News about <![CDATA[WTI]]> News about en-us <![CDATA[A Total Overhaul Of The Global Oil Patch]]> <![CDATA[Buy Crude Before The Summer Rally]]> One of the most attractive features of the commodity space is its cyclical returns. While it may make it difficult for long term investors, traders who know the patterns of certain hard assets can often turn a nice profit simply based on the natural price movements of different commodities. Crude oil is no exception to such patterns, as savvy investors have been profiting from the fossil fuel’s trends for years. Though crude has been exhibiting weakness with questions about its long-term future, its short-term seasonal trend may be a ripe opportunity for traders everywhere [for more crude oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[(WNR) Western Refining Downgraded to Hold]]>
Visit StockBlogHub to view complete post.]]> <![CDATA[Earnings Preview: Good News For Oil, Bad News For Gold And Copper (SCCO, TRP, NEM, SU)]]> Earnings season for Q1 2013 is well on its way, with several bellwether commodity stocks already reporting better-than-expected results. Agribusiness giant Monsanto Company (MON) posted earnings that significantly beat out estimates: earnings rose 22%, while profits came in at $1.48 billion. Meanwhile, Halliburton (HAL) reported an unprofitable quarter, though the company added $1 billion to reserves tied to litigation involving the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion. Barrick Gold (ABX) also beat analyst expectations, clocking in an EPS of $0.86 [for more oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Physical Metal Is Still Scarce, Here’s Why…]]> Physical Metal Is Still Scarce, Here’s Why… appeared in the Daily Reckoning. Subscribe to The Daily Reckoning by visiting signup for an Agora Financial newsletter.

]]> <![CDATA[Big Oil Earnings to Dominate This Week]]> Crude oil has been among the worst-performing commodities this year as hefty production has combined with a number of other factors to send the fossil fuel lower. That being said, a number of bellwether oil firms will be detailing their most recent quarter’s earnings this week, as investors are anxious to see how lower prices have impacted bottom-line returns. Below, we outline five of the biggest oil firms to report earnings this week, and commodity investors should watch them closely [for more oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[5 Must-Watch Commodity Earnings This Week]]> With Alcoa (AA) kicking off earnings season last week, investors will spend the next few weeks combing through quarterly statements from their favorite commodity firms. Though Alcoa beat EPS estimates and saw a healthy net income, revenue fell short, leaving a somewhat mixed feeling for the stock. What is perhaps more important than the reports themselves is the particular outlook that each company provides; 2013 has been anything but kind to commodities and investors will pay extra attention to forecasts for the near future [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Backwardation Report: Energy And Grains Face Falling Curves]]> Backwardation and contango are two phenomena that define the futures industry of the commodity world. Though the terms have come handcuffed with a negative connotation, those who understand how they work should not sweat their existence. Backwardation is the process by which near month futures are more expensive than those expiring further into the future, creating a downward sloping curve for future prices over time. Contango, simply, has the opposite impact [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Here’s Why Your Resource Holdings Are Struggling]]> Here’s Why Your Resource Holdings Are Struggling appeared in the Daily Reckoning. Subscribe to The Daily Reckoning by visiting signup for an Agora Financial newsletter.

]]> <![CDATA[A Visualization Of U.S. Crude Oil Consumption]]> The U.S. has long dominated crude oil consumption around the world, as the insatiable need for the fossil fuel has long powered the economy. According to EIA estimates, the U.S. gobbles up around 18.9 million barrels of oil each day, or about 7 billion per year, the highest such figures in the world. While the nation may be close to supporting itself in terms of domestic oil production, it still will not change the fact that the U.S. relies more heavily on crude than any other country in the world [for more oil news subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[UPDATE: Jefferies Lowers PT on W&T Offshore on Updated NAV Estimate]]> In a report published Monday, Jefferies analyst Biju Z. Perincheril reiterated a Hold rating on W&T Offshore (NYSE: WTI), but lowered the price target from $21.00 to $16.50.

