Deciphering Current Natural Gas Market Data

In the last six weeks natural gas futures prices have jumped from a modern day low to nearly $5 per thousand cubic foot (Mcf) as commodity traders and investors started to cover their short positions in this fuel as the days moved closer to the beginning of the winter heating season. The jump in the gas price ends what has been an extended price slide that started back in summer of 2008 when prices were in excess of $13 per Mcf and early signs of the developing global recession emerged.

The jump in the gas price ends what has been an extended price slide that started back in summer of 2008....


The traders and investors who have been covering their negative bets on natural gas prices have been motivated by signs the nascent U.S. economic recovery is gathering strength, especially among sectors such as automobiles and home construction that are large consumers of natural gas and its components as feedstocks for petrochemical materials. Additionally, there.....read the entire article.

New Video: Where is Crude Oil Headed and How Will it Effect The Market

No surprise, interest in crude oil has spiked this week. And part of that may have come from the crude oil alert that we put here on our blog on October 12.

What is interesting about crude oil is the fact that seasonally, it should be going down. However, the market appears to be doing just the opposite. We have written about this before and when something is supposed to happen and the opposite occurs, it’s time to pay attention.

What was also interesting in crude oil is the fact that all of our “Trade Triangles” are all green giving a perfect 100% Chart Analysis score. This indicates that there are some strong trends in place and the odds are that the market should go higher. However, this is not a guarantee and all trades should be managed with stops.

In our new short video, we show some levels that crude oil could potentially go to. I also indicate a key level that many professional traders are watching and if this level is broken, it will certainly be a game changer that could effect the markets.

Just Click Here to watch the new video, and as always this video is free to view and there are no registration requirements. The one request we have is that you leave a comment about your thoughts on crude oil.

Bloomberg, Jakob Says: Oil’s Rally May Halt at $78.40

Crude oil’s rise beyond the one year high reached today may be checked by a resistance level first encountered three years ago, according to technical analysis by consultants Petromatrix GmbH. Crude climbed to $75.15 a barrel in New York today, its highest price since last October. The rally may dissipate as it approaches $78.40, the highest price reached in 2006, the energy consultant said. The likelihood of crude breaking this threshold will be determined by movements in the U.S. dollar, it added.

“This stands out as the next resistance level,” Petromatrix Managing Director Olivier Jakob said in an interview from Zug, Switzerland. “It was the high in 2006, and also strong resistance in 2007. When it was broken in 2007, crude moved to the next level, which was $100.” Oil rose to a then record of $78.40 a barrel on July 14, 2006 as conflict between Israel and Hezbollah stoked concern Middle East crude exports might be disrupted. In 2007, seven months of price gains snapped after oil reached $78.77 on Aug. 1, and the commodity lost about $9 during the rest of that month before resuming its upward path.....read the entire article.

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Technical Outlook For Wednesday Morning

Nymex Crude Oil (CL)
Crude oil rises further to as high as 75.15 today and the break of 75.0 confirms that whole medium term rise has resumed. Intraday bias remains on the upside for 38.2% of 147.27 to 33.2 at 76.77 next. On the downside, below 72.84 minor support will turn intraday outlook neutral and bring consolidation first. But downside should be contained above 68.08 support and bring rise resumption.

In the bigger picture, medium term rise from 33.2 is still in progress and could extend further. Nevertheless, strong resistance should be seen in 76.77/90.24 fibo resistance zone (38.2% and 50% retracement of 147.27 to 33.2) to conclude the medium term rise finally. On the downside, in case of pull back, break of 65.05 is needed to indicate that crude oil has topped out. Otherwise, further rise is still in favor.
.....Crude oil charts.

Nymex Natural Gas (NG)
Natural gas' retreat from 5.12 is still in progress and intraday bias remains neutral for the moment. Some more consolidation could be seen but after all, short term outlook will remain bullish as long as 4.351 minor support holds. Above 5.120 will bring resumption of whole rise form 2.409 and should target 38.2% retracement of 13.64 to 2.409 at 6.7 next. However, considering bearish divergence condition in 4 hours MACD, break of 4.351 will indicate that a short term top is formed and will bring deeper pull back instead.

