Encana Corp. on Wednesday reported a net loss of $1.5 billion in 2Q2012 after recording one-time impairments on declining 12-month average natural gas prices. The Calgary-based producer earned $383 million in the year-ago period.
Recording
Articles from Recording
Most Prices Continue to Fade into Weekend
A few points again were flat to moderately higher going into the weekend, but the cash market largely repeated Thursday’s activity in recording mostly substantial declines at a large majority of locations Friday. The usual weekend drop of industrial demand and some doubt about whether the latest bout of winter-like weather would last long enough and be severe enough to put much of a dent in lingering storage surpluses over year-ago and five-year average levels apparently were responsible for many traders’ bearish moods.
Prices Bow to Light Demand, Fall at Nearly All Points
The cash market finally succumbed to the realities of generally light weather-based demand and the further shrinkage of storage injection options by recording sizeable declines almost across the board Thursday. The November futures contract’s return to losing ways Wednesday following a scant one-day rally Tuesday was a further bearish influence.
Most Points See Further Minor Softening
The Northeast rejoined the overall market in recording mostly moderate losses Tuesday. Heat levels across most of the southern third of the U.S. are remaining somewhat onerous, but highs in the 80s or less continue to dampen cooling load.
Northeast Still Spiking; Price Impact of Cold Strengthens
The Northeast remains the market area most affected by the current cold blast, with Transco Zone 5 recording the peak number of $12 Monday and the New York section of Transco’s Zone 6 having the leading average. Although the market realized losses of 2-3 cents to nearly 15 cents (with the weakest dips in the Rockies), more points than before were feeling the weather impact with numbers ranging from flat to about $2.40 higher.
Prices Reverse Direction Again, Rising at Most Points
The cash market continued this week’s roller-coaster ride, returning to a fairly steep uphill track for most locations in recording gains virtually across the board Wednesday. Thursday lows getting to freezing or occasionally lower were the main driver of the bullishness, getting a small extra contribution from Tuesday’s screen advance of 3.8 cents.
Lower Futures Values Expected Despite Tuesday’s Uptick
After recording its third consecutive low for the downtrend in as many days, natural gas futures staged a meager rebound on Tuesday as the November contract reached a high of $3.530 before closing the regular session at $3.513, up 8.2 cents from Monday.
Futures Drop a Nickel on Expected Respite from Cold
After quickly recording a low at $5.621 just minutes into Friday’s regular session, February natural gas futures climbed the rest of the day to close at $5.749, still down 5.7 cents from Thursday’s close but 17.7 cents higher than the previous week’s finish. News of a potential warm-up during the Jan. 11-15 week could have had something to do with the weakness Thursday and Friday.
Futures Quietly Creep Higher Ahead of Holiday, Expiration Week
After recording consecutive new lows on Wednesday and Thursday, the December natural gas futures contract on Friday halted the streak and pushed higher. The prompt-month contract — which terminates on Tuesday — recorded a high of $4.442 before closing Friday’s regular session at $4.424, up 8.2 cents from Thursday’s finish and 3.2 cents north of the previous week’s close.
Market Nears Full Week of Gains at Virtually All Points
Can the cash market run the table this week? It extended its chances quite a bit Thursday by recording increases at virtually all points again. Cooling load was due to get a little boost in parts of the Midwest and was returning to some extent in interior California, although forecasts were mostly moderate in the rest of the Midwest and the Northeast. The previous day’s 4.1-cent gain by futures was an additional modest bullish influence.