Energy Market Updates

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Hess

Futures Continue to Rise as Supply Questions Loom

The NYMEX continued strong gains as most early risers thought we would see a reversal of yesterdays spike. At 5 am, RBOB was down almost .03 and HO was down about a penny. It had me thinking that yesterdays reaction to the Hess announcement that it was closing their New Jersey refinery was somewhat overdone. But as the rest of the world woke up, and saw the Dollar struggling, Futures made an about face at the open. While consumer confidence was reported to be at the lowest levels since late 2011 (maybe an effect of Americans seeing less in their checks this month), Home values were reported to see roughly a 5.5% increase in values year on year. Back to the notion of a gasoline shortage, with there being only two major refineries to serve the Eastcoast, it is easy to see how some can predict a long term crunch. My hunch is higher prices will solve that problem eventually. Still, HO has risen above the top end of the range we have been stuck in since October, closing up .0476 to 3.1092, RBOB added.0386 to 2.9734 and Crude gained $1.13 to $97.57. All ahead of the relatively tropical forecast for the next two days. (shown below)

Weather heat map of the USA

RBOB CLOSE
CLOSE CHANGE
 
FEB 29734 +.0386
MAR 29763 +.0354
APR 31242 +.0388
MAY 30961 +.0364
JUN 30469 +.0332
JUL 29971 +.0306
HEAT CLOSE
CLOSE CHANGE
FEB 31092 +.0476
MAR 30986 +.0443
APR 30806 +.0398
MAY 31151 +.0360
JUN 30961 +.0326
JUL 30856 +.0308
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RBOB surges, HEAT ends lower

Early morning news of Hess shutting down its St. Croix facility from producing gas to strictly an oil storage facility sent RBOB futures higher some seven cents before the opening bell even rang.  Fear of tightening eastcoast gasoline supplies could not have hit at a worst time as ongoing tensions with Iran have again made headlines.  Iran appears to have got the eye, or wallet, the Saudis as they have gestured they are unwilling to pick up additional pumping left by removing Iranian barrels from the market place.  Realistically, this means that the Kingdom is comfortable with Crude above $100.  The trade seemed to cool off as the day moved on with large builds expected across all products in the delayed DOE report.  Additionally, looming concerns over the long term demand continue to be a bearish influence on any price breakouts beyond our current range.  At the Close, Crude fell 12 cents to finish at $100.59, RBOB surged .0541 to $2.8254 and Heat fell .0238 to $3.0134.

heat map

RBOB CLOSE
                 CLOSE       CHANGE 
  
FEB    28254       +.0541
MAR   28292      +.0496
APR    29480      +.0391
MAY   29340      +.0319
JUN   29053      +.0245
JUL    28713      +.0195

HEAT CLOSE
          CLOSE    CHANGE
FEB     30134     -.0238
MAR    30112      -.0223
APR     29995      -.0233
MAY   29859      -.0235
JUN    29808     -.0231
JUL     29850      -.0244
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