Watchers

As natural gas prices continue to stay north of $5.50, industry watchers are not sure whether the market is just reaching the peak of another cycle or whether these levels actually are sustainable over a longer term. Consultants at Arlington, VA-based Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc. (EEA) believe there has been “fundamental shift in the gas market paradigm that is likely to be with us for the next two years or more.”

It’s been a week of wild revelations for Enron Corp. watchers — the Department of Justice on Wednesday launched a nationwide criminal task force into management practices, and President Bush announced on Thursday another task force to reform the pension fund system. Meanwhile, the Bush administration admitted for the first time that CEO Kenneth Lay, one of Bush’s leading fundraisers, called at least two Cabinet members as the company fell apart last year. And at midday Thursday, Andersen, Enron’s auditor and subject to several investigations and lawsuits, admitted destroying an “undetermined” number of documents that may have been pertinent to the impending investigations.

Natural gas futures continued lower Thursday as a gap-lower open and follow-through selling on the heels of Wednesday’s bearish storage report pressured futures prices briefly beneath the $4.20 level. At the closing bell, the prompt June contract was a nickel lower on the day at $4.248.

Adding to losses notched in Monday’s open-outcry session,natural gas futures gapped lower at the open yesterday and neverlooked back, as traders liquidated positions ahead of today’sstorage report. The February contract took the selling squarely onthe chin, tumbling 51.1 cents to close at $6.946. Estimated volumewas weak as only 42,671 contracts changed hands.

California power watchers were hoping for results early thisweek from the marathon government-industry negotiations. Theprincipals of last Tuesday night’s marathon session were expectedto meet by video-conference over the weekend to review solutionsdeveloped by staff working groups, which met through the end of theweek. (see Daily GPI, Jan. 11)

Trendlines, like exit polls for statisticians, can tell marketwatchers a lot about the direction in which things might beheading. And while some statisticians in political arena might bewell-advised to take a closer look at their rules and procedures oflate, technicians in the natural gas arena have had a pretty easytime forecasting market moves. Since smashing into long-termtrendline support on Oct. 31, the market has resumed its uptrendand erupted a dollar higher, leaving even the mostdyed-in-the-wool bear traders second guessing their stripes.December futures finished strongly again Wednesday, up 25.7 centsat $5.338.

The screen was back to putting on a spectacular show forwatchers again Monday. It took practically all day to get there,but the July futures contract kept pushing until it eventuallywound up at $4.398, up 35.5 cents on the day and just shy of thefinal June settlement at $4.406.

Houston skyline watchers should note Transco Tower will berenamed Williams Tower. “The tower is a Houston landmark thatsymbolizes stability and innovation, two qualities that accuratelydefine our business at Williams,” said Cuba Wadlington Jr., generalmanager of Williams’ Transco pipeline system. Williams merged withTransco Energy Co. in 1995 and moved to the tower. Then, WilliamsCommunications Solutions, formerly known as WilTel, moved itsheadquarters there in August 1995. Today, Williams houses itsnational technical resource center at the tower and occupies 39floors. The tower is 64 stories tall and was built in 1982. It isthe tallest building in the United States located outside of adowntown area.