Energy Market Updates

Fears of yet another Greece loan default were on the minds of many investors today as futures showed moderate losses as the dollar strengthened.  Greece is hoping that banks will forgive roughly $130 billion in debt due in the next few months.  If only my bank would forgive half of my mortgage, I would be a happy man!  Positive news from the housing industry was reported as existing home sales increased 5% in December.  The market couldn't rally enough today and with gasoline demand falling over 6% in a month on month comparison, the threat of demand destruction in a slightly improving economy is a real concern.  It is hard to believe that we have seen six down days in the last seven sessions in the Heat pit.  We have peeled off almost 10 cents during that time frame.  This following our prediction that once we touch 3.10ish we should pull back.  As this has been the pattern for the year.  Looming over the weekend is a European vote on accepting Iranian oil, as reports of US ships moving out of the region.  As a quick snow event moves through the region this weekend, lets all remember to keep those fills clear and accessible.  Crude fell $1.93 to $98.46, RBOB lost .0310 and HEAT lost .0476 to $2.9884.

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.

Overnight action saw pits slightly higher as the market weighed the continued threat of Nigerian oil workers to join the General Strike that has paralyzed the Nation for the last several days.  Prior to the release of inventories, which many were still digesting the much less bearish EIA numbers from Tuesday night, the housing market got a boost with a report showing applications for homes were up 4.5% this period.  A bullish indicator for the economy in general. This kept the market trading on both sides of 0.00 much of the morning.  With the large builds across the board on the DOE report, the initial sell off fizzled away as the day wore on.  Again, only to late session heroics, as in the last 15 minutes pushed HO down .0368 to 3.0646, RBOB slipped .0095 to 2.7633 and Crude fell 1.37 to $100.87.  Adding to my notes yesterday, many commented on the disbelief of how range bound the Heat pit has been this year.  Below is an eight month snap shot and shows the caterpillar like chart.  A solidly defined range of 2.70 to 3.15.  Currently sitting at 3.06, lets hope that this pattern continues.

Although the market finished down, it was not until very late in the session that we felt somewhat comfortable that it was a certainty.  Early morning jobs data reported yet another increase in unemployment claims, up 2k to 414k, Commodities fought their way back into positive ground as investors rushed for a safe haven.  The new information will be a key tenet for tonights Presidential address on the state of the economy, which could shift the markets in either direction.  The White House is expected to announce yet another round of stimulus spending, roughly $300 billion, on infrastructure and tax cuts.  Additionally, reports of the European Central Bank reporting what they perceive as "significant downside risk" to the European Economy.  With the mixed DOE report of Crude losing 4mbl and Gas and Distillates adding 198k and 708k respectively, while surprising , kept any major losses in check.  I would expect next weeks numbers to have the full impact of the past weeks weather, specifically in the Northeast.  It has become increasingly more difficult to determine how news will be perceived in the eyes of  market participants, what was once a bullish news day has now turned to a cautiously bearish one.  At the close, Crude slipped .29 to $89.05, RBOB lost .0228 to $2.8852 and HEAT lost .0313 to $3.0443.

It is scary to think that a four cent swing in gas futures can be termed as "relatively stable".  A somewhat surprising storm popped up in the Gulf of Mexico region this morning that caused the evacuations of most platforms in the area and had many investors buying up the storm premium ahead of the long weekend.  Both products early in the morning were trading down almost 3 cents and only HO was able to remain in the red.  Also churning out in the Atlantic is presently a CAT 3 hurricane Katia, expected to hit the east coast again sometime late next week.  This, on the heels of many East Coast terminals just now coming back on line after Irene.  Expect to see some wild cash moves in the harbor.  As mentioned, RBOB was able to gain .0164 to settle at $2.8927, surprising given the current product situation in the northeast and expected storms.  HEAT fell .0322 to $3.0518, most of which came in the last 20 minutes of the session while WTI added a mere 12 cents to $88.93.  How much of the day is due to the seasonal product switch and cleansing of books will play out on Friday. Other news has unemployment figures to be flat for August, and have European manufacturing rates sliding, both kept the pits in check most of the day.  Looking back on August,  HO started the month off at 3.1360 and closed at 3.084, but after hitting a low 2.70, once again proving that historically it is the most volatile trading months, relatively speaking of course