Here is what we think the FTC is going to find… nothing, zilch, nada, no evidence whatsoever of market manipulation. After all, the days of Standard Oil are long gone. We are pretty sure Senator Rockefeller is aware of that.
Whereas temperatures in the western third of the country posted one of the coldest Mays on record, Texas notched its 21st warmest month. Markets along the eastern seaboard, from Virginia to Maine, posted one of the warmest Mays on record.
The mid $90s had been an area that attracted buying interest ever since Middle East experts began incorporating the contagion noun in their repertoire back in February.
Given that we have been short WTI a heck of lot more times than we have been long on it this year, that question almost seems absurd to us.
As Mr. Bernanke observed, interest rates would likely rise on a disruption to the U.S.’ debt obligations. However, political brinkmanship notwithstanding, interest rates are about to rise anyway. For instance, China has lost its appetite for U.S. debt (especially short-term debt) since the Fed went ahead last fall with a second round of quantitative easing.
Natural gas production in the Lower-48 U.S. rose for the first time this year to finish the first quarter. The net storage position finished March at a 4.68 Bcf/d surplus. That was the highest high in three seasons.
Before the bulls get carried away, they should keep in mind that given aforementioned fissures, what’s necessary for OPEC is no longer necessary for its members.