In the bigger picture, medium term fall from 13.69 is treated as part of the long term consolidation pattern that started at 15.78 back in 2005. The whole consolidation might have completed at 2.409 after meeting 100% projection of 15.78 to 4.593 from 13.69 at 2.50. We'll prefer the bullish case as long 55 days EMA (now at 3.842 holds) and expect the current rise from 2.409 to extend further to 61.8% retracement of 13.64 to 2.409 at 9.38 in medium term.....Natural gas charts.

Oil Rises Fifth Day to Near $75 as OPEC Raises Demand Forecast

Crude oil rose for a fifth day, trading near $75 a barrel in New York, after OPEC increased its world energy demand forecast and the weaker dollar boosted the the appeal of commodities. Oil gained 1.2 percent yesterday as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries raised its 2010 global oil consumption estimate on expansion in emerging economies. The International Energy Agency last week upgraded its demand prediction. Crude also climbed as the dollar fell to the lowest against the euro since August 2008.

“OPEC revised up its global oil consumption forecast for 2010 and that comes on the back of the IEA revising up their forecast,” said Ben Westmore, an energy and minerals economist at National Australia Bank Ltd. in Melbourne. “It is further fueling the sentiment that the demand outlook is better than what a lot of people are expecting.” Crude oil for November delivery gained as much as 81 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $74.96 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and traded at $74.77 at 9:27 a.m. Singapore time. Prices last reached $75 on Aug. 25, the highest since October.....read the entire article.

Crude Oil: Is A Breakthrough or Breakdown Coming?

Over the last three months, crude oil prices have acted like a dog with a shock collar around its neck. One minute it's barreling up a hill at warp speed straight for the mailman at the top of the driveway. And then...... ZAP! It's jolted by an invisible electric fence and sent scampering right back down to the place it started. Talking numbers: the market has been range bound between $75 and $65 per barrel.

Which begs the question: Who controls the collar? According to the mainstream experts, oil prices are in a classic holding cell created when two opposing fundamentals reached a standstill. Here, the following October 9 Wall Street Journal explains: "Crude Torn... the market is unsure whether oil is a commodity that should be influenced by supply and demand, or whether it's an asset class that is determined by equities and currencies."

If the former, then energy prices should turn down: U.S. distillates stocks are at a 23 year high, while 2009 demand figures show a CONTRACTION of 1.7 million barrels a day. If the latter, energy should rise alongside a rallying stock market and falling U.S. dollar. Problem is, there's no way of knowing which "IF" applies until AFTER prices break out in a meaningful trend. And even then, the fundamental lines are a blur.....read the entire article and charts.

Phil Flynn: Freezer Frame

Has the coldest winter in a decade, as some experts predict, just begun? Can record cold really overcome record supply if refineries cut back production? Well it seemed a bit more plausible as winter worries helped an oil flurry on a light volume trading session. The cold weather fed into fears that refinery cut backs could cut into a massive oversupply situation when every trader turned on the heat. Throw in a weaker dollar and you have the perfect recipe for a holiday trade oil rally.

Barbara Powell at Bloomberg fed into traders concerns when she reported that, "Oil refiners from Valero Energy Corp. to Sunoco Inc. are cutting the most capacity since the early 1980.” The reason she says is that they fear that even, “the coldest U.S. winter in a decade won’t be enough to soak up a glut of fuel.” Powell said, "returns from processing crude into heating oil for delivery in February are the lowest in six years”.....read the entire article.

UNG Mulls Investment in Interests Outside Futures

NEW YORK, Oct 13 (Reuters) - United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG.P), an exchange traded fund in the natural gas market, reiterated on Tuesday that it could invest in interests other than futures contacts to comply with accountability levels and position limits.

UNG told Reuters last month it rebalanced its portfolio to decrease positions in listed natural gas futures, while increasing the fund's holdings in over the counter natural gas swaps.

In a filing Tuesday, UNG said it may invest in other interests including cash-settled options on futures contracts, forward contracts for natural gas, cleared swap contracts and over the counter transactions based on natural gas, crude oil and other petroleum based fuels.

