Gulf Natural Gas Still Down –

Posted on 5. September 2008 by Jim Sutliff

Nearly 90% of the natural gas production in the gulf of Mexico is still shut down.  One of the major natural gas connections has just been restored.  Earlier, the Sabine Pipeline LLC declared a force majuere and shut down the Henry Hub connection.

To view a related article, please click here:

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/ngw/ngupdate.asp

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Alternative Energy, General, Investments, Natural Gas, Options & Futures | Leave a comment

Hurricane Ike: Category 4 –

Posted on 4. September 2008 by Jim Sutliff

Hurricane Ike has been listed as a category 4.  It has been less than 24 hours since Ike was a tropical storm.  Crude oil prices are already starting to rebound.

To view a related article, please click here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080904/ap_on_re_us/tropical_weather

James Sutliff

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

Louisiana Highway Hit By Gustav –

Posted on 2. September 2008 by Jim Sutliff

Gustav made landfall on the Louisiana highway that is the main road for energy related traffic.  The highway is only two lanes and a mere two feet off the ground.  Oil installations may have survived Gustav but the fate of the highway is not yet known.

To view a related article, please click here:

http://www.forbes.com/energy/2008/09/01/gustav-louisiana-highway-biz-energy-cx_wp_0901highway1.html

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Oil, Options & Futures | Leave a comment

Hurricane Gustav May Shutdown Oil –

Posted on 31. August 2008 by Jim Sutliff

Hurricane Gustav may hit the gulf oil and natural gas harder than Katrina.  Gustave is expected to be a category 4 or 5 when it hits the offshore oil installations this weekend.  Evacuations have already begun and the return time for the facilities is not known.

To view a related article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a5cVVmKT66sM&refer=home

James Sutliff

Posted in Gasoline, General, Infrastructure, Investments, Natural Gas, Oil | Leave a comment

Worse Than Katrina?

Posted on 29. August 2008 by Jim Sutliff

Jim Rouiller, a senior enrgy meteorologist has stated that, “A land strike to the west of New Orleans will place this great city within the most dangerous part of the storm, Gustav has the potential to generate much more damage than Katrina did.”  Gustav is expected to be at Hurricane strength when it hits oil installations in the gulf.

To view a related article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aqflc7E5iHhA&refer=home

Jim Sutliff

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

Russian Aggression & Lower Dollar –

Posted on 21. August 2008 by Jim Sutliff

Oil is yet again on the march upward.  Oil broke the $120 mark after rising over $6 in early morning trading.  A lower dollar helped a charge that was fueled by concerns over Russian aggression.

To view a related article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=adS1jGB9mmq8&refer=home

James Sutliff

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

CME & NYMEX Approve Merger –

Posted on 19. August 2008 by Jim Sutliff

CME and Nymex shareholders voted to approve the merger.  CME is the world’s largest derivative exchange and NYMEX is the energy and metals market. 

To view a related article, please click here:

http://www.forbes.com/topstories/feeds/reuters/2008/08/18/2008-08-18T204808Z_01_N18475834_RTRIDST_0_CME-NYMEX-VOTE-URGENT.html

James Sutliff

Posted in Banking, Currency, Economic News, Investments, Metals, Natural Gas, Oil, Options & Futures, Regulatory | Leave a comment

Pickens Meets Obama –

Posted on 17. August 2008 by Jim Sutliff

T. Boone Pickens has met with Obama to discuss possible energy policies.  This is similar to a meeting that he had with McCain just one week ago.  Pickens is the founder of BP Capital and is also a billionaire who helped fund the Swift Boat Veterans. 

To view a related article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=axtPKr5lHTm8&refer=home

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Alternative Energy, Gasoline, Hedge Funds, Natural Gas, Oil, Political News, Private Equity, Regulatory, Venture Capital | Leave a comment

Double-Down On Hedge Funds –

Posted on 14. August 2008 by Jim Sutliff

States are starting to double their bets on hedge fund investments.  In recent years, hedge funds have taken a hit as have the state funds which invested in them.  An attempt to regain losses by doubling your bet on a fund or funds can be dangerous. 

To view a related article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601213&sid=amI_UFrp4XB4&refer=home

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Banking, General, Hedge Funds, Investments, Stocks | Leave a comment

Retailers Rise –

Posted on 11. August 2008 by Jim Sutliff

Oil jumped as much as four dollars today due to an inventory surpise and a weaker dollar.  Crude oil inventories fell 400,000 barrels and gasoline stocks fell 6.4 million barrels.  These numbers were not in line with expectations.  The weaker dollar also did not help matters for oil prices.  Even with the rise, oil is still more than $30 off its high of $147 dollars. 

To view a related article, please click here:

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/08/13/oil-price.html

James Sutliff

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

UPS Takeover –

Posted on 10. August 2008 by Jim Sutliff

UPS is in talks with TNT for a $15 billion dollar takeover.  This would lead to a massive change in the structure of the market segment. 

To view a related article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a4mIGNELa0lk&refer=home

Jim Sutliff

Posted in General, Investments, Mergers & Acquisitions | Leave a comment

Stocks Gain As Oil Drops –

Posted on 9. August 2008 by Jim Sutliff

Stocks posted big gains on the heels of much lower oil prices.  Oil fell almost $5 again today which is due to the bleak economic outlook.  Oil traders make money from volatily so more price swings should be expected.  The hurricane season is almost here and any threat to the gulf is sure to spike prices.

To view a related article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=abJ3KXa2S_EY&refer=home

James Sutliff

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

Solar Power At Night –

Posted on 7. August 2008 by Jim Sutliff

Researchers have made an important discovery in the field of solar power.  Further development is needed but the findings indicate that it may be possible to better store solar power so that it can be used at night as well as during the day.  This could alter the energy markets and the structure of world power.

To view a related article, please click here:

http://www.forbes.com/energy/2008/07/30/nocera-solar-power-biz-energy-cz_jf_0731solar.html

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Alternative Energy, Economic News, Education, Investments, Private Equity, Regulatory, Venture Capital | Leave a comment

Crude And Copper Lead Slide –

Posted on 5. August 2008 by Jim Sutliff

Prices for crude oil and copper led to a slide in the commodities segment.  Crude oil was down almost $3 which is an additional decline from the slide it took on Monday.

To view a related article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601213&sid=atQu9RDynR1g&refer=home

James Sutliff

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

Storm Has Limited Effect –

Posted on 4. August 2008 by Jim Sutliff

Even with a tropical storm closing in on gulf refineries oil still fell over $5 at one point today.  The storm coupled with tensions in Iran would normally make for expensive oil but supplies are rising.  Rising supplies and predictions of oil falling below $100 makes for pressure on prices.

To view a related article, please click here:

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/08/04/ap5286604.html

Jim Sutliff

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