In the report, Perincheril noted, “We are updating our NAV estimate with the YE reserve report. We lower our PT to

]]> <![CDATA[2 Independent Oil & Gas Firms On Fire]]> In the world of oil and gas investing, big names like Exxon Mobil and Chevron are usually what come to mind, as these mega-companies seem to dominate the industry. There are, however, a small subset of companies that have certainly solidified their place in many investors’ portfolios: independent oil and gas. While the market capitalization of these companies may be small, their attractive returns and growth potential warrant a closer look [for more oil and gas news subscribe to our free newsletter].  See the full story here →

Related Posts:

  • No Related Posts
]]> <![CDATA[This Big Bet On The Eagle Ford Is Paying Off Now]]> This Big Bet On The Eagle Ford Is Paying Off Now appeared in the Daily Reckoning. Subscribe to The Daily Reckoning by visiting signup for an Agora Financial newsletter.

]]> <![CDATA[Dow Commodity Highs: 2007 vs. 2013]]> With the Dow hitting all-time highs again, it’s worth looking back at the Dow Jones in 2007 and examining what has changed. In the intervening time, it has been a wild ride for commodities. Commodity prices soared in 2008 and 2009 as China rapidly industrialized, with oil moving from about $50 per barrel to over $145 per barrel and copper jumping from about $2.70 per pound to over $4.20 per pound [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Anadarko’s Oil Find May Be A “Game Changer”]]> Last week, Texas-based independent oil and natural gas explorer Anadarko (APC) announced one of its largest oil discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico. Immediately following the press release, shares of the company, as well as the well’s co-owners ConocoPhillips (COP) and Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO), rallied, prompting many analysts to redraw their estimates for Anadarko. Many have noted that this discovery may very well be a “game changer” for the popular explorer [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[15 Commodity-Friendly Professors]]> When it comes to commodities, most investors turn to the likes of Jim Rogers and George Soros, legendary gurus that have long held the spotlight in this asset class. And while their contributions to the commodities world have certainly helped shape the market we know today, there is one group of individuals that is often overlooked, though they have continually played a major role in the natural resources market: professors [sign up for our free commodity newsletter here]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[A Deeper Look At Russia’s Commodity Industry]]> Russia may be the ninth largest economy in the world by nominal gross domestic product, but its abundance of natural resources in the Ural Mountains, Siberia and the Russian Far East makes it much more important in the world of commodities. The emerging market has long been known for its vast production of some of the most vital commodities in the world. Below, we dissect Russia’s commodity industry to give investors an in-depth look at this BRIC nation [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

  • No Related Posts
]]> <![CDATA[Company Profile: Devon Energy Corp.]]> The oil and gas exploration and production sector has significantly expanded over the past couple years, both domestically and around the world. With the advent of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, the U.S. is poised to overtake Saudi Arabia to become the world’s biggest oil producer before 2020, according to a new forecast by the International Energy Agency. Several oil and gas exploration and production companies are well positioned within the newly booming domestic industry [for more energy news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[How Big Oil Is Drilling For Cheap]]> Big oil firms often come under fire for receiving everything from favorable tax treatment to government subsidies to conduct their business. And now it appears that another factor can be added to that list, as Representative Edward Markey of Massachusetts has begun pushing for a legislation change. The laws that he seeks to amend favor drilling royalties for some of the biggest names in the industry, with over 100 companies taking advantage of the policy [for more oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].

