What Are Hedge Fund Managers Buying Amid Falling Prices.....Ensco and Schlumberger

Hedge funds bought $1.6 billion of shares in two oil-services companies in the second quarter as analysts said a drilling boom in the U.S. may spread overseas, helping reverse a slump in the companies’ stock prices.
Ensco Plc (ESV) and Schlumberger Ltd. (SLB) received the most new investment by hedge funds of all energy companies, beating producers such as Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO), according to calculations by Bloomberg from regulatory filings this week. MHR Fund Management LLC, Vinik Asset Management LP and SAC Capital Advisors LP topped the list of buyers.

Oil companies have to boost drilling in expanding areas of the world such as in Asia and off the coasts of Brazil and West Africa to meet growing energy demand. Drilling for crude and natural gas in North America increased at five times the pace of the rest of the world in the past year.

“International has yet to really inflect, but we’re beginning to see some progress on that front,” said Bill Herbert, an analyst at Simmons & Co. in Houston, who has an “overweight” rating on Schlumberger and Ensco. “You’re going to see meaningful growth on international, deepwater and exploration-related activity.”
New York based MHR acquired $325 million of Ensco stock based on June 30 prices, and Vinik of Boston added $137 million of Schlumberger shares, the filings at the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington show.

MHR Managing Principal Hal Goldstein didn’t respond to a phone message seeking comment. An executive at Vinik who asked not to be named said the firm never comments to the media......Read the entire article.

Oil N Gold: Crude Oil Weekly Technical Outlook

Crude oil's recovery should have completed at 89.00 after failing mentioned 89.61 support turned resistance as expected. Initial bias remains mildly on the downside for retesting 75.71 support first. Break there will confirm resumption of whole fall from 114.83 and should target 70 psychological level next. On the upside, though, break of 89.00 resistance will dampen this bearish view and bring stronger rebound towards 100.62 resistance instead.

In the bigger picture, medium term rebound from 33.2 is treated as the second leg of consolidation pattern from 147.24 and should have finished at 114.83 already. Current decline should now target next key cluster support at 64.23 (61.8% retracement of 33.2 to 114.83 at 64.38). Sustained break will pave the way to retest 33.2 low. On the upside, break of 89.61 resistance is needed to be the first signal of bottoming or we'll stay bearish.

In the long term picture, crude oil is in a long term consolidation pattern from 147.27, with first wave completed at 33.2, second wave might be finished. Upon confirmation of medium term reversal, the third wave of the pattern should have started for a retest on 33.2 low.

Posted courtesy of Oil N Gold.Com

Adam Hewison: The Trend is Your Friend – How True Those Words are Today!

We have been on the right side of the markets for quite some time now.  It is in times like these when technical analysis really shines.  It doesn’t matter if you have a strong upward trend in gold or a downward spiraling trend in stocks, technical analysis works.

We feel we have a target rich area for trading opportunities right now.  Some of the best money can be made during periods just like this.  A key to being successful in markets that are having large moves is to be disciplined and follow MarketClub’s Trade Triangles.

So let’s go to the 6 major markets we track every day and see how we can create and maintain your wealth in 2011. 

S&P 500

Monthly Trade Triangles for Long Term Trends                = Negative
Weekly Trade Triangles for Intermediate Term Trends    = Negative
Daily Trade Triangles for Short Term Trends                     = Negative
Combined Strength of Trend Score                                    = – 100

Today’s action in the S&P 500 is a further reinforcement of the downward trend that has been in place for quite some time.  As we said in yesterday’s comments, you must remember that the major trend is down for the equity markets and strong rallies represent shorting opportunities.  Looking at the weekly charts, a close at current levels would be extremely negative.  The lowest close we have seen on the S&P500 this year is 1119.46.  This is another level to watch carefully.  We see this market going lower.

SILVER

Monthly Trade Triangles for Long Term Trends                = Positive
Weekly Trade Triangles for Intermediate Term Trends    = Negative
Daily Trade Triangles for Short Term Trends                     = Positive
Combined Strength of Trend Score                                    = + 75

Consider these words of wisdom… Do not buy silver because you think it is cheap in comparison to gold.  The market continues to be in a broad trading range without a clear-cut trend at this time. Intermediate term traders should be on the sidelines and out of silver.  A Chart Analysis Score of + 75 indicates a two-way market and a trading range.  Let us be patient and wait for our Trade Triangles to kick in and give us a solid signal.

