Riding

Is the latter half of January going to be extra-cold (quite bullish) or merely seasonable (somewhat bearish)? A lot of money could be riding on making the best strategic trading choices in such circumstances, and a few traders have indicated that they’re not sure what path to follow.

Riding high from their success with health care legislation last week, Democrats made overhaul of the financial regulatory system their next priority. The Senate Banking Committee took the first step last Monday, voting out a bill in less than a half hour to enact sweeping reforms. The measure drew fire from the energy industry for its failure to exempt end-users, who use over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives to hedge commercial risk, from the proposed central clearing and trading requirements for the nearly $500 trillion OTC derivatives market.

Russian-based natural gas behemoth Gazprom has added a new wrinkle to its all-out plunge into North American energy markets by riding the climate change wave and the focus on reducing carbon emissions, according to John Hattenberger, president and managing director for Gazprom Marketing and Trading USA Inc.

Russian-based natural gas behemoth Gazprom has added a new wrinkle to its all-out plunge into North American energy markets by riding the climate change wave and the focus on reducing carbon emissions, according to John Hattenberger, president and managing director for Gazprom Marketing and Trading USA Inc.

Range Resources Inc., which has 90% of this year’s capital spending riding on three onshore natural gas projects, last week reported record gas and oil output and stronger-than-expected net income for the first three months of 2009.

Range Resources Inc., which has 90% of this year’s capital spending riding on three onshore natural gas projects, Wednesday reported record natural gas and oil output and stronger-than-expected net income for the first three months of 2009.

While other industries founder on the economic rocks, natural gas transmission and distribution (T&D) companies are riding out the storm, according to Moody’s Investor’s Service, which sees the industry as “stable” for the next 12 to 18 months.

While other industries founder on the economic rocks, natural gas transmission and distribution (T&D) companies are riding out the storm, according to Moody’s Investor’s Service, which sees the industry as “stable” for the next 12 to 18 months.

Riding the bullish momentum that was introduced Tuesday, November natural gas futures roared higher on expiration Wednesday, putting in a high of $6.580 before going off the board at $6.469, up 28.3 cents from Tuesday’s close. Picking up the mantle as front-month contract, December futures added 36.2 cents on the day to finish at $6.778.