China Increases Diesel, Gasoline Prices to Help Oil Refiners

China, the world’s second biggest energy consumer, will increase fuel prices by as much as 11 percent today, allowing the nation’s refiners to pass on climbing crude oil costs. Prices for gasoline and diesel will rise by 600 yuan ($87.80) a metric ton, the National Development and Reform Commission said yesterday, the third increase this year. Jet fuel costs will rise by 620 yuan a ton. China’s consumer prices fell for a fourth month in May.....Complete Story

Crude Oil Set For Higher Open on Tuesday

August crude oil closed higher on Monday as it extends the rebound off last week's low. The high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Tuesday.

Stochastics and the RSI are turning bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. Closes above the reaction high crossing at 72.85 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted.

If August renews last week's decline, the 38% retracement level of this spring's rally crossing at 62.25 is the next downside target.

First resistance is today's high crossing at 71.92
Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 72.85

First support is last Tuesday's low crossing at 66.37
Second support is the 38% retracement level of this spring's rally crossing at 62.25

Oil Settles Above $71, China to Boost Reserves

Oil prices settled above $71 a barrel Monday, as China said it would boost oil reserves and Nigerian militants partly shut down an offshore oil platform belonging to Royal Dutch Shell PLC. Benchmark crude for August delivery gained $2.33 to settle at $71.49 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Alaron Trading Corp. analyst Phil Flynn said China's plans to increase its strategic crude oil reserves by 60 percent should provide the market with some long term support.....Complete Story

Kurds Blame Baghdad For Oil Delays

The construction of four oil refineries in the Kurdish region of Iraq was delayed because of the failures of the Iraqi oil minister, Kurdish lawmakers say. Refineries in the cities of Kirkuk and Erbil, the Kurdish capital, would have produced nearly 200,000 barrels per day while another plant should have been slated at the Taq Taq field, the Kurdish Globe reports. Those projects were delayed due to the negligence of Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani.....Complete Story

Enterprise Products to Buy Teppco for $3.3 Billion

Enterprise Products Partners LP agreed to buy Teppco Partners LP for about $3.3 billion, combining pipeline operators controlled by Houston billionaire Dan Duncan to create the biggest U.S. energy partnership. Teppco owners will get 1.24 units of Enterprise for each of their units, a deal worth 15 percent more than when an initial offer was made in March, according to a statement today by the partnerships. The transaction is worth $31.36 per unit.....Complete Story

Natural Gas Trading Below 20 Day Moving Average

Natural gas is trading slightly lower, under 4.00, as it consolidates below the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.10. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term.

If August extends last week's decline, the reaction low crossing at 3.710 is the next downside target. Closes above the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.135 would temper the near term bearish outlook in the market.

Monday's pivot point for natural gas is 4.06

First resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.10
Second resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.14

First support is last Wednesday's low crossing at 3.87
Second support is the reaction low crossing at 3.71

Oil, Gasoline Rise as Nigerian Militants Attack Shell Field

Crude oil and gasoline rose after an attack by Nigerian militants shut a field operated by Royal Dutch Shell Plc, cutting output from Africa’s largest producer. Shell said it closed the Estuary field near the Forcados export terminal after the assaults. Hostilities in the Niger River delta have cut more than 20 percent of the country’s oil exports since 2006. The International Energy Agency, an adviser to 28 developed nations, lowered its five-year forecast.....Complete Story

U.S. States Consider Gas and Oil Levies

Cash strapped states are considering raising taxes on oil production to plug yawning budget gaps, but they face strong resistance from oil companies, which warn the moves could lead to lost jobs and higher energy prices. Lawmakers in Pennsylvania and California have proposed what are known as severance taxes on oil and natural gas produced in their states. A tax increase took effect in Arkansas at the beginning of the year, and Alaska last year raised its oil production tax.....Complete Story

Chevron's $27 Billion Problem

Sometime later this year a judge in the sleepy Ecuadoran town of Lago Agrio is likely to sock Chevron Corp. with as much as $27 billion in damages over pollution left over from oil drilling by Chevron's Texaco unit in the 1970s and 1980s. The funny part is, Chevron (CVX-news-people) wanted it this way. When the case was originally filed in New York in 1993, Texaco, then an independent company, argued it would be fairer to hear it in Ecuador.....Complete Story

Crude Oil Hints at Sideways Trading This Week

August crude oil was higher overnight due to light short covering but remains below the 20 day moving average crossing at 70.20. Stochastics and the RSI are turning bullish hinting that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 70.20 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted. If August renews last Monday's decline, the 38% retracement of this spring's rally crossing at 62.25 is the next downside target.

