Noted

December natural gas suffered a bruising double-digit loss Tuesday in what observers noted was at least a temporary joining of hands with free-falling petroleum and Greece-centric equity markets. At the close December had fallen 15.3 cents to $3.781 and January had retreated 13.6 cents to $3.920. December crude oil dropped $1.00 to $92.19/bbl; the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 297 points to 11,658, and the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index shed a whopping 35 points to 1,218.

October natural gas tacked on another healthy gain Wednesday and settled above $4 as traders noted considerable angst among holders of short positions feeling that they did not want to get caught on the wrong side of any market move higher. At the close October had risen 5.9 cents to $4.039 and November had gained 6.3 cents to $4.117. October crude oil dropped for the day by $1.30 to $88.91/bbl.

October natural gas surged higher Tuesday, and although analysts weren’t quite ready to say the seasonal low is in, they noted that those holding short positions may be ready to throw in the towel. At the close October had risen 9.5 cents to $3.980 and November had advanced 8.8 cents to $4.054. October crude oil jumped $2.02 to $90.21/bbl.

October natural gas rose Wednesday as traders noted a strong seasonal tendency for natural gas prices to rise in the August-November period and expected the government to release inventory figures Thursday showing increases in inventory about in line with seasonal norms. At the close October had risen 14.5 cents to $4.054 and November had added 14.9 cents to $4.173. October crude oil fell 9 cents to $88.81/bbl.

September natural gas traded lower, then higher Thursday as traders noted that the latest storage figure came in pretty much on target. September rose 0.9 cent to $3.931 and October gained 1.7 cents to $3.906. October crude oil rose 14 cents to $85.30/bbl.

September natural gas inched higher Wednesday as traders noted a less supportive weather environment, but they were reluctant to initiate any new positions prior to the release of a key government inventory report Thursday. At the close September was up 0.1 cent to $3.933 and October had added 0.1 cent to $3.943. September crude oil rose 93 cents to $87.58/bbl.

Traders noted that the decline Wednesday in natural gas futures fit into an overall trading pattern of tumbling energies with crude oil falling nearly $2/bbl., gasoline diving more than 10 cents/gallon and heating oil shedding more than 7 cents/gallon. At the close September futures had skidded 6.5 cents to $4.090 and October was down 5.4 cents to $4.102. September crude oil swan-dived $1.86 to $91.93/bbl.

August natural gas fell in light, pre-holiday trading as traders still maintained an upward bias but noted that healthy production levels still remain a formidable force for the bulls to counter. At the close August had fallen 6.3 cents to $4.311 and September had slipped 6.3 cents as well to $4.330. August crude oil softened 48 cents to $94.94/bbl.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) says the worldwide amount of estimated recoverable gas has doubled over the last few years thanks to unconventional gas resources. The agency noted that a global race for unconventional resources is on.