Aggressive

September natural gas futures fell hard Thursday following the release of bearish inventory figures and unsuccessful attempts to fend off aggressive selling in equity and oil markets. At the close September natural gas had fallen 14.9 cents to $3.941 and October had dropped 14.7 cents to $3.955. September crude oil imploded by $5.30 to settle at $86.63/bbl.

July natural gas continued to trudge lower Tuesday as traders adjusted to moderation in near-term weather forecasts and cited aggressive selling attempting to trigger standing sell orders. At the close July had fallen 6.5 cents to $4.581 and August dropped 6.5 cents as well to $4.613. July crude oil rebounded $2.07 to $99.37/bbl.

Natural gas futures carved out a modest gain Wednesday as aggressive fund trading managed to prevail over short-term traders looking to sell the market lower. At the close May had gained 4.3 cents to $4.141 and June was up 3.8 cents to $4.206. May crude oil added 86 cents to $107.11/bbl.

September natural gas futures fell quickly in what appeared to be aggressive technical selling Monday. The selling was nearly instantaneous and looked like it was triggered by a breach of last week’s lows. At the close of the day September fell 10.0 cents to $4.228 and the October contract retreated 10.1 cents to $4.249. September crude oil fell 15 cents to $75.24/bbl.

Citing the apparent trading irregularities of Amaranth Advisors LLC and large positions taken by the United States Natural Gas Fund LP (UNG) as evidence of the need for aggressive action, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) last Thursday voted out a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) that would set limits on speculative trading of exchange-traded futures and options contracts in major energy markets.

Claiming aggressive energy efficiency results, Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities doesn’t think it will need added natural gas supplies for its three-state Pacific Northwest utility operations until at least 2018-19. This was one of the bottom line conclusions of the combination utility’s 2009 gas Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) released Dec. 31, but it also includes a number of action steps as a hedge against complacency regarding both price and supply.

Claiming aggressive energy efficiency results, Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities doesn’t think it will need added natural gas supplies for its three-state Pacific Northwest utility operations until at least 2018-19. This was one of the bottom line conclusions of the combination utility’s 2009 gas Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) released last Thursday.

Producers face an “aggressive and well-orchestrated effort” by lawmakers and other policymakers to “mischaracterize and demonize” the use of hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracing) technology to develop gas shale, an independent producer official said last Wednesday during the inaugural hearing of the House Natural Gas Caucus.

Greater sage grouse habitat is declining at a sharp rate in the West, and aggressive steps need to be taken to shift away natural gas and oil development, according to a peer-reviewed study.