Ok, ok, I’ll put the Star Wars theme to bed. For today, my friends, we are going to look at some facts and figures about storage across a number of our dearly beloved commodities and a number of geographies – highlighting (for the most part) a theme of staunch stockpiles.
To further provide some educational information, in addition to the focus on energy, there is also some trivia relating to the ultimate sultan of storage…the squirrel. So enjoy!
Good day, good day! Crude has toppled below the monkey bar of $100 late on this week as – would you believe - Euro debt concerns arise once more. In addition, crude has been clobbered by a disheartening domestic demand situation. Total product demand is down 7.2% on this time last year, while gasoline demand has just plummeted to its lowest level since 2001. And while on the subject of plummeting to new lows, the good ship natty has keeled over and made a decade low as supply remains staunch and the storage surplus swells (…while weather is set to swelter). Ay, there’s the rub, and here’s the grub. » read more
And we’ve had another week of ridiculous rallies and savagery sell-offs, leaving crude markets…ooh, not all that changed, actually. The European debt crisis has been eased by France/Belgium guaranteeing the bad debt of Dexia, while the ECB has promised further bond purchases to calm default fears. A better-than-expected US employment report has been gladly accepted by markets (note: do not confuse ‘better-than-expected’ with ’strong’), while global economic worries continue to bubble away under the surface. Natural gas has spent the week plundering to new low after new low, as warmer outlooks look set to quell some heating demand, while strong supply is omnipresent. But enough from me, hark, bites to see: » read more
Happy Friday once again! Markets are staggering towards the end of the week, one which yielded a prompt month low for US natural gas ($3.66), and a sell-off in crude oil of epic proportions. Fear of a global downturn has been contained in recent weeks, but was toppled over like a gunpowder keg and the fuse unintentionally lit by the Federal Reserve, as their steps to calm markets and spur growth fell woefully short of expectations. Next week presents further fun and games with the return of Greek debt problems to the limelight, along with the risk of downbeat news out of the engine-room of the world, China. But for now, let’s chow: » read more
Matt Smith spent his twenties working in investment management in London, before swapping his bowler hat for a banjo and moving to Louisville, KY, and Summit Energy. When he is not reading, writing (or dreaming) about financial markets, he can be found enthusing about music, red wine, spicy food, or his family. And lamenting his soccer team, West Ham.
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