Obviously

A spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to fine an energy company for a 2010 fire could be the first time federal and state regulators have levied fines for the same incident in the Marcellus Shale.

With shale gas the United States has an abundant natural resource that wasn’t on the industrial or economic development radar screen a mere five years ago. In other words, “a competitive edge is coming back to America,” Dow Chemical Co.’s Brian Ames told a Houston audience Monday.

The previous day’s decline of 22.2 cents by September futures obviously was more compelling to the cash market than forecasts of very hot weather continuing in the eastern half of the U.S. The result was falling prices at most points Tuesday.

“Storm hype” obviously was not a factor in Thursday’s cash market as all but one point fell in response to the return of mild weather — either impending or already accomplished — in nearly all regions and the previous day’s fall of 19.7 cents by December futures.

There obviously was little, if any, “storm hype” in either the cash or futures markets Monday. Prices were softer at a slight majority of cash trading points as cooling load was expected to decline in some areas Tuesday while staying subpar for mid-August in others, while prompt-month futures fell 20.4 cents.

The swing market obviously had more resilience than some traders had expected because Tuesday’s prices ranged from up as much as about 15 cents to down more than a dime, defying predictions on Monday of overall softening.

The swing market obviously had more resilience than some traders had expected because Tuesday’s prices ranged from up as much as about 15 cents to down more than a dime, defying predictions on Monday of overall softening.

The cash market obviously was harking back to the previous afternoon’s screen strength, rather than paying attention to such trivial matters as weakening weather fundamentals, in recording even larger advances Tuesday than it had Monday.

The cash market obviously was harking back to the previous afternoon’s screen strength, rather than paying attention to such trivial matters as weakening weather fundamentals, in recording even larger advances Tuesday than it had Monday.