expanding in volume and price months ago, and that should have been yet another wake up call to investors.

Near term in Gold I’m looking for this current power Elliott wave to land around $1485-$1492 before a strong correction, and the recent pivot at $1312 was yet another short term bottom which will be followed by the last leg up since the $1155 lows this summer. Investors are now waking up and buying Gold and Gold stocks, and this is part of the recognition period during the last 5 years of the 13 year cycle when more and more participants get involved. This is why this Gold Bull is just warming up and by the time it peaks out, it will be like 1999 in Tech stocks. The demand overseas for gold and obviously in China is likely to continue for many years to come, don’t be fooled by the various wave dips in sentiment.

The SP 500 on the other hand is very similar since the March 2009 lows. The Bears have continued to focus on Jobs reports and other ephemeral data and not the big picture. My opinion is the great bear cycle ended in March 2009 at 666 on the SP 500, at least for a several year cycle up. When we hit 666 it was an exact 61.8% Fibonacci re-tracement of the 1974 SP 500 lows to the 2000 SP 500 highs. It took about 8-9 years to correct that 26 year move, and the pattern fits with a “wave 2” pessimistic Elliott Wave bottom. That is why the move since 666 has been stunning, because nobody sees it coming. The correction we had this summer I forecast in mid-April and ended on July 1st at 1010 on the SP 500.

At the level of 1010, we had a 38% Fibonacci re-tracement of the March 09 to April 2010 13 Fibonacci month rally, and a 38% re-tracement of the 2007 highs to 2009 lows. Those types of patterns are not random and in fact are big clues to get long the market. The problem is those patterns are hidden amongst the noise of the markets, CNBC, and all of that useless data. Currently we are in a 3rd Elliott wave up which began at the 1040 SP 500 pivot, and my forecast since has been for 1205-1220 before a corrective 4th wave down. Before it’s all over, the SP 500 may well test the 2007 highs on this new cycle up from March 2009.


Subscribers to David Banister's website get weekly updates and regular intra-week commentary as needed, please consider subscribing.

Today he is offering a 2 day only 12 months for the price of 6 months special in celebration of the US mid-term elections today. Enter “1246month” in the coupon field upon joining. You can also sign up for our free reports at Market Trend Forecast.Com


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Phil Flynn: Crude Oil After QE 2

People are finally starting to get it. And that is that the Federal Reserve policy moves markets and that quantitative easing drives up the price of oil. Most had never heard the term "quantitative easing" when the Fed made their move to print money the first time in March, 2009. The Fed made this move to try to save the economy from what they thought was leading us to a deflationary depression. For those of you who still need enlightening, quantitative easing is basically the monetary policy of last resort. When even zero percent interest rates fail to generate economic activity, the central banks flood the banks with excess cash reserves by buying back paper debt the banks hold with freshly printed money.

The hope is therefore, that these banks will in turn lend that freshly printed money to businesses and you and I, who in turn will expand and spend, thereby, hopefully, hire people and create more jobs. It also hopes to take away that deflationary mood by devaluing the U.S. dollar making commodities more expensive. Quantitative easing by the Fed is the greatest economic story of modern times. Back in 2009 when I tried to explain this concept, many looked at me as if I was from outer space. QE was a mystery to them and all they could figure was it was those evil oil and commodity speculators that were driving up prices. Prominent oil bulls went as far as saying the value of the dollar had nothing to do with the value of crude.

They seemed to believe that the sudden surge oil was due to the world hitting its peak ability to get oil that was running out. Others railed against speculators saying they caused the run up in prices yet failed to mention the dollar or the financial crisis when they spewed their diatribe to anyone who would listen, even Congress. Now of course the world is more familiar with the inflationary impact of quantitative easing. In fact if they were not, well they got a crash course after the last Fed meeting......Read the entire article.


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A Republican Congress Means Buy Natural Gas

Dan Dicker explains his stance that you must buy natural gas if the Republican party takes control and details what plays you need.



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Crude Oil Technical Outlook For Wednesday Morning Nov. 3rd

Crude oil was higher overnight as it extended this week's rally above the 20 day moving average. Stochastics and the RSI are bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If December extends this week's rally, October's high crossing near 85.08 is the next upside target. Closes below October's low crossing at 79.90 are needed to confirm that a short term top has been posted.

