Soft

Despite persistent surpluses, soft prices and an industry-wide switch of drilling targets to liquids, construction is beginning on the first large new Alberta natural gas processing plant in recent industry or regulatory memory.

Despite persistent surpluses, soft prices and an industry-wide switch of drilling targets to liquids, construction is beginning on the first large Alberta natural gas processing plant in recent industry or regulatory memory.

Physical natural gas prices on average fell a penny in Tuesday’s trading as a weak screen, soft power market and lack of weather developments kept buyers and sellers from needing to pursue much in the way of incremental volumes. Most major trading hubs were down a few pennies, and in the Northeast quotes were mostly balanced on either side of unchanged. The East was unchanged to a penny or two lower, and at the close of futures trading June was down 9.1 cents to $3.920 and July had fallen 9.0 cents to $3.974. June crude oil slumped 54 cents to $95.62/bbl.

Physical natural gas values fell at a majority of points on Monday as early weakness in the futures added a soft tone to the market and the market forces of minimal supportive weather and ample if not burdensome storage prevailed.

The official start of fall is still a couple of weeks away, but try proving that to a soft gas market. Prices dropped at nearly all points Tuesday as mild forecasts dominated the weather outlook and a 17.8-cent dive by futures on the previous Friday contributed further bearish pressure.

Following the previous Friday’s sizeable drops, the market was definitely stronger Monday but remained a bit soft for the most part. Although warmer temperatures are forecast for Tuesday in some sections of the Midwest, stormy weather is expected to cool most of the region by midweek, and although it will remain generally hot, some parts of the South can also expect a slight dip in mercury levels.

A confluence of factors is setting this summer up to be a soft one for natural gas prices, according to analysts at Credit Suisse.

Canada’s chief natural gas producing jurisdiction is being pinched by soft prices, Alberta Finance Minister Ted Morton has confirmed. New government accounts, described by critics as highlighting “madness” of relying on resource income, show that gas has fallen to fourth place among provincial revenue sources from its previous stellar role as the reliable No. 1.

Canada’s chief natural gas producing jurisdiction is being pinched by soft prices, Alberta Finance Minister Ted Morton has confirmed. New government accounts, described by critics as highlighting “madness” of relying on resource income, show that gas has fallen to fourth place among provincial revenue sources from its previous stellar role as the reliable No. 1.