UNG said that despite the move futures contracts will remain its principle investment. (Reporting by Edward McAllister; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

Crude Oil Going to Test Key Resistance as USD Tumbles

Crude oil price surges to 74.47 in European morning as USD continues to decline against major currencies except for British pound. Moreover, advance in stock markets in Asia also helps boosts demand for oil as well as other risky assets. Leading the rally in the Nymex energy complex is heating oil which adds +1.9% to 1.926. The benchmark contract has soared for 4 straight days and accumulated more than +8% gains. RBOB gasoline rises for the second day to 1.828.

As the driving season is over and the heating season approaching, investors have shifted their focus to heating oil from gasoline. Gold price strengthens and rises to a new record high of 1069.7 amid dollar's weakness. Others in the precious complex such as silver and platinum also rally with silver gaining +1% to 18 and platinum jumping +1.5% to 1370, the highest level....read the entire article.

Bloomberg Analysis: Commodities to Gain 10% If Crude Breaks $75

The S&P GSCI Index is poised to surge 10 percent by the end of the year if oil prices breach resistance above $75 a barrel this week, according to a technical analysis from Oscar Gruss & Son in New York. The GSCI has just broken out of a four month consolidation after moving above resistance at 481, and if crude oil rallies, “this index could easily move significantly higher,” said Michael Shaoul, chief executive officer at Oscar Gruss.

The index soared as much as 2.7 percent today to 485.03, the highest level since Oct. 20, 2008. The next resistance for the GSCI is at 530 points, marking a 38.2 percent retracement of the 2008 collapse, he said. The index tumbled from a high of 893.86 on July 3, 2008 to 305.59 on Feb. 19. “This target is comfortably achievable during this quarter,” Shaoul said.....read the entire article.

ALERT: Weekly Trade Triangle Buy Signal For Crude Oil

Attention all MarketClub Members: Our Weekly Trade Triangle strategy flashed a buy signal on November crude oil this morning at 72.65.

Here's what You Get with Your MarketClub Membership

Dow Jones Commodity Index Fund Trading Opportunity

From guest analyst Chris Vermeulen of The Gold and Oil Guy.....

Dow Jones Commodity Index Fund
This index tracks the entire commodity market as a whole. Over the past two years we have seen commodities drop in value substantially. The good news is that we could be seeing prices rise going forward from here.

2009 has been a fantastic year for trading commodities with the market bottoming and starting to move higher. This commodity index clearly shows a Cup & Handle pattern and is looking ready to breakout in the coming weeks. The C & H pattern is the best chart formation we could get. Breakouts from these patterns generally provide a rally which can last months at a time.

Let’s take a look at what kind of opportunity looks to be just around the corner.

Dow Jones Commodity Index Chart – Weekly
Commodities appear to have bottomed and are getting squeezed into the apex of the bullish wedge. This index could easily rally to the 180 level which is about 35-40% Gain.


DJP iPath Commodity Index Fund – Weekly
After reviewing several different commodity index funds I like the characteristics for DJP the most. There is enough volume traded which makes for a smooth trading fund on an intraday basis when looking at the 10 minute chart. Several other funds were choppy and thinly traded.

This is Exciting, everyone knows how most commodity funds vary from the underlying commodity price, well this fund trades identical to the index. What does this mean? It means we can trade the DJP commodity index fund for short term and long term positions because there isn’t any price decay over time.


Performance Chart of Commodity Index & Fund
This chart goes back almost 2 years. As you can see the % change for the index and the fund are virtually identical. We do not need to worry about Contango with this fund.


Major Commodities Breaking Out or Bottoming
Gold, Crude Oil and Natural Gas are highly traded commodities and will play a large role in the direction of the commodity index.

Gold is breaking out to a new high – Bullish


Crude Oil is consolidating in a bullish wedge – Bullish



Natural Gas is trying to bottom and should move higher into the winter – Bullish



Dow Jones Commodity Index Trading Conclusion:
Money has been moving into the commodity sector since March of this year. As a technical trader this opportunity jumps out at me. I wanted to share it with fellow traders because this could be once of the easiest trades of the year if the index breaks out in the coming weeks.

If you would like to receive my Free Weekly Trading Newsletter please visit my website, The Gold and Oil Guy.

Chris Vermeulen

Let Me Introduce You to Adam Hewison of The MarketClub

From guest blogger Adam Hewison.....

