Credit Default Swaps Fall –

Posted on 10. May 2010 by Jim Sutliff

The attempt by the EU to slow the sovereign debt crisis is working at the current time.  The EU has agreed on an aid package that is almost $1 Trillion dollars and that level of support has caused default swaps to decline today. 

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=afdkgsGvckw0&pos=3

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Banking, Bonds, Currency, Economic News, Investments | Leave a comment

EU Prepares Fund –

Posted on 9. May 2010 by Jim Sutliff

The European Union is preparing a $645 billion dollar fund to prevent the sovereign debt crisis from spreading.  A Bloomberg article quoted a Sedish official as describing the markets as having a “wolfpack behavior”.  The need for the EU to build confidence fast is recognized as the number one priority.

To read the Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601068&sid=arkniUPeZQhw

James Sutliff

Posted in Banking, Bonds, Currency, Economic News, Investments, Political News | Leave a comment

Stocks & Bonds Tumble –

Posted on 6. May 2010 by Jim Sutliff

Stocks and corporate bonds tumbled today as concerns over the European debt situation increased with investors.  The market fell almost 1,000 points before rebounding and that was the biggest intraday drop since 1987.  Investors moved towards Treasuries which is considered to be a safer asset.  The drop on Thursday does not come as a surprise with traders and investors exiting their positions before the coming weekend. 

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

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704370704575227754131412596.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEADNewsCollection

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Banking, Bonds, Economic News, Investments, Stocks | Leave a comment

Crude Oil & Gasoline Fall –

Posted on 5. May 2010 by Jim Sutliff

The EIA released inventory numbers today that sent prices falling for Gasoline and Crude.  Crude Oil fell below $80 with reports of a build in supplies of 2.8 million barrels.   Analysts had only expected a rise of 1.54 million barrels and the continued rise help to dampen prices.  The situation with European debt also caused concern with traders that global demand would fall.  Gasoline supplies increased 1.2 million barrels instead of the 200,000 that was expected by analysts.

To read a related article by The Street, please click here:

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10747005/1/crude-below-80-weakened-by-supply-build.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEFI

James Sutliff

Posted in Economic News, Gasoline, Investments, Oil, Options & Futures | Leave a comment

Euro Declines –

Posted on 4. May 2010 by Jim Sutliff

The Euro declined as concern over the spreading of the debt crisis increases with investors.  Spain and Portugal are becoming the center of attention as possible nations that may need a bailout.  The Euro fell below $1.30 and hit the lowest level since April 20th 2009.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a65ILpqEsXQc&pos=1

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Banking, Currency, Economic News, Investments | Leave a comment

Cape Cod Wind Farm –

Posted on 3. May 2010 by Jim Sutliff

The U.S. approved a wind farm not that far from Cape Cod.  The wind farm will be the first in American waters and will be a $1 billion dollar project.  Some environmentalists and home owners tried to block the project but were not successful. 

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aW30.UAXFTRQ&pos=9

James Sutliff

Posted in Alternative Energy, Investments, Regulatory | Leave a comment

Economist: Big Mac Index –

Posted on 30. April 2010 by Jim Sutliff

Economist magazine has a Big Mac Index that is worth examining.  The index illustrates how the Yuan is an undervalued currency and is artificially weak.  What would Friday be like without a good chart?

To read the Economist Big Mac Index, please click here:

http://www.economist.com/daily/chartgallery/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15715184

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Currency, Economic News, Investments | Leave a comment

Crude Inventory & Futures Gain –

Posted on 28. April 2010 by Jim Sutliff

Crude inventories rose more that 2 million barrels and that figure is more than double analyst expectations.  Nevertheless, Crude futures are still rising and some of the gains can be attributed to seasonal activity.  Refiners also increased capacity to 89% which is further indication of higher crude outputs.  The gasoline season is near and refiners are making sure that the market is well stocked.  This as cited as one reason for the weakness in gasoline.

