Is there really any other way to describe Friday’s U.S. jobs report other than dismal? In case you were on holiday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the smallest increase in employment since the end of the recession in June 2009.
Energy prices were mixed yesterday….The DOE released disappointing storage data for both crude oil and natural gas, but Henry Hub gas futures were the only market to sell off. WTI rose, but lagged behind the products.
The EUR/USD cross has failed to hold support, but crude oil has yet to respond. The euro currency is down 1½% thus far this week against the U.S. dollar. Given the strong correlation between the EUR/USD and oil (Brent) prices, 0.8249 as of last week, it would not have been unreasonable to expect knock-on weakness to crude oil values.
The latest EIA data does nothing to change our mind.
Spot Nymex crude oil for August delivery settled last night at 95.42, 1 penny above the settle for Wednesday, June 22nd, the day prior to the IEA’s thinly veiled attempt to control price. Brent oil futures closed last night at 112.48. That is still 1.73 or 1½% below the close for June 22nd, but it is 7.36 (!) or 7.0% (!) above last Friday’s settle.
Greece is disintegrating right in front of our eyes, Egyptian protestors are still hurling stones in Tahrir Square, Muammar is hanging in there and the AFP reports that Iran has been “…carrying out covert ballistic missile tests and rocket launches, including testing missiles capable of delivering a nuclear payload in contravention of UN resolution 1929."
In the wake of last Thursday’s surprise announcement from the IEA, the forward curve of the Brent crude oil market has been turned on its head, literally. At the same time, sweet/sour diffs have collapsed.
President Barack Obama "essentially fired" Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke in televised remarks this week, former Federal Reserve Governor Laurence Meyer says.
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 6:00 PM ETHow to approach the Fed's monetary decision, with Mad Money host Jim Cramer.
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 12:01 PM ETThe Federal Reserve won't change course on quantitative easing this week, Steve Weiss of Short Hills Capital says.