Pointing

As winter approaches it may be only a matter of time before the gas market bears run out of fundamentals pointing in their favor, but right now offshore gas production shut-ins are falling steadily, Texas production is on the rise, and the warm weather and downward price pressure continues.

Pointing to the increased participation of traditional financial institutions in the energy trading markets, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it plans to heighten its efforts to monitor energy trading and broader energy developments.

Pointing to the increased participation of traditional financial institutions in the energy trading markets, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it plans to heighten its efforts to monitor energy trading and broader energy developments.

It was difficult to discern a clear market direction Thursday as futures prices soared and plummeted, dragging the cash market behind. The EIA reported a larger than expected 111 Bcf weekly storage withdrawal, which initially sent prices higher, but it wasn’t enough to sustain a rally. Futures ended down about a dime and cash prices were mixed with some points up 15 cents while others were down 20 cents.

Hurricane Isabel, packing super-powerful maximum sustained winds of nearly 140 mph and pointing at shooting the gap between southern Florida and Cuba, was accorded most of the credit Wednesday for rallying cash prices and sustaining a futures run-up. Cash market movement ranged from flat to slightly more than a dime higher. Most of the smallest gains were clustered at California and Rocky Mountains/Pacific Northwest points, which tend to be least affected by hurricane disruptions of offshore supply.

The Committee of Chief Risk Officers (CCRO), pointing to gaps in gas price reporting during the March bidweek, has urged energy buyers and sellers to continue to submit data on transactions to “index developers” during the transition time until its complex and detailed new rules can be put in place. At the same time, another group, the Process Gas Consumers (PGC) representing end users whose processes require the use of natural gas, has advised FERC Chairman Pat Wood it is “strongly” opposed to the federal government taking a hand in the price reporting process for natural gas.

The Committee of Chief Risk Officers (CCRO), pointing to gaps in gas price reporting during the March bidweek, has urged energy buyers and sellers to continue to submit data on transactions to “index developers” during the transition time until its complex and detailed new rules can be put in place. (Note NGI has a material interest in this subject).

Canadian pipeline builders and regulators are pointing to the way producers need to go to sustain natural gas reserves and productivity, but the direction is easier to give than follow.

Canadian pipeline builders and regulators are pointing to the way producers need to go to sustain natural gas reserves and productivity, but the direction is easier to give than follow.