Traders

When things just started to look like they were getting better,all of a sudden they just got worse for MCN Energy Group. After atough year in 1998 and the planned divestiture of its entireexploration and production division, MCN Energy Group saidyesterday it has discovered serious financial accountingmanipulation within its gas marketing subsidiary, CoEnergy Trading,and will have to recalculate its earnings going back to 1997.

Follow-through on the heels of Monday’s Nymex strength gave bulltraders an optimistic outlook early yesterday. However, theireuphoria was short-lived when a combination of fund and localselling pushed the market down near stubborn support at $2.205.June trimmed its losses into the close, finishing 6.6 cents lowerat $2.236.

Cash prices continued climbing by another nickel or more at mostpoints Wednesday, but traders sensed the market might have peakedfor the first week of the May aftermarket. They cited late dealsbeing done several cents below the early-morning highs. And the AGAstorage report of 34 Bcf in injections last week, although it cametoo late to affect Wednesday’s cash business, was regarded by manyas contributing to a more bearish mood. One source characterizedthe figure as “kind of middle of the road” (because it met theexpectations of many) but leaning slightly to the bearish side. Heand others noted the drop in Access futures prices after the reportcame out.

After posting 7.3 cent rally to kick off the week Monday, thefutures market found itself in a spirited see-saw battle pittingprice-optimistic bulls versus price skeptical bears Tuesday. In theend however, the market sided with the trend as the bulls came awaywith their fifth gain in as many days by nudging the May contract3.2 cents higher to $2.331. The May contract expires today at 3:10EST.

It didn’t surprise any traders when the cash market was theteensiest bit softer Wednesday. What did prompt some expressions ofamazement was that prices held up as strongly as they did. Betweena falling futures screen and overall weaker demand fundamentals, itseemed that prices should have dropped at least a nickel or more,one source said. Instead, few points were down more than a coupleof pennies, and some registered flat showings. Northern NaturalGas, serving a market area with near-winter-like chill, evenmanaged small gains.

For the second day in a row, the natural gas futures market wascaught in tug of war as traders weighed their options-either buyinto the recent rally or sell, expecting a return to thelong-standing downtrend. The indecision could be seen inyesterday’s price action where prices trended higher in the morningonly to turn sharply lower in the afternoon. The May contractfinished 4 cents lower at $2.096.

Following three straight days of gains, bull traders had theirwinning streak cut late Monday after trading in positive territoryfor much of the session. And although many sources were expecting apullback following the near 20-cent price spike last week, somefelt the prompt contract’s inability to make a new high was anegative feature. The May contract finished down 0.8 cents at$2.03.

It was like old times again (if you can regard February as “oldtimes”) for traders Friday as weekend swing pricing leveled offwith little change from Thursday. It reminded some of the longperiods last month when there was practically no volatility in thecash market. The small gains handily outweighed a few scatteredpenny drops in the West for an overall showing of flat to a smidgenhigher.

“Dead” was the popular word used by traders to describe thestagnant cash market Thursday, where prices showed very little, ifany, change from the prior day. Most sources believe that shortcovering is the main factor helping cash maintain current pricelevels amid the lack of any meaningful fundamental support.