GOLD

Monthly Trade Triangles for Long Term Trends                = Positive
Weekly Trade Triangles for Intermediate Term Trends    = Positive
Daily Trade Triangles for Short Term Trends                     = Positive
Combined Strength of Trend Score                                    = + 100

The gold market moved to new highs today taking out the previous high of $1814.41. This last surge in gold was caused by a panicky situation in Europe, especially with the European banks.  Uncertainty over bank stocks pushed many of the European banks and the US banks to the downside today.  Long Term, intermediate and short term traders should hang on for the ride and protect profits with money management stops.

CRUDE OIL 

Monthly Trade Triangles for Long Term Trends                = Negative
Weekly Trade Triangles for Intermediate Term Trends    = Negative
Daily Trade Triangles for Short Term Trends                     = Negative
Combined Strength of Trend Score                                    = – 100

$88.32 was a 50% Fibonacci retracement area, and this level was hit yesterday.  It was enough to stop this market on the upside.  As you know, we have been bearish on crude oil from the weekly Trade Triangle on August 1st at $94.02 a barrel.  Long Term, intermediate and short term traders should hang on for the ride and protect profits with money management stops.  The longer term trend for crude oil is down based on our Trade Triangle technology.

DOLLAR INDEX

Monthly Trade Triangles for Long Term Trends                = Positive
Weekly Trade Triangles for Intermediate Term Trends    = Negative
Daily Trade Triangles for Short Term Trends                     = Negative
Combined Strength of Trend Score                                    = – 60

Our comments today remain pretty much the same as they were yesterday, as there has been very little directional change in this market.  The 73.50 level continues to act as support for the dollar index. This market has remained in a fairly well defined trading range for the last several months. With a Chart Analysis Score of -60 we would want to approach this market using our Donchian Trading Channels as well as our Williams %R indicator.  The index remains below its 200 day moving average, while our longer-term Trade Triangle remains positive.

REUTERS/JEFFERIES CRB COMMODITY INDEX

Monthly Trade Triangles for Long Term Trends                = Negative
Weekly Trade Triangles for Intermediate Term Trends    = Negative
Daily Trade Triangles for Short Term Trends                     = Negative
Combined Strength of Trend Score                                    = – 100

The Reuters/Jefferies CRB commodity index has turned back from the Fibonacci retracement level of 50% at 332.95.   This level was hit yesterday.  While our bias is towards inflation, the index is currently indicating that we are in more of a deflationary scenario.  We want to remain patient and let our Trade Triangles signal when this market has made a trend change to the upside.  Long Term, intermediate and short term traders should hang on for the ride and protect profits with money management stops.

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As always, we rely on our market proven Trade Triangle technology for catching the big moves.

Who is Producing How Much Crude Oil?

So what is the pecking order for oil production in 2011? Here is a chart produced by our friends at ConocoPhillips.

Is Crude Oil Faltering at Key Resistance Area?

So here we are… We’re in the middle of the month, it’s the middle of the week, and the markets are stuck in the middle. Stocks rallied early today, but they look like they are failing now.

Gold rallied again to test the $1,800 an ounce level. It has now fallen back and looks to be on the defensive. Crude oil has also rallied and is now faltering from a key resistance area. Once again bank stocks look to be on the defensive. I’ll also share a chart pattern in the bank stocks with you that does not look good.

Crude oil has once again moved back inside the Donchian trading channel and has two very important Fibonacci retracement levels to contend with. I am looking at $88.32 (50% retracement) which was hit today and $91.28 (61.8% retracement). For the moment these two levels should stop any serious sustained rally. The longer term trend for this commodity is down based on our monthly Trade Triangle technology.

Monthly Trade Triangles for Long Term Trends = Negative
Weekly Trade Triangles for Intermediate Term Trends = Negative
Daily Trade Triangles for Short Term Trends = Positive
Combined Strength of Trend Score = – 75

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David Banister: Bears Yelling Fire in Empty Theater

The lows at 1101 were a convergence of Fibonacci weeks, months, sentiment bottoms and VIX extremes along with major insider buying all at the same time.