First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 84.74
Second resistance is October's high crossing at 85.08

Crude oil pivot point for Wednesday morning is 83.73

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 82.44
Second support is October's low crossing at 79.90



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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Commodity Corner: Crude Rallies Ahead of Fed's Stimulus Move

Crude futures rallied to a near six month high Tuesday as the dollar fell ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's anticipated decision to implement another stimulus plan. Light, sweet crude for December delivery rose 95 cents, settling at $83.90 a barrel. Analysts expect the Fed to announce a plan to purchase $500 billion of long term securities during its meeting this week. The plan is intended to accelerate growth, decrease unemployment, increase inflation, and boost flagging economic recovery. Economic growth or a weaker dollar contributes to an increase in oil prices.

Meanwhile, the ICE Dollar Index, which measures the dollar against six major currencies, slid to its lowest level in two weeks at $76.74. A weaker dollar increases the commodity's appeal, making it cheaper for foreign currencies to purchase. Crude futures fluctuated Tuesday between $82.83 and $84.34.

Due to cooler temperatures, natural gas for December delivery climbed up 3.8 cents to settle at $3.87 per thousand cubic feet. Analysts hope the colder weather will drive demand because U.S. inventory levels are nearing record levels this month. U.S. natural gas stockpiles at the end of last week were at 3.75 trillion cubic feet; the record high was reached in November at 3.84 trillion cubic feet. Natural gas traded between $3.75 and $3.93 Tuesday. Reformulated gasoline blendstock also settled higher, gaining 1.67 cents to reach $2.11 a gallon Tuesday. RBOB gasoline peaked at $2.12 and bottomed out at $2.09.

Courtesy of Rigzone.Com


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Sharon Epperson: Where is Crude Oil and Gold Headed on Wednesday

CNBC's Sharon Epperson discusses the day's activity in the commodities markets, and looks ahead to where oil and gold are likely headed tomorrow.



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Stock Market and Commodities Commentary For Tuesday Evening Nov. 2nd

The S&P 500 index closed higher on Tuesday and the high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Wednesday. Stochastics and the RSI are diverging but turning neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. If December extends the rally off August's low, April's high crossing at 1203.00 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 1173.62 are needed to confirm that a short term top has been posted. First resistance is today's high crossing at 1193.00. Second resistance is April's high crossing at 1203.00. First support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 1173.62. Second support is last Wednesday's low crossing at 1167.80.

Crude oil closed higher on Tuesday and the high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Wednesday. Stochastics and the RSI are bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. Today's close above the reaction high crossing at 83.28 confirms that a low has been posted and opens the door for a test of October's high crossing at 85.08. Closes below the reaction low crossing at 79.90 are needed to confirm that a short term top has been posted. First resistance is today's high crossing at 84.34. Second resistance is October's high crossing at 85.08. First support is the reaction low crossing at 79.90. Second support is the August-September uptrend line crossing near 79.01.

Natural gas closed higher on Tuesday as it consolidates some of Monday's decline. Stochastics and the RSI remain bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. If December extends last week's rally, the reaction high crossing at 4.207 is the next upside target. If December renews this year's decline, weekly support crossing at 3.390 is the next downside target. First resistance is Monday's high crossing at 4.187. Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 4.207. First support is last Monday's low crossing at 3.500. Second support is weekly support crossing at 3.390.

Gold closed higher on Tuesday and the high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Wednesday. Stochastics and the RSI have turned bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices is possible near term. If December extends the rally off last week's low, October's high crossing at 1388.10 is the next upside target. If December renews the decline off October's high, the 25% retracement level of this year's rally crossing at 1303.50 is the next downside target. First resistance is Monday's high crossing at 1366.40. Second resistance is October's high crossing at 1388.10. First support is the reaction 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 Tuesday as it extends the decline off last week's high. The low range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening on Wednesday. Stochastics and the RSI are turning bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term. 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. Closes above the reaction high crossing at 78.61 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted. First resistance is last 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.


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