Lack

Driven by North America’s shales, global merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions within the exploration and production (E&P) sector climbed to $45 billion in the first three months of the year, Evaluate Energy said Tuesday.

Despite the lack of trading volume due to the shortened week in between holidays, January natural gas futures on Tuesday rallied 10.4 cents on the day to expire at $4.216. February futures, which is the new prompt-month contract, added 13.3 cents to close at $4.288.

Mild to cool weather is dominant, but most points realize small gains.

Which countries and producers take the lead to meet the world’s energy needs in the next 20 years will be determined by the availability of capital, or lack thereof, because of oil and gas taxes, the chief energy strategist for IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) said last week.

Which countries and producers take the lead to meet the world’s energy needs in the next 20 years will be determined by the availability of capital, or lack thereof because of oil and gas taxes, the chief energy strategist for IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) said Tuesday.

Buffeted by prior-day futures weakness, the lack of any tropical threat to offshore production and generally moderate temperatures for early July in many areas, cash prices fell by double-digit amounts at all points Friday. The usual weekend layoff of industrial load also played a bearish role.

A number of cash points on Friday made it three in a row as a fair amount of market averages declined. Traders cited the weak screen and lack of bullish fundamentals for the week’s dip.

June natural gas futures gained ground Friday as traders cited a lack of sellers, a positive employment report and a market divorced from the shell-shocked petroleum and equities markets.

As a marketer had predicted a day earlier, the 6.2-cent drop by futures combined with a lack of heating load in nearly all areas would be sufficient to cause mostly small losses in the cash market Tuesday.