Energy Market Updates

A surprise increase in Distillate inventories fueled a sell off across all pits yesterday.   Distillates grew by 300k barrels while most expected a decline of about 1.5m.  This, coupled with surprisingly low demand numbers (down almost 7%) saw the pit erase the roughly $.15 in gains added in the last two weeks.  It appears that we are continuing that slow progression downwards with mindless swings in between. 

Today will be interesting as it is technically the last trading day for the APRIL ULSD contract and it is still priced above the $2.65 level with the MAY contract well under at $2.58.  Where will they meet? 

Also pushing prices down is a more optimistic view of the banking system taking hold as several major US banks are buying up deposits and loans of the now failed SVP bank.  We had said several weeks ago that if, and when, the market reaches this level it would have to “reassess” where it will move towards. 

Looking in the rearview mirror, it appears that there is still value to Q3 and Q4 fixed price gallons.  Several key fundamental factors will weigh in on direction over the next few weeks such as FED Interest rate policy and overall economic temperature, demand for products and the summer driving season.  Globally, it will be China’s demand for products, of course Russian price cap effectiveness and product movement, and as always OPEC output quotas.  The day to day price swings do not look to be going away any time soon, moreover the intraday swings are just as dramatic.

On February 24, 2022 Russia invaded Ukraine thrusting oil markets into one of the most volatile periods in decades, reaching prices never seen before.  At just over a year later, the APR contract is just $.01 off of where we were when this all started.  (see close on 2.24.23 below and chart) .  The circumstances around the recent drop are obviously derived from the recent banking meltdown. 

While it may take a Phd from Harvard to understand the details of what happened to the collapse of two major US banks, the underlying notion remains true no matter what decade we are in.  Fear tends to push markets much more than any fundamental or technical mechanism. 

A year ago, most were fearing that Russian oil flows would cease and cause a worldwide disruption and price spike.  While in some instances it affected physical markets, the fear of it is what drove futures higher.  With large banks dancing on the Moral Hazard line (taking on excess risk with idea of being bailed out if it sours) and paying higher interest rates, it put fear into depositors and prompted massive amounts of withdrawals, a classic bank run.  This is prompting a much larger fear, the fear of Contagion, a Financial Covid, to put it into modern day terms. 

The good news is that the recent collapse presents some buying opportunities!  We stated prior that should we dip below the $2.65 on the front month, Q2 & Q3pricing may look appetizing for a portion of your needs.   All eyes will be on the FED and what they announce in the next meeting, more rate hikes or not?  Also look to see if OPEC+ decides to cut production to bolster prices in the coming weeks.  Don’t fear, DKB will be here.