See the full story here →

Related Posts:

  • No Related Posts
]]> <![CDATA[BP’s Stock Struggles Amid Key Trial]]> In early 2010, British Petroleum (BP) was at the center of one of the worst oil spills in U.S. history, as an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig caused millions of gallons of oil to flow into the Gulf claiming 11 lives. Also involved were Transocean (RIG) and Halliburton (HAL), with each company doing their best to escape the weight of the charges. As BP goes on trial, along with Transocean and Halliburton, its stock has been taking a hit as investors hold their breath for the outcome [for more oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Commodity Alert: Obama And Bernanke Sing The Budget Blues]]> In Ben Bernanke’s testimony on the Semiannual Monetary Policy Report before the Senate Banking Committee this week, the Fed Chairman signaled that the central bank would continue its stimulus policies, citing that the economic landscape still possesses several red flags. And while this may have quelled fears that the Fed would wind down or scale back its massive bond-buying program earlier-than-expected, investors still remain on edge [For more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Company Profile: Exxon Mobil]]> The global oil and gas industry is enormous, and serving the endless global appetite for oil and gas has propelled many companies into the realm of the mega-caps. Were they independent entities, the revenues of companies like Exxon Mobil (XOM), BP (BP) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) would be such that they’d be among the 30-largest countries by GDP. Not surprisingly, that makes them highly significant stocks as well [for more oil and gas news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[W&T Offshore Closes 8.5% Senior Notes Exchange Offer]]> W&T Offshore (NYSE: WTI) announced today that it has closed the exchange offer relating to its 8.500% Senior Notes Due 2019. The Company's offer to exchange up to $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 8.500% Senior Notes Due 2019 ("Old Notes") that were not registered under the

]]> <![CDATA[Sunoco Logistics Expected to Beat – Analyst Blog]]> <![CDATA[W&T Sets ’13 Budget at $450M – Analyst Blog]]> <![CDATA[The Brent Oil Contract is a Sham!]]> EconMatters  


Oil Benchmark 

It is a sad state of affairs that the entire world of energy, and consumer energy prices are all based upon a fraud of an energy contract masquerading as the Industry`s Benchmark, setting the price for all other grades. 

Monthly Rollover Ramp

Here is an idea of how manipulated the Brent Oil contract that trades mainly on the ICE exchange is we are at rollover time once again in the Brent oil contract and sure enough as day, the contract is moved up substantially right before expiration. 

This happens almost every rollover, and is impossible to do in a non-deliverable market without precise market manipulation. 

Always Positive Rollover Carry

The other common feature of the Brent contract is the expiring month is always higher by a dollar, dollar and a half, than the contract for the next month without fail. Again this happens every single rollover without fail, and again very hard to “naturally occur”. 

It might be reasonable in the old days, or in a market that was partly physical deliverable that you would have times that exhibit Contango features that would account for this price differential. 

No Physical Delivery 

But this happens every time, and the old rules of Contango and Backwardation don`t apply to purely paper markets as there is no need from one month versus the next for “stronger demand” as nobody ever takes delivery of a Brent contract of oil. There is no demand for near term oil contracts due to supply shortages in the oil market.

The only reason for this price differential which always occurs and is heavily manipulated is to ensure for a positive rollover effect for the big players in the market.
http://www.econmatters.com/2013/02/after-election-obama-doesnt-care-about.html

No Rollover Risk equals much easier to invest capital in the market

Why lose money if in basically an unregulated space you can just move up the front month at expiration so that when you sell to close out the position on the front month at a higher price, and buy the next month to reestablish a position at a lower price you have a positive built in rollover. 

Makes the risk of investing in oil with an always positive carry much less. It is a scam of major proportions when you factor in how many years this has been going on in the ICE market.

Not fully credentialed to be a Benchmark for anything

However, that isn`t the only thing that doesn`t pass the smell test with the Brent contract. The main problem is the Brent contract is illegitimate and should not serve as a founding basis for any price discovery.

It trades on essentially an unregulated market with little or no accountability in regards to transparency. And this contract is setting the price of oil for the entire oil supply chain.
http://www.econmatters.com/2013/02/us-consumers-subsidizing-venezuela.html

Represents what Storage Facilities?

First of all the Brent contract needs to be tied to actual oil inventories in Europe so that supplies can actually be tracked and evaluated on a historical basis. 

