Attributed

Natural gas futures retreated Monday as traders quickly reacted to reports of some moderation in private weather forecasts while others attributed the magnitude of the decline to computer-driven sell orders. At the close February natural gas fell 15.6 cents to $4.580 and March retreated 14.5 cents to $4.598. March crude oil lost $1.24 to $87.87/bbl.

December natural gas futures managed a small gain Monday as some traders attributed favorable weather forecasts to giving the market a modest lift. December futures rose 4.6 cents to $3.845 and January also added 4.6 cents to settle at $4.028. December crude oil eased 2 cents to $84.86/bbl.

Washington state regulators last Thursday approved an overall 16% decrease in retail natural gas utility rates of Puget Sound Energy (PSE) attributed to the continued slide in wholesale gas prices. The lower rates become effective this Thursday, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) said, adding that at the same time a small electric increase will take effect.

September natural gas futures gained 16.1 cents to settle at $6.352 Wednesday, but short-term traders attributed much of the day’s gain to market participants growing weary of being buffeted by competing weather outlooks and an unsettled tropical picture.

TransCanada Corp. attributed a C$43 million (C$0.04/share) increase in second quarter earnings announced Friday over a year ago as primarily due to income from the acquisition of American Natural Resources Co. and ANR Storage Co. and the start-up of its Bécancour cogeneration facility. The company also recorded higher income due to a settlement on the Canadian Mainline approved by the National Energy Board (NEB).

TransCanada Corp. attributed a C$43 million (C$0.04/share) increase in second quarter earnings announced Friday over a year ago as primarily due to income from the acquisition of American Natural Resources Co. and ANR Storage Co. and the start-up of its Bécancour cogeneration facility. The company also recorded higher income due to a settlement on the Canadian Mainline approved by the National Energy Board (NEB).

The spot market closed out the trading week Friday with increases across the board that were largely attributed to the screen’s prior-day spike of 37.5 cents. Activity was generally quiet as traders geared up for the approaching April bidweek, a source said.

BP plc and Occidental Petroleum Corp. on Tuesday posted strong 4Q2005 and year-end earnings on high commodity prices, with BP earnings up 22% and Occidental’s profits up 55% in the quarter. BP’s worldwide oil and gas production was down about 2% for the quarter, with its U.S. natural gas output battered by ongoing Gulf of Mexico repairs, while Occidental’s domestic gas output rose on its acquisition of Vintage Petroleum Corp.

The spike in natural gas futures prices to record levels Thursday can be directly attributed to the fact that major energy markets are experiencing their first real winter storm of the season with sustained cold, according to Sandy “Trot” Goldfarb, one of the largest natural gas local traders.