Shrugging off gains achieved in the nearby crude oil pit, the natural gas futures market set new lows for the week Friday as traders liquidated positions in concert with some negative technical factors and ahead of mild weather expected this week. At $6.442, the newly-anointed prompt month July was down 13.1 cents for the session, but still up 3.3 cents for the week.
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Cash Carried 5-20 Cents Higher by Soaring Futures Market
In concert with a fear-driven rally in the nearby crude oil pit, Nymex natural gas futures catapulted 37 cents higher Monday to $6.231, dragging most of the subservient natural gas cash market with it. Cash prices were up 5-20 cents on average across the board with some of the larger increases in the West where a spring heat wave was driving up demand.
Tempered by Bearish Storage Expectations, Gas Futures Follow Crude Higher
Buoyed by another price hike in the nearby crude oil market, the natural gas futures market continued its run higher Wednesday to notch a new two-month high. However, concerns that Thursday’s storage report will be a wet blanket for the market were enough to temper the bulls enthusiasm and the April contract only managed a 3.4-cent advance to close at $5.722. At 57,623, estimated volume was relatively weak, confirming the idea that traders chose to remain on the sidelines during the trading session.
Crude, Cold Weather Give Nat Gas Futures Another Boost
Buoyed by a supportive short-term weather outlook and another impressive advance in the nearby crude oil market, natural gas futures surged Monday on a combination of speculative short-covering and commercial trader buying.
Futures Struggle Higher Amid Diverging Market Views
Despite a dip in the nearby crude oil market, natural gas futures trudged quietly higher Tuesday as traders wrestled with the contradictory forces of supportive technicals and bearish near-term storage outlooks. It wasn’t pretty, but the April contract did manage to eke out a modest 1.5-cent advance to notch its fifth straight daily advance. It closed at $5.565.
Bullish Crude Oil Market Trumps Bearish Storage Expectations as Market Mover Monday
Buoyed by a new, 11-month high in the nearby crude oil market, the natural gas futures market shrugged off early weakness Monday to notch double-digit advances for the session. The April natural gas contract finished 13.4 cents stronger at $5.550, the highest prompt month closing price in nearly a month.
Technically Speaking, Futures on a Roll
Volatility continued at the Nymex Tuesday as natural gas futures prices plodded higher in sympathy with surging prices in the nearby crude oil pit. After an initial push to the downside failed to crack the $4.70 level, local traders were active buyers and had little trouble goosing the prompt month into a healthy, late-day rally.
Technical Rally Leaves Fundamental Traders Searching for Reason
In concert with gains in the nearby crude and heating oil pits, natural gas futures proceeded higher for the seventh straight session Friday as locals hunted for sell stops and funds covered shorts. Buying was concentrated in the winter months, which advanced an average of 22.7 cents during the session. By comparison, the 2004 summer strip languished near unchanged, down a half-cent for the day.
Mild Weather, Bearish Crude Oil Data Weigh on Gas Futures
Pressured by mild weather and weakness in the nearby crude oil pit, natural gas futures slid lower Wednesday as traders continued to retrace gains made during the first half of the month. However, after extending to a double-digit loss in the morning, the May contract battled back in the afternoon as traders positioned themselves ahead of Thursday’s storage report. The prompt month closed at $5.569, down 7.6 cents for the session, but up 4.9 cents from its morning low.
Fast Out of Chute Last Week, Bulls Stumble Ahead of Weekend
Despite the gains in the nearby crude oil pit and ahead of the coldest air expected thus far this season, natural gas futures tumbled lower Friday as weak longs headed for the exits ahead of the weekend and the December expiry Tuesday.