For example, WTI is based upon oil inventories at Cushing Oklahoma, which can actually be tracked in a weekly report, and reported by an independent government agency in the EIA, for Brent to become a legitimate Oil contract it needs to do the same. 

Needs to be actually Regulated

Or frankly regulators need to force the ICE exchange to do so or discontinue the futures contract, as it has become far too important at setting world oil prices to remain in this non-transparency illegitimate status. 

Independent Governmental Agency Reporting of Supply Data

So once actual inventories of oil supplies are attached to the Brent Contract, there needs to be an independent government agency like the EIA in the US which collects data on an independent basis and provides weekly, quarterly, and annual reports on oil stockpiles.

We live in the Information Age

We do live in the modern age of increased technology, data collection, and transparency with unprecedented access to all types of information. 

ICE exchange has no incentive to change status quo without Regulatory Pressure

It is about time that the ICE exchange is forced by regulators to come into this century, especially given the important role that Brent has become as a benchmark for setting price in the oil markets, and thus derivatively gasoline and heating oil markets, by being forced to comply with these aforementioned instrumental changes, or be forced out of the market. 

Brent is so much easier to Rig than WTI: This attracts Fund Flows

You want to know the real reason that the Brent market has traded at so high a premium to WTI, and became so popular by the major players in the oil trading and investment community? 

It is because the contract is based on “nothingness” has no supervision by regulatory authorities, completely non deliverable, represents no actual storage facilities, no data tracking, has no independent weekly status reports, a forever positive carry, no transparency, and very easy to manipulate. 

http://www.econmatters.com/2013/02/so-david-einhorn-is-dumb-money-on-apple.html

Fund Inflows Set Price not the Fundamentals Anymore

Moreover, since oil prices are not set by the fundamentals of supply and demand, price is solely determined by fund flows, i.e., investment capital goes into a commodity it goes up, investment capital goes out of a commodity it goes down.

“Asset Class” Investing has a built-in Long Bias

I know theoretically capital inflows could come into a market and price could go down, i.e., they could all go short, but for various reasons these shorting periods are relatively few and far between in the modern era of oil trading. 

The same reason investment capital for the S&P 500 has a long bias applies to oil markets as well in the modern era of asset class investing. Funds want exposure, and the modern definition of an “asset class” by investors is inherently long biased. It is just how it actually plays out, theoretically it doesn`t have to, but it just does.

The Dirty Little Secret of the Brent Premium to WTI

So given this state of affairs, and prices have no real attachment to the fundamentals of supply and demand, fund inflows into the futures market increase price, and consumers all over the world pay for end use products based upon these fund inflows, not the fundamentals. 

So the dirty little secret why the Brent Contract is so much higher than WTI is it attracts more fund inflows by the large players who want exposure from an investing standpoint to the commodity, thus increased fund attractiveness equals increased prices, and a much larger premium to WTI than would otherwise be the case.

It all has to do with fund inflows, and the deleterious effects for consumers play out in the following: Fund inflows into Brent, Finished Petroleum Products pegged to Brent Price, Consumers pay higher prices with no change in the fundamentals of supply and demand in the marketplace. 

http://www.econmatters.com/2013/02/goldman-sachs-jeff-currie-continues-to.html

Given the slow growth economy, consumers should be getting a break at the pump!

We have gone from a supply and demand market to a funds flow market and this really sucks for consumers. 

This is where the regulators are supposed to step in and protect consumers. After all, this is part of what governments can offer citizens for taking substantial pieces of their income via taxes.

But the regulators to date have been unwilling to step in and regulate the oil markets, and consumers and businesses will continue to pay more than they should for gasoline and heating oil products in the marketplace. 

ZERO-SUM Game in Oil Markets

However, what sucks for one group is often great for another constituency, and for large banks, hedge funds, and financial institutions that have been known to rig a market wherever and whenever they can, this ICE exchange traded Brent Oil contract is a dream come true for their needs.


