Natural gas surges after EIA inventories data (A UNG Post)

Natural gas surges after EIA inventories data so says MarketWatch. Inventories fall significantly. OK, question time, what happens when  you have near record inventories and you basically cut production in half and consumption increases slightly? Folks, do not get to excited about real demand increasing for some time. Now, will this inventory change effect the forward spot price for NG thus driving UNG higher? That is yet to be seen. That is the danger to the trade. 

Working off oversupply while dramatically cutting production = reduced inventories which does not necessarily mean increased pricing structure which is what we care about.

Here is the link to the EIA NATGAS page.

Sure, this is a form of price manipulation and you will pay for it in the end. You, the consumer, are witnessing price manipulation that is not working in your favor, but instead in the name of salvaging corporate profits. On the conspiracy side, I am beginning to wonder if the NATGAS price destruction was a predetermined action in relation to the green movement in some way that has been influenced by the carbon kooks and big oil?

Then again, to what extent do you really trust any numbers coming form any government agency? IMO, you should not. Should that work into your trading decisions? I do not think so. You need to find the momo and where "they" want prices to go and ride that train. right now that momo is still to the downside and will remain there till proven differently.

NATGAS and UNG are not exactly tracking each other any more. Well they are, just from a distance. I am not commenting on the dislocation other than a lot of people who bought UNG for the pop got ripped off IMO. I think this is one of those "charts you are not supposed to see". If things were "normal" UNG should be somewhere near $20 right now.

UNG daily - This chart's indicators look pretty green and may have a chance to run. RSI cracking the divergence line could be a key point for the bulls. The weeklys do not look as bad as they have in the past (kind of mixed right now). For the bears I have some black arrows showing prior interaction with the MA's in this fall. That combined with the upper channel resistance would cause me to caution against any aggressive move here. There is a lower blue box with a question mark in it  that I deem a possible target based on the channel, MA's, indicators and cycle lines. Is there a possible H&S in there? Yes, but .... Can it make it to gap resistance? Yes, but ....

Again (as usual) I caution investors and warn that UNG moves mainly as a function of the forward spot price. If it goes up so does UNG. If not, it falls. Based on the first chart, once would speculate that a correction is in order. That is it. you are either lucky or not.

Now let's look at another relationship that NATGAS shares with OIL. The ratio of the price of oil to the price of NATGAS is out of proportion now and a correction is in order. There are a lot of people that believe NG will be retesting the recent lows. That would require one heck of a fall in oil. there are so many possibilities that can drive prices around, I won't speculate on what could happen (war, global depression, carbon credits, you name it.). I believe Oil will do most of the work here over time as I believe Oil is going to $55.

You UNG investors need to be nimble and keep the stops tight. It could run to the moon, but then again it has been proven time and time again that there is not yet a limit to how low it can go. There is a bunch of resistance above right now, and I would not chase it here. That is a big bullish candle, but it also left a nasty gap. That is pretty typical MO for every move off of a low so far. If it were to get above the upper channel line and if we can get some sort of established EWT count going up, then I'll look into holding it. Till then, I'll keep swing trading off of the bottoms. I'll  add that IF it should break out and the H&S plays out, somewhere near 14.50 would be the target (there is a nice resistance line near there).

NATGAS futures Prices


GL and have a great holiday season .

UNG - The Pent Up MEGA Post

Confusion reigns down on the Nat Gas sector. Buy, sell, stay away, you'll make a fortune, buy the producers, buy the commodity, the bottom is in, supply is down, demand is going to grow, Nat gas is going to $2; what the hell? Below are a few posts that I liked from around the web. (Notice the prominent words Volatile and Speculative)

Forbes - 9/21 - Natural Gas Still Too Volatile. "Natural gas prices have recently become lighter than air, as the commodity finally gets some love after a year-long slide. Yet even though it has gained traction, our team of investment advisors is cautious about the fuel, unconvinced demand is set to take off." There you have a more definitive call.

Greenfaucet.com - 9/21 - Speculating on Natural Gas. After moving from $2.50 to $3.77 per BTU last week the pressure is back on the price of natural gas. The rally is based on speculation that prices will continue to rise as inventories fall. Therein lies the issue. Supply has dropped the last two weeks, but not enough to push prices significantly higher. If I were an investor (oh yea, I am) I would take my profit off the table and see how this plays out. The instability in the natural gas contracts has been evident as the downside pressure has controlled the trend. Sounds just like the same thing I have been saying. I like the folks at Greenfaucet and suggest you take a peek at their site while you are there.

Seeking Alpha - ETF Stats for UNG Gives a nice list of SA authors that cover Nat Gas and is worth bookmarking for when you need some good posts on the subject.

BOTTOM LINE is you need to check out EIA's Natural Gas Weekly Update (I added a link in my blogroll). They have the definitive release on Nat Gas pricing and information. You get it from the horses mouth (not the other way around). Very detailed information from the government on the pricing of Nat Gas and the economies surrounding pricing. I'd highly recommend you visit this site for an update before you invest.

EIA provides a monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook. The next update is October 6th. Did you know this, "Despite low relative prices for much of the year, industrial natural gas consumption declined by 12 percent in the first 6 months of 2009 compared with the same period last year. EIA expects this year-over-year consumption decline will continue through the second half of the year for industrial users, although the trend will be less pronounced." How about this, "EIA expects natural gas consumption will increase slightly in the commercial and industrial sectors in 2010 as a result of improved economic conditions and low prices. Consumption remains relatively flat in the residential and electric power sectors next year. The anticipated addition of new coal-fired generating capacity and rising natural gas prices limits the potential for significant increases beyond the forecast 2009 level in natural gas consumption by electric generators."

In other words, don't be looking for some massive recovery in the price of Nat Gas this year or next. This report can give you some reliable information regarding the outlook for crude, nat gas and coal. I will be making it a must read and will notify you of its release here.

I have no hope for any significant rise in UNG till the over supply under demand issue straightens its self out. Sure, as futures roll thru there may be sentimental pops, but the EAI reports say no demand for a year or two until the economy recovers. I expect a long drawn out bottom at these levels for some time.

Given that UNG is still trading at a significant premium to NAV ( Sept 21 - 10.57 NAV and UNG close 11.25, 6.43% which is narrowing) since the supply demand issue is not (nor will it be for some time) worked out, and the general (and expected to be worsening) economic conditions, I fully expect the lows to be tested again.

OK, that all being said let's look at a chart and apply some TA to the situation. 30 and 60m indicators are falling. The daily indicators are topping out. Weekly indicators are mixed. The run off of the capitualive bottom has reached the retracement zone above the 50% fib retracement line. UNG left several gaps on the way up. Price has broken the uptrend line. UNG is forming a possible bull flag at this time. As for the form of the climb, I do not like an ABC. I prefer a 1,2 or a 5 wave count. If a 1,2 I expect a pullback to the 10.45 to 10.10 range. If this is a 5 wave move and 5=1 and gap support holds here the target range should be near 13.18.

30m UNG chart (may be better viewed here and other UNG charts also)



Nat Gas - Oil Spread chart - (Better viewed here). Nat Gas drove up to test it's LT lower trendline and put a spike thru it. Oil is leveling out. Please visit the older Zero Hedge link in the chart for more information of the spread of NG to OIL. This will correct, I believe oil will do most of the correcting downwards. I believe this monthly chart of Nat Gas shows the bottom is in (or should I say it won't get any worse than it already has).



GL trading.