My name is Adam Hewison. You might want to Google Me to confirm what I am about to share with you.

There are plenty of people out there that create “exclusive email courses” with little or no credentials to actually backup their teachings. So, I think it’s right that I share a little bit about myself with you before we even start.

I was a former floor trader on the IMM, IOM, NYFE and LIFFE as well as a risk manager of a large, multinational corporation in Geneva, Switzerland. I also have written books on forex trading and trend following. In 1995, I founded INO.com and later co founded MarketClub. I’ve been in the trading biz for over three decades and have seen it all. I created this course as a way to give back and share trading tips and techniques that I still use in my trading today.

In my Free Mini Email Course, I will show and explain the tools and strategies you need to increase your success rate in the marketplace.

(1) The importance of psychology in price movement

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Plus, you will you will learn all about fibonacci retracements, MACD, Bollinger Bands and much more.

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Every success,
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President, INO.com & Co-Creator, MarketClub

Interior Boss Says No to Drilling on 8 Utah Parcels

Eight of the 77 oil and gas lease parcels sold during a December auction that a saboteur wrecked and a federal judge later halted will be off limits to drilling, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has decided. Allowing development on the 7,670 public acres near Canyonlands and Arches national parks, Desolation Canyon and Nine Mile canyon could harm critical sage grouse habitat with little obvious benefit to oil and gas development, concluded a 39 page analysis released Thursday.

During a Washington news conference, Salazar said 52 parcels would be held back pending further study and 17 would be allowed back at upcoming auctions. Drawing from the report compiled by an 11 member team from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and Forest Service who examined more than 103,000 acres from the ground up Salazar scolded the Bush administration for allowing the Dec. 19 auction in Salt Lake City to go forward.....read the entire article.

Phil Flynn: Global Warming Takes a Holiday!

Get the ear muffs out. Oil bears gets frosted as cold temperatures give the energy complex a Columbus Day boost. Global warming takes a holiday as heaters across the country seemed to go on much earlier than usual. Stunning records for cold were set across the nation increasing the demand for heating fuels over the weekend. The Chicago Marathon, according to the Chicago Tribune, had its coldest start since a 33 degree low in 2002 which they say was a far cry from 2007 when temperatures soared into the upper 80s and officials canceled the marathon after 3 1/2 hours into the event. In Denver it was reported that an artic cold front moved in and broke a cold temperature record that stood for 104 years.

In fact on Friday, Denver saw temperatures plunge 23 degrees in five hours setting the stage to make that record low. There were record lows in many parts of the country like Wyoming, Utah, Illinois and Iowa and if records were not broken in many areas it was extremely close. The early blast of winter is giving oil a bit of a boost on this lightly traded holiday market. It kind of makes you wonder what happened to global warming. In fact that is what the BBC is wondering in an article titled, "Whatever happened to Global Warming?" The BBC said, “This headline may come as a bit of a surprise, so too might that fact that the warmest year recorded globally was not in.....Read the entire article.

Crude Oil Higher as Net Long Positions Return to 2009 High

Crude oil was higher overnight as it extends the rally off September's low. Stochastics and the RSI remain bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. If November extends the rally, September's high crossing at 73.58 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 70.22 would temper the near term friendly outlook in the market.

Monday's pivot point, our line in the sand is 71.58

First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 73.13
Second resistance is September's high crossing at 73.58

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 70.54
Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 70.22

Here is Some Potential Mega Trades For Q4


Natural gas was higher due to short covering overnight as it consolidates some of last Friday's decline. Stochastics and the RSI are diverging and are neutral to bearish signaling that a short term top might be in or is near. Closes below the reaction low crossing at 4.351 would confirm that a short term top has been posted.

If November extends the rally off September's low, August's high crossing at 5.133 then the 50% retracement level of this year's decline crossing at 5.320 are the next upside targets.

Nat gas pivot point for Monday is 4.84

First resistance is last Tuesday's high crossing at 5.12
Second resistance is August's high crossing at 5.13

First support is last Friday's low crossing at 4.75
Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.74

Jump Start Your Trading, Get Market Club Today

The U.S. Dollar was lower overnight as it consolidates some of last Friday's rally but remains above monthly support crossing at 75.73. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term.

