May 2012
M T W T F S S
« Apr    
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  

Author Archive

Gasoline Inventories Fall -

Gasoline inventories declined 2.6 million barrels and distillate inventories fell 3.3 million barrels.  The Energy Information Administration also indicated that crude oil increased 3.7 million barrels which was greater than the 2 million barrel increase expected by analysts.  Inventories of crude oil at Cushing Oklahoma rose to 44.1 million barrels.

To read a related Nasdaq article, please click here:

http://www.nasdaq.com/article/oil-futures-crude-pares-losses-following-inventory-data-20120509-01176

James Sutliff

Natural Gas Prices Fall -

Natural gas prices fell 2.6% in Friday trading to cap off a week of price volatility.  Natural Gas prices during the week showed gains of as much as 4.5% and declines as steep as 5%.  June natural gas settled at $2.279 per million British Thermal Units.  Last week, there were 606 natural gas drilling wells which was a drop of 7 from the previous week.  The number of oil rigs increased to 1,355 from 1,328.  According to the Energy Information Administration, natural gas output fell to 72.32 billion cubic feet per day.  Inventories are at 2.576 trillion cubic feet which is almost 50% more than last year at this time.

To read a related Wall Street Journal article, please click here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120504-714022.html

James Sutliff

Gasoline Inventories Fall -

 Gasoline inventories fell 3.67 million barrels which exceeded analyst expectations.  Distillates also fell and were 2.91 million lower than the previous week.  The U.S. Department of Energy  also indicated that crude oil supplies increased by 3.86 million barrels.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-18/oil-pares-loss-on-rise-in-gasoline-heating-oil-supply.html

James Sutliff

Natural Gas Continues To Decline -

Natural gas inventories continued to rise and increased 57 bcf last week.  The inventory rise and the warmer weather are sending natural gas prices lower in trading.  Henry Hub natural gas delivery prices fell to $2.00 per million British Thermal Units.  That marks the lowest price point in 31 months.

To read a related Reuters article, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/30/markets-natgas-spot-idUSL2E8EU5VC20120330

James Sutliff

Treasuries Rise -

The yield on 10 year Treasures fell 7 basis points in afternoon trading on Tuesday.  The demand for Treasuries increased after there were declines in homes prices and consumer confidence.  There was also higher demand for the sale of $35 billion of 2 year securities.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-27/treasuries-rise-as-u-s-sells-35-billion-of-two-year-notes.html

James Sutliff

Crude Oil Rises On Iran -

Crude oil spent most of the day in a trading range of $105 to $108 a barrel.  The rise in crude oil prices and trading volatility came after oil exports from Iran were estimated to have dropped 300,000 barrels a day.  The weaker U.S. Dollar also sent prices higher in Friday trading.

To read a related Fox Business article, please click here:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2012/03/23/oil-prices-rise-sharply-on-drop-in-iranian-exports/

James Sutliff

Gold Continues Decline -

Gold continued to slide and fell to the lowest level since January 25th.  Traders weighed Federal Reserve statements on the economy and gold fell almost 2 percent.  Gold traded near $1,670 an ounce and continued to decline in electronic trading.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-13/gold-advances-with-equities-before-federal-reserve-meeting-greek-bailout.html

James Sutliff

Euro Falls -

The Euro fell to almost $1.31 after indications that the economy for the Euro region contracted.  The Australian and Canadien dollars both declined against the U.S. Dollar.  In addition, the Norwegian Krone dropped 1.6 percent to 5.706.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-05/euro-remains-lower-against-yen-before-europe-gdp-report-u-s-jobs-data.html

James Sutliff

Gold & Silver Rally -

Gold hit a three month high rising $13.50 and settled at $1,788.40 an ounce.  Silver also rallied to settle at $37.14 an ounce which was an increase of 4.6%.  In addition, copper and platinum  increased with copper rising .8% to $3.91 a pound and platinum gaining 2.1%.

To read a related Wall Street article, please click here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204653604577251543849341380.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

James Sutliff

Crude Oil Almost Hits $110 -

Crude oil almost hit $110 in Friday trading and settled at $109.77 a barrel.  This is the highest level that oil has traded at in the last 9 months.   The conflict with Iran is the driving force behind higher trading prices.  Iran is the second largest oil producing nation in OPEC with an output of 3.5 million barrels a day.

To read a related Wall Street Journal article, please click here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203918304577243120332014742.html?KEYWORDS=crude+oil

James Sutliff

Gold Rises On Greek Bailout -

Gold prices rose to over $1,755 an ounce after European Union finance ministers agreed to another Greek bailout.  The second Greek bailout provided by the Euro zone is approximately $172 billion.  In Tuesday trading, gold hit the highest mark since February 3rd.  Silver also traded higher and rose to $34.13 an ounce.

To read a related Reuters article, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/21/us-markets-precious-idUSTRE80T1QZ20120221

James Sutliff

Natural Gas Futures End Lower -

Natural gas continued to slide with March futures falling almost 2% to $2.431.  Mild winter weather forecasts lowered expectations of heating demand for the next week.  In addition, natural gas supplies have remained well above average levels.

To read a related Wall Street Journal article, please click here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204795304577220950935275494.html

James Sutliff

Greece Agrees To Bailout -

Greek leaders agreed to terms for a second bailout of approximately $172 billion dollars.  The Greek parliament stills need to ratify the agreement as well as major reductions in spending.  European Union finance ministers would than have to provide final approval for the deal.

To read a related Reuters article, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/09/us-greece-idUSTRE8120HI20120209

James Sutliff

Fitch Cuts Credit Ratings -

Fitch lowered the credit ratings for the sovereign debt of five Euro region nations.  The five nations included Italy, Spain, Belgium, Cyprus, and Slovenia.  The credit rating for Italy was cut to A- and the rating for Spain fell to A.  Italy has the third largest European Union economy.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-27/italy-spain-are-among-five-euro-zone-nations-downgraded-by-fitch-ratings.html

James Sutliff

Natural Gas Edges Up -

Natural gas rose slightly at the end of the week and closed at $3.062.  Forecasts of colder weather countered inventory reports which had sent natural gas prices lower.  Colder weather is expected in the Northeast for January 16th through the 20th.    Warmer than normal winter weather has put pressure of natural gas and oil prices this season.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-06/natural-gas-rises-on-cold-weather-forecast-commodities-at-close.html

James Sutliff