© EconMatters All Rights Reserved | Facebook | Twitter | Post Alert | Kindle
]]> <![CDATA[WTI – Brent Spread to test $30 Level in 2013]]> EconMatters


Seaway Pipeline or Garden Hose

This is hilarious if prices weren`t so damn high, but despite a robust export market for finished products, crude oil is backing up all the way to Cushing, Oklahoma, and is only going to get worse in 2013. 

Now that Enterprise Products Partners LLP has let the cat out of the bag that less than a month after expanding the Seaway pipeline capacity to 400,000 barrels per day, The Jones Creek terminal has storage capacity of 2.6 million barrels, and it is basically maxed out in available storage. 

How bad would capacity constraints be without a booming export market?

So good thing there is an export market for US finished petroleum products or oil and gas prices would be much lower, as in the US, demand is so low relative to supply, that you almost cannot give the stuff away, and the refiners still cannot utilize all the oil that Cushing needs to send to alleviate their escalating storage issues which stand at 52 million barrels and climbing. 

60 Million Storage in Cushing to be tested in 2013

Expect Cushing oil inventories to pass the 60 million threshold, and let`s watch how price reacts to that level. My first reaction is that a whole bunch of spread tightening trades will have to be unwound throughout the oil curve. My second reaction is that the $30 premium for Brent over WTI is now on the table for 2013. 

What happens when Cushing is full?

What happens if Cushing reaches complete capacity levels in 2013, does the oil back up further along the supply chain? A nasty logistics nightmare is beginning to play out for producers, now where do you send the oil? 

At any rate, WTI Oil is probably going to be going much lower from here, and the 2013 average will be well below current market prices. 

175,000 versus 400,000

Now back to what Enterprise said regarding the oil backup, citing "unforeseen constraints" in reducing deliveries to 175,000 barrels a day from 400,000 barrels a day at its Jones Creek terminal in Freeport, Texas. Enterprise added that maximum storage levels at the terminal have been reached. 

Seller`s Market for Storage Building

This is just hilarious, and is something that we touched upon before that there is so much oil coming out of the ground currently and for the next decade that much more storage capacity is going to be required throughout the country. 

Basically, the refiners need to build more onsite storage facilities, the terminals need to build more onsite storage facilities, Cushing Oklahoma needs to increase its storage facilities, and the oil fields themselves are going to need to build onsite storage facilities, as the entire supply chain is backing up right now like a clogged plumbing pipe in your house.

Too bad for Consumers, supply levels don`t match the Market prices

This is just hilarious, especially given the supply disconnect with the price right now in WTI. But how could this have not been foreseen by the pipeline operators?

I get it domestic supply is more than your outdated models planned for, and refinery demand even with exports cannot use all the freakin oil, and now you are stuck with an underutilized asset that doesn`t work as good as rails at getting around storage constraint issues. 

I would love to be a fly on the wall for this conversation

How do you explain this one to upper management? Well boss……I know we just expanded……..well…um….we thought that……this has to be a sick joke right? Nobody could be this bad at modeling demand/ logistical constraints for their expensive expansion project! 

After five minutes of casual thinking I thought this was going to be a problem, was this even considered in the project analysis report? Did they really have to run it at full 400,000 for a week to discover this issue? 

Talk about keystone cops, the picture in my head of the “light bulb moment” when someone realized the supply constraint issue on the ground and had to report this up the chain of command is just priceless right now! 