Mondays' pivot point, our line in the sand is 69.75

First resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 70.20
Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 71.29

First support is last Tuesday's low crossing at 66.37
Second support is the 38% retracement level at 62.25

New Video: Energy Fields....and Gold?

In this new video we analyze the gold market in a way that "we've never divulged before." We will be talking about energy fields in the gold market and how you can put them to your advantage to make money. The video is short in duration, only four minutes, but I’ll give you specific levels to look at should certain events take place. I suspect that these events will occur and for the lucky few who are prepared the rewards will be great.

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Venezuela to Borrow to Pay Oil Debts

Venezuelan Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez' announcement that the state will borrow more money to help pay off national oil company debts follows the disclosure by President Hugo Chavez of a letter urging Moscow to cooperate in selling oil at $100 a barrel.
State petroleum company Petroleos de Venezuela has run up billions of dollars in debts to contractors since global oil prices began tumbling nearly a year ago. Although denying that PDVSA had cash-flow problems.....Complete Story

Green Bill's Biggest Test Awaits In The Senate

Following intense last minute wrangling among its members and lobbying from President Obama, the House of Representatives passed potentially landmark legislation Friday that seeks to reduce the release of carbon dioxide by making industry pay for its emissions. The Democrat sponsored American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 passed by a razor thin margin, with 219 votes in favor, including eight from Republicans just one more than the minimum needed.....Complete Story

Kentucky USA Energy Reports on Drilling at New Albany Shale Leasehold

Kentucky USA Energy has provided an update on the Company's drilling operation on its leasehold property in the New Albany Shale in western Kentucky. The Company's drilling contractor mobilized its rig to the Company's next drilling location, Jimmy Jackson #1, spudded-in, and is presently drilling at approximately 1,172 feet. The Hunter Wells #4 location has been acidized in the Dutch Creek formation at 2,610 to 2,625 feet and at 2,705 to......Complete Story

Using DBO, USO and Oil to Play Crude Oil

This article provides some straightforward insight as to how a retail trader/investor can implement a directional play on the price of crude oil. Included is a discussion of the manner in which the forward market for crude oil can cause crude oil ETF returns to deviate from spot market returns. This article is not intended to be authoritative, comprehensive, or highly technical. It is simply a compilation of previous discussions on the topic.....Complete Story

Iraq Warily Moving Ahead on Contracts With Oil Companies

On Monday, when Iraq puts development rights to some of its largest oil fields up for auction to foreign companies, the bidding will be a watershed moment, representing the first chance for petroleum giants like ExxonMobil to tap into the resources of a country they were kicked out of almost 40 years ago. Yet, there are widespread doubts about whether Iraq is ready for a sudden infusion of capital from international oil corporations.....Complete Story

Russia to Cooperate With Shell on Sakhalin 3 and 4

Russia is prepared to cooperate with Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Europe’s largest oil producer, on oil and gas projects in the Russian Far East known as Sakhalin-3 and Sakhalin-4, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said. Putin, speaking at his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, outside Moscow, met with Shell Chief Executive Officer Jeroen van der Veer, and Peter Voser, who will become the next chief executive. Now is an “ideal time” to move quickly.....Complete Story

Oil Prices Hit Reverse as Wall Street Slips

Oil prices fell Friday, mirroring losses on Wall Street, as traders took profits after earlier jumping above 71 dollars per barrel on news of fresh unrest in key crude producer Nigeria. New York's main futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in August, shed 94 cents to 69.29 dollars a barrel. In London, Brent North Sea crude for August dipped 86 cents to 68.92 dollars. Wall Street shares sank at the open on Friday, one day after a rally, as investors locked in profits and turned cautious ahead of the weekend.....Complete Story

USO : Oil's New Downtrend ?

One of my favorite sites is The ETF Corner. Great analysis, with easy to understand charts using simple channnels. I never make my daily trade set ups without a quick visit to The ETF Corner. Here is their post from Friday on the USO and crude oil......

If USO does not manage to break above $38.5 soon, I believe we will likely see USO trading down within this new red downtrend.

Oil Price Remains Supported As China's Urge For A New Reserve Currency Exerts Pressures On The Dollar

Crude oil price extends gain above 70 in European morning as USD's retreats further against major currencies and stock markets rally. However, the benchmark contract may only add modestly, by around 1-2%, over the week due to the sharp fall earlier this week. NNPC, Nigeria's state oil company said that the nation has already shut around 1.4M bpd of oil production out of its 1.67M bpd quota as MEND's attack has intensified. Managing director of the group said that crude supplies for refinery will finish in 15 days.....Complete Story