We rallied up in 5 waves from 666 to 1370 Bin Laden highs.  At that level we had re-traced 78.6% of the entire 2007 highs to 2009 lows, a common turning point.  Since then, we have had a 3 wave decline, also common for correcting a 5 wave move to the upside.  The decline halted at 1101, an exact 38% fibonacci retracement of the 666 lows to 1370 highs.  This is what I call a “fibonacci intersection”. The same thing happened in July 2010 at 1010 on the SP 500, where a huge bottom formed.

The rally since 1101 was a 5 wave rally, this is an early BULL SIGN.

A correction of this 103 point 5 wave rally would be normal, but the lighter the correction the more Bullish.  So far the correction is only 23% of the 104 point rally with a gap fill at 1180.

 
Let’s review: 13 Fibonacci month’s from the July 2010 bottom to August 2011 bottoms 7 Times in history we had the SP 500 double in a short period of time, and in every case it retraced 27-40% of the price movement from lows to highs. We just retraced 40% of our SP 500 double, historically very high retracement.

At 1101 we had 38% fibonacci ABC correction of the Bull leg from 666 to 1370.

In 1974-77 we had the SAME pattern, which I outlined for everyone last week.

13 Fibonacci weeks correction from the Bin Laden 1370 highs to 1101 lows. 1370 was a 78% fib of the 07 highs and 09 lows. 1101 is a 38% fib of the 666 lows and 1370 highs. Thats what I call a Fibonacci intersection. The same thing happened in July 2010 at 1010 lows.

Insiders with massive buying, corporate buybacks announced.

VIX at extreme levels.

Fear gauges at extreme levels.

5 wave impulsive rally from 1101 to 1204 ensued… now a pullback is due. Same thing happened last summer 1010 to 1130, pullback to1040 in 3 waves, then another 5 waves up.

What am I telling everyone?

Stop yelling fire in an empty theater….

This is options expiration week, trading this week is notoriously difficult…

The Bear case is crowded, the Bull case is not.

I’m leaning bullish as long as I keep seeing this type of confirming price action.

I’m watching 1165 on SP 500 as a pivot low worst case, but as long as we see price action above that I like the set up for a while yet on the long side.

So you say "But Dave, the textbook for Elliott Waves doesn’t agree with you".… good, that’s why I use other indicators!

Consider subscribing to David Banisters 24/7 email access so that you will be consistently informed and also get Gold and Silver forecasts on a regular basis. Subscribe now with a 33% discount coupon ahead of our rate increase Market Trend Forecast.Com for details.

Dave Blais: History Suggests Gold is Topping Out Soon

Today The Crude Oil Trader would to introduce Dave Blais. David recently left a six-figure salary to trade the markets full time since his real passion is gold and silver stocks. We have great respect for Dave’s insights, and the fact he backs up his insights and philosophies with his own money. Here's what Dave is thinking this week........

Gold has been on an upward tear lately – no surprise given the uncertainty over how the western world will deal with its debt. What could be a surprise for investors (but mostly traders) is that history suggests the odds are high that gold will top for the year sometime in the next three weeks.

A feature of the current gold strength is it is happening in the heart of summer, a time when gold is usually weak. Though rare, this "out of season" strength in gold has happened before. When it does, something interesting occurs, gold makes a top that will not be bettered for the rest of the year, in August or early September.

In the last 30 years, gold has had only two summers with the type of outsized gains gold is making this summer (a rise of about 20 percent or more). In both cases, gold topped out for the year on either side of Labour Day.

In 1982, gold had a surprisingly strong summer – rising more than 50 percent – and gold topped for the year in early September. The news then driving the gold price was the threat of a Mexican debt default … sound familiar?

In 1990, gold had another unusually strong run in the summer and was up almost 20 percent, which is closer in magnitude of the current rise (up about 22 percent when gold briefly topped $1800). That summer run in 1990 topped out in late August, and gold did not exceed that top during the rest of that year.

In 1990, gold had another unusually strong run in the summer and was up almost 20 percent, which is closer in magnitude of the current rise (up about 22 percent when gold briefly topped $1800). That summer run in 1990 topped out in late August, and gold did not exceed that top during the rest of that year.

There are other factors hinting gold will need to take a breather soon.


Of note, the gold mining shares are not confirming this rise in gold. Take the bellwether gold mining stock Newmont Mining for example. As of this writing, Newmont is still wellbelow the high of $65.50 it made last year, even as gold is hitting new record highs day after day. This is a potential warning called "divergence" that should not be ignored.

