Feeding

Feeding off gains notched in the overnight Access trading session, the natural gas futures market was able to string together another positive trading session Tuesday as early short-covering led to new highs for the week. Steady selling was seen throughout the afternoon, but it was not enough to pressure the market below unchanged on the day and the October contract finished with a 1.7-cent advance at $4.511. At 77,470, estimated volume was strong considering the narrow 11-cent trading range.

Bullied by revised intermediate-term weather outlooks and feeding off a delayed reaction to supportive storage data issued Thursday, natural gas futures finished the week on a positive note as prices rallied to new two-week highs Friday.

With Capitol Hill feeding reporters a steady diet of Enron Corp. stories last week, it fast became the issue du jour. Who’s kidding who, it was the only story in a town that thrives on scandals — real or imagined. In fact, there was such a rapid fire of “new” disclosures about the energy trader’s financial sleight of hand, outside auditor Arthur Andersen’s extracurricular activities, and the Bush administration’s ties and Capitol Hill lawmakers’ links to the bankrupt corporation, that somewhere along the way last week it became one big blur.

With Capitol Hill feeding reporters a steady diet of Enron Corp. stories last week, it fast became the issue du jour. Who’s kidding who, it was the only story in a town that thrives on scandals — real or imagined. In fact, there was such a rapid fire of “new” disclosures about the energy trader’s financial sleight of hand, outside auditor Arthur Andersen’s extracurricular activities, and the Bush administration’s ties and Capitol Hill lawmakers’ links to the bankrupt corporation, that somewhere along the way last week it became one big blur.

Feeding off late session gains notched Wednesday, natural gas futures plodder higher Thursday as traders continued to look past bearish fundamental factors to focus on the winter weather forecasts and modestly constructive technical indicators. However, an extremely light estimated volume of just 61,048 limited the market’s upside potential, and as a result, the January contract experienced an “inside-day” on the daily charts with a lower high and a higher low. The prompt month settled at $2.756, up 3.7 cents on the day.

Feeding off losses achieved during the largest single day dropin Nymex history Tuesday, natural gas prices continued loweryesterday as bear traders looked past supportive storage numbers tofocus on a warming trend expected later this week. The Februarycontract was dealt the most severe blow, tumbling 17.5 cents to$8.189. Losses were far less pronounced in the out-months asevidenced by the 12-month strip, which only slipped 5.1 cents to5.716.

Joining in the feeding frenzy that has become California’selectricity rate debate, a San Diego-based utility consumer groupand four law firms last week filed a class action lawsuit against13 major generators, marketers and energy trading companies,charging them with price fixing and market manipulation.

Joining in the feeding frenzy that has become California’selectricity rate debate, a San Diego-based utility consumer groupand four law firms last week filed (Nov. 29) in Superior Court inSan Diego a class action lawsuit against 13 major generators,marketers and energy trading companies, the veritable “who’s who”of the state’s electricity market.

There was a feeding frenzy in the Gulf Coast region early onFriday, and we’re not talking about Hammerhead sharks. Tropicaldepression 11 triggered panic buying at the opening gate, sendingprices soaring 15-25 cents at most locations east of the Rockies.