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

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100428-714954.html?mod=WSJ_World_MIDDLEHeadlinesEurope

James Sutliff

Posted in Gasoline, Investments, Oil, Options & Futures | Leave a comment

Oil Contango Soars –

Posted on 26. April 2010 by Jim Sutliff

The storage costs for oil are soaring and are currently at the highest level in nearly four months.  Inventories are at a near record high and the premium for future delivery is around the same cost as storage.  The rising levels of Canadian crude are  putting some of the pressure on the storage levels.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ayqOVAEyKd_w&pos=6

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Economic News, Investments, Oil, Options & Futures | Leave a comment

EIA Data Shows Gain –

Posted on 21. April 2010 by Jim Sutliff

EIA data released this morning showed a rise of 1.9 million barrels of crude oil.  An inventory rise of 300,000 barrels was expected from analysts.  Stockpiles of Gasoline rose 3.6 million barrels and a slight increase of only 100,000 barrels was expected.  These numbers helped to send crude oil prices down in recent trading.

To view the Energy Information Administration site, please click here:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/weekly_petroleum_status_report/wpsr.html

To read a related CBS MarketWatch article, please click here:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/crude-oil-sinks-after-eia-shows-inventory-gain-2010-04-21

James Sutliff

Posted in Gasoline, Investments, Oil, Options & Futures | Leave a comment

Natural Gas Plummets –

Posted on 15. April 2010 by Jim Sutliff

Natural Gas took a dive today with prices falling over 2o cents for the May, June, and July contracts.  Supplies grew higher than analysts expected and the rig counts also increased in number.  Unemployment numbers also increased which indicated to some traders that the economic recovery may not be as strong as expected.

To read a related article, please click here:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/04/14/bloomberg1376-L0XG0107SXKX-1.DTL

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Economic News, Natural Gas, Options & Futures | Leave a comment

Oil Inventory Declines –

Posted on 14. April 2010 by Jim Sutliff

Inventory of crude oil declined 2.2 million barrels today which was a major difference from analysts expectations.  A Platts survey indicated that an increase of 1.6 million barrels would be in the released data.  The news sent crude over the $86 dollar a barrel mark and has energy investors watching the natural gas data to be released tomorrow.   Natural Gas inventories may not follow crude and could post a significant increase on Thursday regardless of the crude oil numbers.

To read an article by The Street, please click here:

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10725543/1/crude-soaring-after-inventory-drawdown.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEFI

James Sutliff

Posted in Investments, Natural Gas, Oil, Options & Futures | Leave a comment

Yuan Revaluation –

Posted on 13. April 2010 by Jim Sutliff

Currency speculation is picking up on reports of a possible Yuan revaluation.  The Yen & Dollar are two currencies that are expected to benefit from a revaluation of the Chinese currency.  Both curencies are viewed as a safe haven by investors.  New Zealand and Australian dollars are expected to suffer from a revaluation because they are exporters of commodities to China.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aBu8ZvW712YA&pos=5

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Banking, Currency, Investments | Leave a comment

Yuan –

Posted on 8. April 2010 by Jim Sutliff

The Chinese Yuan has been pegged to the Dollar for almost 21 months and that may end.  However, the change may not help American exporters due to the barriers of the Chinese government.  The peg of the Chinese currency has kept it undervalued against other currencies.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aGqmkQewR_MA&pos=5

James Sutliff

Posted in Currency, Investments | Leave a comment

Job Report Makes Oil Surge –

Posted on 5. April 2010 by Jim Sutliff

A positive job report was released and this sent oil to almost $87 dollars a barrel.  Trading today marked the highest that oil has reached in the last 17 months.  Some analysts view the job report as a sign that the economy is recovering and that oil will continue to increase in price.  This analysis may not be correct with oil already at a high cost realtive to other energy sources.  Any economic rebound in the short term may not translate into much higher oil prices and the heating oil season is well behind us at this point.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aB1pIiRpyW7A&pos=4

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Economic News, Investments, Oil, Options & Futures | Leave a comment