© EconMatters All Rights Reserved | Facebook | Twitter | Post Alert | Kindle
]]> <![CDATA[Company Spotlight: Chevron Corporation (CVX)]]> The oil and gas industry has been dramatically expanding over the past few years, particularly in the United States and emerging markets. In fact, the U.S. is expected to overtake Saudi Arabia and Russia to become the world’s largest oil producer by the second half of this decade, according to the International Energy Agency. One of the leading names on the oil front has long been Chevron (CVX), which is one of the largest crude producers in the U.S. [for more oil & gas news subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Earnings Preview: TCP, LPX, BIP]]> With the earnings season well on its way, many investors still remain understandably skeptical about several commodity producers’ fourth-quarter reports as global economic uncertainties and demand concerns continue to plague the market. Earnings results thus far have been mixed, while lackluster economic data weighs heavily on commodities. Last week, however, oil giants Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron Corporation (CVX) both posted solid Q4 profits, exceeding analysts’ expectations. Chevron’s victory, however, was short-lived after analysts at UBS cut its stock recommendation [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[What Are Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs)?]]> Many energy companies have assets that generate a consistent income over time. For instance, a natural gas pipeline will transport a predictable amount of gas through it each year, generating very stable revenues. These stable revenues often lead to a distribution of earnings to shareholders in the form of a dividend. Unfortunately, investors are double taxed when standard corporations issue dividends – once when the company earns the revenue (corporate income tax) and once when the dividends are paid out (personal income tax).

Master limited partnerships (MLPs) solve this problem by eliminating double taxation for revenues derived from qualified sources – as determined by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. These sources include almost all activities associated with the production, processing or transportation of oil, natural gas and coal assets in the U.S. [for more MLP news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[What the Narrowing WTI/Brent Price Gap Means for Investors]]> <![CDATA[Crude Oil Futures On A 10% Run]]> After breaking the triple-digit mark in 2012, crude oil futures have struggled to maintain their positive momentum. The end of last year saw the fossil fuel fall at the hands of increased output and supply, as new technologies are making it easier than ever to locate and extract reserves, not to mention the prevalence of natural gas. But the last few weeks of 2012 and the beginning of this year have seen crude turn things around, as the commodity has been once again reaching for $100 [for more crude oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Earnings Preview: Big Oil On Tap This Week]]> As we enter the heart of earnings season, all eyes are fixated on bellwether firms and how they have fared over the most recent quarter. The coming week will be a big one for the crude oil industry, as the vast majority of leading oil producers will report in the coming five-day stretch. Crude oil has been under a microscope since experiencing downward pressure in the latter part of 2012. Since then, the commodity has rallied nearly 11%, which may have a big impact on the underlying revenues of big oil [for more oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Keystone XL Pipeline: The Good, Bad And Ugly]]> The planned 1,897-kilometer Keystone XL Pipeline would transport up to 830,000 barrels of tar sands oil per day from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin in Hardisty, Alberta to the existing Keystone Pipeline system in Steele City, Nebraska. By building this pipeline, the goal is to increase crude oil delivery to existing refinery markets in the Texas Gulf Coast region [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Earnings Preview: Weyerhaeuser (WY) & Halliburton (HAL)]]> With the fourth quarter’s earning season in full swing now, investors have, for the most part, been pleasantly surprised. Though many companies have exceeded expectations, earnings estimates for several commodity producers remain rather bearish as global economic uncertainties and demand concerns have left many understandably leery. Last week, leading oil and gas equipment and services provider Schlumberger (SLB) missed analysts’ estimates, reporting fourth quarter net earnings that fell an abysmal 3.7%. Aluminum giant Alcoa (AA), however, reported revenues well above expectations, and the company predicts aluminum demand growth to rise in 2013–-a crucial and positive indicator for the global economy. This Friday, investors will shift their focus to two major commodity producers; Weyerhaeuser (WY) and Halliburton (HAL) [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Earnings Preview: Schlumberger Limited (SLB)]]> Equity markets got off to strong start in 2013 after Congress managed to sign off on a last minute fiscal cliff deal cobbled together by Republican leader Mitch McConnell and Vice President Joe Biden. Euphoria quickly faded, however, with investors shifting their focus back to Washington as Congress begins new rounds of negotiations concerning the debt ceiling and several spending cut deadlines. Understandably, the rather uncertain economic environment has left many wary about the fourth quarter’s earnings season, though analysts predict that the lowered expectations found among investors leaves room for companies to post positive surprises, even if results do not meet last year’s double-digit figures. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[California: America’s Next Oil Boom?]]> Forget Texas, California may be set to lead the United States when it comes to oil production and potential. The Monterey Shale, which stretches from Los Angeles to San Francisco, is estimated to contain approximately 400 billion barrels of oil. The United States consumes just under 19 million barrels of oil on a daily basis meaning that the Monterey reserves has the potential to meet the nation’s needs for over 57 years. Of course, recovering that oil will prove to be something of a struggle [for more oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].