If December extends this month's decline, monthly support crossing at 73.39 is the next downside target. Closes above the reaction high crossing at 77.74 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted.

First resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 76.80
Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 77.74

First support is last Thursday's low crossing at 75.68
Second support is monthly support crossing at 73.39

Crude Oil Weekly Technical Outlook

Crude oil edged higher last week but momentum is so far quite unconvincing. Nevertheless, further rise is still in favor as long as 68.16 support holds. Break of 73.16 resistance will confirm that fall from 75.0 has completed at 65.05 already. The corrective structure will in turn indicate that medium term rally is still in progress for another high above 75.0 before completion. On the downside, below 68.16 will suggest that rebound from 65.05 has completed and will flip intraday bias back to the downside.

In the bigger picture, medium term term outlook is quite mixed so far with crude oil still struggling around 55 weeks and 55 months EMA. The bearish case is still slightly in favor with 73.16 resistance intact. That is, medium term rebound from 44.2 has completed at 75.0 on bearish divergence conditions in daily MACD and RSI. Break of 65.05 support will solidify this case and target 58.32 cluster support (38.2% retracement of 33.2 to 75.0 at 59.03) for confirmation. However, break of 73.16 will in turn favor the case that rise from 33.2 is still in progress for another high above 75.0. Nevertheless, strong resistance should be seen in 76.77/90.24 fibonacci.....Entire article and charts!

Crude Oil Rises a Third Day on Recovery in Global Fuel Demand

Crude oil rose for a third day on speculation fuel demand will increase as the global economy emerges from recession. Oil climbed after U.S. equity markets reached their highest in a year Oct. 9, fanning hope for a recovery in world energy consumption. An Investors Business Daily survey due tomorrow in the U.S., the world’s largest energy user, may show consumers were optimistic for a third month, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.

“We are looking at an international economy that is going to be stronger in 12 months’ time,” said David Moore, a commodity strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd. in Sydney. “There’s that conviction that things are going to be better down the track” even when some data is not “especially supportive,” he said. Crude oil for November delivery climbed as much as 79 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $72.56 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was at $72.23 at 9:26 a.m. Singapore time. Futures have gained 62 percent this year.....Read the entire article.

Invest AD Technical Analysis: Natural Gas May Climb to $7 Dollars

Natural gas may climb to $7 per million British thermal units after the commodity last month rebounded from a long term support level, according to Abu Dhabi-based Invest AD. Natural gas futures have almost doubled to $4.77 per million British thermal units since reaching a more than seven year low on Sept. 4. “Holding above a 20 year support and rebounding sharply from that level, signals an increase in demand for natural gas,” said Aksel Kibar, a portfolio manager at Invest AD, the investment firm owned by the Abu Dhabi Investment Council. “Any break above the $5.00-$5.50 range will push the prices toward the $6 to $7 area.”

Gas for November delivery fell 3.9 percent to $4.77 on the New York Mercantile Exchange Oct. 9. The fuel is down 15 percent this year, while crude oil is up 61 percent. “Natural gas underperformed crude oil in the last 10 years and in September the natural gas and crude oil ratio reached the lowest level in 20 years,” Kibar said. “This clearly shows an oversold condition for natural gas”.....read the entire article.

New Natural Gas ETF's on The Way

It's no surprise with the recent increase of interest in natural gas that we have more choices coming our way in the ETF arena. Jefferies is expanding their coverage of nat gas with two new funds, the Jefferies Natural Gas Equity ETF and the Jefferies Energy Wildcatters Equity ETF.

While UNG continues to be the most popular ticker, most commercial traders have focused on the FCG. And the Jefferies Natural Gas Equity ETF looks to be a direct competitor with the First Trust ISE Revere Natural Gas ETF.

The "Energy Wildcatters" ETF will focus on giving traders a way to trade a basket of small and mid cap companies in both the U.S. and Canada. All companies must have a market cap of between $200 million and $2 billion, and bring in at least 75% of their annual revenues from exploration and production of natural gas.

I for one love the nickname "wildcatters" for this fund. Let their be no mistake, this ETF does not follow the daily price of natural gas.

Here is the SEC filing for the Equity ETF and the SEC filing for the Wildcatters Fund.