Overall, Canaccord Genuity research shows that the senior and intermediate gold stocks in their coverage universe are discounting a gold price of $1,409 per ounce.

Then there is the curious chart for gold that is making what looks like a “blow-off” top.

The current chart formation for gold is eerily similar to that of silver’s chart when it went into a terminal rise earlier this year. That steep rise in silver quickly gave way to a punishing decline that knocked some 30 percent off the silver price in a matter of days. In turn, the stocks of silver miners were pounded.



These types of blow-off tops are usually not sustainable – and they don’t tend to end well because of what causes them. The rapid rise we are seeing now appears to be fuelled in part by a “short squeeze."

Fundamentals like the debt crises in Europe or the recent downgrade of US debt can explain some of the factors behind the rise, but the news is not the sole cause of this fast, wild part of the current rise.

Wrong-footed traders who made a mistake by going short (betting on a decline in price) in a big way– are being forced to buy back gold to close (or “cover”) their short positions that have gone horribly wrong as gold relentlessly rises. Their urgent buying of gold to close their short positions (and cut their losses) causes the gold price to rise further, causing more shorts to cover in panic, creating a feedback loop, and a price spike, that may quickly exhaust itself.

That a short squeeze has been evident in the gold market lately, in particular, after gold recently broke above $1680, has been noted by some market watchers who monitor the trading of gold future contracts. Ed Steer, who publishes Ed Steer’s Gold and Silver Daily for Casey Research, commented in his August 13 bulletin: “the open interest numbers were indicating for the reporting week, the rally in gold was pretty much all caused by short covering.”

Short squeezes tend to end abruptly when the short covering finally exhausts itself.

If gold does turn tail soon, how far could it fall? A good target for a drop is the area that has held anytime gold has declined during the last two and a half years, its 150 day moving average. Currently gold’s 150 day moving average stands just below $1500/ounce.

History is a guide, not a bible.  But there are some recent and longer term charts that suggest the gold price could top out in the next few weeks. And of course, long time gold followers know it's just at times like these, when excitement is running high, and everybody thinks they know what to expect that gold turns tail, and breaks the hearts, and wallets,  of the unwary.

Barclays' Favorite Oil Companies

From Barclays Capital's "Global Energy Outlook" report published on Aug. 11, 2011, the following exploration, production, integrated oil and refining companies are ranked overweight with a positive sector outlook. Barclays' energy experts are bullish on oil long-term and that could help out the equities of the following 10 undervalued names.



Chevron (CVX) is one of Barclays' favorite big oil overweights. Price target: $135. Upside potential: 45%.

Hess Corporation (HES) is trading under 7 times forward earnings. Barclays price target: $108. Upside potential: 93%.

Murphy Oil Corp (MUR) is mainly U.S. dependent. But Barclays likes them. Price target: $77. Upside potential: 49%.

Canada's Imperial Oil (IMO) has a price target of $57 with a potential upside of 44%, according to Barclays' estimates.

Sunoco (SUN) is a household name in the U.S. And the bain of the average America's existence when gasoline prices hit $4 a gallon. Barclays price target: $54. Upside potential: $74.

Tesoro (TSO) is a national refiner headquartered in Texas. Barclays price target: $38. Upside potential: 95%.

Headquarterted in the UK, Afren PLC (LON: AFR) drills for oil off the coast of Africa. Barclays price target: $200. Upside potential: 111%.

BowLeven (LON: BLVN) is another UK based oil and gas exploration and production company with most of its assets off coastal Africa. Barclays price target: $515. Upside potential: 312%.

Max Petroleum (LON: MXP) explores and produces oil in Kazakhstan. Is nice! Barclays price target: $45. Upside potential: 275%.

Premier Oil (LON: PMO) maintains oil and gas exploration and production ops in the North Sea and on land in Pakistan and the Middle East. Barclays price target: $631. Upside potential: 86%.

Posted courtesy of Forbes.Com

The Future of Crude Oil and the End of Globalization

"Jeff Rubins should be mandatory reading for all corporate executives." The National Post.....


This book is a great read, and one that should be required for anyone with a long term interest in energy, transportation, manufacturing or agriculture."

An internationally renowned energy expert has written a book essential for every American, a galvanizing account of how the rising price and diminishing availability of oil are going to radically change our lives. Why Your World Is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller is a powerful and provocative book that explores what the new global economy will look like and what it will mean for all of us.

