Energy Market Updates

On Wednesday we suggested that todays market could be volatile as many investors were eagerly anticipating the FED chairman speech.  The consensus was that new measures would be put in place to spur growth.  It became clear early in the session that this was not going to happen and all pits sold off quickly and RBOB dropped as much as five cents.  Not to be outdone Crude was down over $2 as well.   However, as GDP numbers were released, the pits clawed their way back into positive ground.  GDP grew by only 1% for the second quarter, less than the expected 1.3%,  As the day wore on, pricing did not move all that much as it appeared many may have gotten out of Dodge ahead of Irene.  Currently it appears that the storm will hit the Northeast sometime Sunday as a hurricane and move rapidly through the Northeast over the course of the day, of course making a stop in Wilbraham, Ma.  With high winds and heavy flooding, power outages are expected.  Fear not folks, DKB world headquarters will be staffed and ready to assist.  At the close, Crude added.07 to $85.37, HEAT gained .0246 to $3.0101 and RBOB fell .0333 to $2.9346, while OCT RBOB only lost .0157.  Stay safe.

What is funny about Todays title is that it seems that I have used it several times over the last month!  Another Groundhog Day with the Market up strong on the overnight, falling into negative ground late in the day and ending as a mixed bag at the close.  Investors were eager to jump in overnight as many weighed the FED Chairman's comments and the reluctance to raise interest rates.  The decision to keep rates extremely low signals to investors that the US economy still has some hurdles to jump before we are all fat and happy again.  That policy is weighing heavy on the greenback, pushing it to a 33 month low.  We all know the corollary is the high Crude and product prices as inflationary hedges from investors.  The news the economy only grew 1.8% last quarter while most were expecting a 3.1% increase did little to ease rising NYMEX prices.  Yet around mid session a sell off materialized that had both products negative for some time.  HEAT was able finish in the red as it fell a mere 18pts to $3.2316, RBOB keeps pushing higher as it gained .0104 to $3.4298, while CRUDE gained .10 to $112.86.  With $28 crack spreads on gas, it is not hard to see how Exxon posted 69% Q1 profits.   While it is easy to point to middle eastern unrest as the cause of this surge, it is tough to defend as supplies in the US are still at very healthy levels.  End result is that this bubble has to burst.  Hopefully soon. 

While I was watching FED Chairman on 60 minutes last night it occurred to me very early in the interview: Bernanke was very, very nervous. Something I have never seen...

We had anticipated some sideways action over the next few sessions as traders decide which bandwagon to jump on. Nothing was more evident than today that saw thin news...