Signals

Canadian provincial and federal authorities are sending signals that they mean business when they talk about a shift in energy export strategy into overseas markets and away from traditional reliance on the United States.

The earnings season for North America’s oil and natural gas companies kicks off Monday with Halliburton Co., and analysts will be tuned in for signals about where capital spending is going in 2012. Many admit that it’s been difficult to get a fix, in part because of global economic turmoil, but also because of relentless domestic natural gas production.

The earnings season for North America’s oil and natural gas companies kicks off Monday with Halliburton Co., and analysts will be tuned in for signals about where capital spending is going in 2012. Many admit that it’s been difficult to get a fix, in part because of global economic turmoil, but also because of relentless domestic natural gas production.

Despite signals that the $3.610 prompt-month low from Aug. 27 would likely hold up as the seasonal low in natural gas futures, the November contract penetrated the price level early Friday morning, opening the door to even lower prices.

The natural gas futures market sent mixed signals Tuesday as the April contract failed to record a new low for the larger down move, but still declined overall for the day. The prompt-month contract put in a low of $4.476 before finishing out Tuesday’s regular session at $4.516, down 1.1 cents from Monday’s close.

The natural gas futures market sent mixed signals Tuesday as the April contract failed to record a new low for the larger down move, but still declined overall for the day. The prompt-month contract put in a low of $4.476 before finishing out Tuesday’s regular session at $4.516, down 1.1 cents from Monday’s close.

Oregon LNG, one of three proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminals in Oregon, received some positive signals last Tuesday in its negotiations with the Port of Astoria Commission over renewal of a long-term lease for its proposed 96-acre site. A federal magistrate ruled in favor of the project developer on the lease extension and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s office said it would not investigate the lease issue as some anti-LNG groups were urging.

Oregon LNG, one of three proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminals in Oregon, received some positive signals last Tuesday in its negotiations with the Port of Astoria Commission over renewal of a long-term lease for its proposed 96-acre site. A federal magistrate ruled in favor of the project developer on the lease extension and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s office said it would not investigate the lease issue as some anti-LNG groups were urging.

Several scattered flat to as much as about C20 cents higher points kept price movement mixed Tuesday, but not by much. More bearish signals were emerging as only one of the locations that wasn’t softer was up by more than about a nickel, and a moderate majority of the cash market recorded losses ranging from 2-3 cents to about 15 cents.