Fueled

While much is made of gas demand growth fueled by gas-firedpower generation, a study sponsored by the American Gas Foundationsuggests advancing technologies for gas-powered distributedgeneration — namely fuel cells — and gas-powered vehicles willspearhead increased demand.

Fueled by a larger-than-expected storage withdrawal and promptedby gains in Wednesday night’s Access session, natural gas futuresclimbed higher yesterday as traders lifted prices in a briskafternoon buying surge. The March contract finished up 5.2 cents at$2.592, but the real story was the outer months, which gained 6cents or more on moderate position rolling.

Fueled by the East’s worst winter storm in four years, naturalgas futures erupted higher at the open yesterday as tradersestablished new longs with confidence.

Fueled by rapid growth in its unregulated energy businesses andstrong performances by electric and gas transmission operations,Duke Energy reported record earnings for 1999. Before interest andtaxes (EBIT), Duke posted a gain of $2.8 billion before a $660million after-tax gain on the sale of the Midwest Pipelines and aone-time charge of $800 million at Duke Power. EBIT for 1998 was$2.6 billion. Duke Energy set another record for revenues in 1999,reaching $21.7 billion. Fourth quarter revenues increased 48%.

Fueled by continued below-normal temperatures and amidconflicting weather forecasts, natural gas futures galloped higheryesterday as institutional investors covered short positionsestablished over the past two and a half months.

Fueled by the fundamental one-two of bullish storage and weathernews, the natural gas futures market rose Thursday as tradersunloaded shorts and added to longs. After dropping a dime lowerWednesday, the January contract opened higher at $2.53 Thursday andnever looked back as prices climbed into the mid-$2.60s. The promptmonth finished near its daily highs, up 15 cents to $2.636.

Fueled by forecasts calling for cooler temperatures throughoutmuch of the country later this week, natural gas futures probedhigher in two distinct buying surges yesterday. The first push cameshortly after Monday’s lower open, when traders bid the Januarycontract to $2.50. However, those gains were erased almost entirelyby early afternoon, intra-day profit taking. But the bulls were notfinished, and after digging in their heels at $2.47, weresuccessful in pushing prices through $2.50 late in the session. TheJanuary contract finished up 6.3 at $2.509.

Fueled by forecasts calling for cooler weather next week,natural gas futures rumbled higher yesterday as traders cashed inon newly established short positions. After opening above keyresistance at $2.36, the January contract moved sideways for mostof the session before erupting higher at the closing bell. TheJanuary contract finished just a fraction of a penny off its dailyhigh, up 8.9 cents to $2.393.

Fueled by a late sell-off, natural gas futures continued lowerlast Wednesday and put the finishing touches on a December futurescontract which slipped a whopping $1.06 or one-third of its valuesince becoming the spot contract a month ago. With no fresh news todigest, the market defaulted to the same old negative price outlookformed around above-normal temperatures and plentiful gas supplies.After hitting a black hole of buying below $2.21 shortly after noonWednesday, the December contract free-fell 6.9-cents to expire at$2.12 in abbreviated pre-holiday trading.