Exert

A slowdown in natural gas production, anticipated flat gas consumption and and expected near-record high storage levels for most of the year are expected to exert a downward pressure on gas prices this year, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its Short-Term Energy Outlook for February.

In the article “IEA Official: Shale Will Exert Downward Pressure on Gas, Oil Prices” (see Daily GPI, Feb. 4), NGI incorrectly attributed comments made by International Energy Agency (IEA) Deputy Executive Director Richard Jones to Jim Burkhard, who was also misidentified as IEA’s managing director. Burkhard is the managing director of Cambridge Energy Research Associates. NGI regrets the errors.

Acceleration of shale natural gas development not only has lowered the price of natural gas but will exert downward pressure on the price of crude oil, said an official with the International Energy Agency (IEA) Thursday.

Acceleration of shale natural gas development not only has lowered the price of natural gas but will exert downward pressure on the price of crude oil, said an official with the International Energy Agency (IEA) Thursday.

Whether one believes speculators exert undue influence over commodity prices likely depends as much on one’s market position as on any empirical evidence that speculative trading is “good” or “bad.” So rather than trying to call out market sinners, a new report on gas market speculation from the National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI) merely offers a primer on the long-debated topic and advice for state utility regulators who must weigh the impact of hedge fund activity on ratepayers.

Whether one believes speculators exert undue influence over commodity prices likely depends as much on one’s market position as on any empirical evidence that speculative trading is “good” or “bad.” So rather than trying to call out market sinners, a new report on gas market speculation from the National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI) merely offers a primer on the long-debated topic and advice for state utility regulators who must weigh the impact of hedge fund activity on ratepayers.

With the middle-of-the-road natural gas storage report unable to exert any influence on the natural gas futures market, the newly-minted prompt month was left with no other choice than to follow big brother crude’s lead lower in Thursday trading.

Volatility was once again the name of the game Monday in the natural gas pit at Nymex, as local traders found it easier to push prices around in a market noticeably void of its once-dominant market-maker, Enron. The exchange last Thursday forbid its floor members to accept an order placed by Enron or its affiliates without written authorization, and since that time the market has experienced volatility that one would not expect considering the lack of fundamental or technical impetus. Rebounding nearly 8 cents from a $2.555 low notched early in the session, the January contract finished at $2.63, down 6.7 cents for the day.

With the AGA report of yet another weekly injection of 7 Bcf for the second week of November and mild weather continuing across most of the country, natural gas spot prices tumbled lower again Wednesday, causing some unusual price spreads between regions and some significant storage plays for those with a little space still available. The Rocky Mountain region once again was the exception, with sharp increases attributed to a short-term storage play.