Expectations

The U.S. oil — and natural gas — drilling rig count is beating expectations and more upside is likely, analysts with Raymond James & Associates Inc. said last week.

The U.S. oil — and natural gas — drilling rig count is beating expectations and more upside is likely, analysts with Raymond James & Associates Inc. said Monday.

Unconventional natural gas player Quicksilver Resources Inc. last week reported that it beat Wall Street’s expectations in 2Q2010, boosted by increased production and higher commodities prices.

Unconventional natural gas player Quicksilver Resources Inc. on Monday beat Wall Street’s expectations in 2Q2010, boosted by increased production and higher commodities prices.

Profits and revenues in 2Q2010 surged for Houston-based Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP, but the natural gas pipeline operator failed to hit Wall Street expectations because of higher operating costs and interest expenses, it said Monday.

A prior-day spike of 23.8 cents by August futures and expectations of hotter weather returning in some market areas by the end of the long weekend were able to trump the cash market impacts of offshore shut-ins continuing to dwindle and the extra loss of industrial load during a holiday period.

A 30% decline in quarterly profits was within Dominion’s expectations and growth opportunities are within sight, according to the Richmond, VA-based company, which affirmed its 2010 operating earnings guidance range of $3.20-3.40/share.

The return of moderate air conditioning load to much of the South, along with expectations that the Energy Information Administration (EIA) will be reducing production estimates through last year in its revised EIA-914 report methodology Thursday, likely were the chief basis for flat to slightly higher quotes at nearly all points Wednesday.

The return of moderate air conditioning load to much of the South, along with expectations that the Energy Information Administration (EIA) will be reducing production estimates through last year in its revised EIA-914 report methodology Thursday, likely were the chief basis for flat to slightly higher quotes at nearly all points Wednesday.