In a compelling and accessible style, Jeff Rubin reveals that despite the recent recessionary dip, oil prices will skyrocket again once the economy recovers. The fact is, worldwide oil reserves are disappearing for good. Consequently, the amount of food and other goods we get from abroad will be curtailed; long distance driving will become a luxury and international travel rare. Globalization as we know it will reverse. The near future will be a time that, in its physical limits, may resemble the distant past.

But Why Your World Is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller is a hopeful work about how we can benefit personally, politically, and economically from this new reality. American industries such as steel and agriculture, for instance, will be revitalized. As well, Rubin prescribes priorities for President Obama and other leaders, from imposing carbon tariffs that will increase competition and productivity, to investing in mass transit instead of car clogged highways, to forging “green” alliances between labor and management that will be good for both business and the air we breathe.

Most passionately, Rubin recommends ways every citizen can secure this better life for himself, actions that will end our enslavement to chain store taste and strengthen our communities and timeless human values.

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It Looks Like Gold’s Cyclical 34 Month Run is About to Run Out

David Banister of  The Market Trend Forecast just updated his previous gold forecast which was spot on (no pun intended).....Now he has a new forecast for what to expect next which I'm sure all of our readers will find interesting......

Gold hit $1805 tonight in trading, a Fibonacci Fractal figure I gave out a few weeks ago as a possible top. We are close to a near term high in Gold and Investors should be trimming back positions on this run. Back as recently as $1600 an ounce I forecasted a run to $1805 for Gold using fractal and wave analysis and behavioral patterns, now that we hit that figure it’s time to update the cycle and where we are.

Here is the Chart I did at 1599 gold on July 22nd:

I have been a Gold Bull since November 2001, having conducted seminars for public employees on investing back then and advising gold mutual funds and gold stocks very early. I have talked in the past about a 13 fibonacci year Gold Bull cycle that will end around 2014, so there are still three years left in my opinion. However, gold does have peaks and valleys and has moved in very clear Wave and Fibonacci fractal patterns for years.

Given the history of how I have forecasted Gold, I am going to share my short term and moderately long term views on where we are in the up cycle which I expect to last 13 fibonacci years to 2014. Right now it is my opinion that we are completing a MAJOR WAVE 3 up in Gold from the 2001 lows from $300 an ounce. We have had a 34 fibonacci month rally since the October 2008 lows of $681 per ounce. Every Taxi driver, CNBC guest or analyst, and 200 Radio and TV commercials a day are blaring to buy Gold. This is how intermediate tops form.

The rough wave count is below:
Wave 1- 300 to 1030
Wave 2- 1030 to 681 (October 2008 lows)
Wave 3- 618- 1805 currently, 34 Fibonacci month cycle. *Likely high is 1862-1900*
Wave 4- Due up next… a multi month consolidation.

It is my opinion that at the top of a Major wave 3 in Gold, that everyone should be univerally bullish, that gold radio and TV commercials would be all over the place, and that everyone on CNBC would be talking about and recommending Gold.

Sound familiar?

So the likely conclusion to this massive parabolic blow off top of Wave 3 is nigh. Most recently I upped my estimates to as high as $1900 per ounce with $1805 already here as of tonight, which was one of my figures by the way many weeks ago. Gold should under normal circumstances top between 1862 and 1900 per ounce fairly soon should the 1805 level not hold as a high. At that level we will be dramatically overbought. 

We are already running 15.7% above the 20 week moving average line which historically is about as high as Gold will get before correcting hard and consolidating. A final lift to the 1862-1900 ranges should lead to a fairly good sized correction to the downside designed to kick all the late comer Taxi Cab driving buyers off the bull’s back. With that said, at $1805 I would be trimming my position and or hedging my long positions aggressively.

Watch for a Maximum Gold top at 1862 -1900 per ounce and keep in mind 1805 is being hit tonight and that is a qualifying fibonacci fractal top as well. Investors should be trimming back positions and looking to re-deploy back into Gold at better prices. We could get a huge blow off top over 1900, but it would be very very rare if it happens.

If you’d like to stay ahead of the peaks and valleys in Gold, Silver, and the SP 500 (Recently called a tradable bottom at 1101), then check out Market Trend Forecast for a 33% 48 hour coupon or sign up for the occasional but infrequent free updates.