Waiting for the Feather to Drop

Still waiting for the feather to start dropping.  The last several sessions, this morning included, has seen oil markets strengthen.  We are now at highs not seen since late June.   One would assume that with the ongoing government shutdown it would mean weakness in prices vis a vis less government workers, less air travel, trickle down to less overall demand. However, even with a looming supply glut, the market is still finding its way to move higher.  The latest is news that once again Ukraine has hit refineries deep inside Russian lines.  That coupled with the reinforced sanctions, will cause countries who were buying Russian product to seek alternatives.  I would still like to believe this is a short rally and we cool off before the holidays, but a lot has to happen in the next few weeks.  If you haven’t already discussed your winter approach, you still have some time.  Being on the same page with your supplier is crucial.