See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[How Are MLPs Taxed?]]> When rates hover around zero, investors often find themselves looking towards more “exotic” asset classes to gain yield. Everything from convertible bonds to emerging market debt becomes commonplace in portfolios. One of the more popular choices is master limited partnerships or MLPs. The corporate tax structure allows for investors and the sponsoring companies to reap some pretty nice benefits, including big dividend distributions [for more MLP news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[How To Profit From Record U.S. Oil Production]]> Since the 2008 recession, U.S. oil production has come roaring back. As 2013 opened, the United States topped seven million barrels per day in production for the first time in nearly 20 years. This is largely thanks to a development in technologies like fracking as well as more pipelines distributing the energy resource around the nation. Experts now predict that the United States will top Saudi Arabia’s oil production by 2020. That would make the United States both the largest producer and consumer of this fossil fuel in the world [for more crude oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Which Oil ETF Is Right For You? OIL vs. USO vs. USL]]> Oil is arguably the most important commodity in the world today. The commodity and its derivatives make their way into essentially every application of modern life, from transportation and gasoline to plastics. Because of its vast applications, oil has also become one of the most heavily-traded commodities on the market, offering investors both the necessary levels of volatility and liquidity needed to make a lucrative trade. And thanks to the rapid expansion of the exchange-traded fund industry, investors now have several ways to gain access to the arguably most useful commodity in the world. Below, we outline the three most popular oil ETFs and which one will fit your investment objectives [for more oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[The Best And Worst Energy ETFs Of 2012]]> The energy sector has been anything but stable this year, as commodities as a whole suffered at the hands of volatile trading. Crude oil prices surged all across the board while popular natural gas struggled to maintain a direction. With 2012 coming to a close, we take a look back on the year and outline the best and worst performing energy ETFs. Note that this list excludes leveraged and inverse products [for more energy ETF news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Bloomberg’s Most Influential People in Finance – Who’s Connected to Commodities]]> Many of the key figures in the financial industry have made their fortunes in businesses that are related to tangible commodities such as oil, steel, agriculture and precious metals. Some have invested directly in one or more of these while others have made their marks in related industries such as transportation. Each year, Bloomberg creates a list of its 50 Most Influential people, and many of these people are involved in commodities. We look at six influential finance figures and how they can influence the commodity markets [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Six Months Later: USMI, SNDS, BNPC]]> The rapid development of the ETF industry has cracked the world of commodity investing wide open, allowing average investors to gain cheap and easy access to a previously hard-to-reach asset class. And while some choose to focus on a single commodity, many investors also look for more diversified exposure, or perhaps even an equity spin on the space. As the ETF industry continues to expand, investors are now able to pick and choose from hundreds of products [for more commodity ETF news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Forbes 400 Members Who Got Rich Off Of Commodities]]> The Forbes 400 is a list created by Forbes which lists the top 400 wealthiest Americans by net worth. The 2012 list is the 31st annual list from Forbes, which was released in September. Out of the top 400 wealthiest Americans, more than 10% of them became wealthy as a result of their stake in a commodity stock [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

  • No Related Posts
]]> <![CDATA[(MRK) Pharmaceuticals and Biotech Stock Outlook – December 2012 – Industry Outlook]]>
Visit StockBlogHub to view complete post.]]> <![CDATA[5 Of The Biggest Oil Finds In History]]> Oil makes the world go ’round, and finding more oil is one of the principal goals of multinational energy giants like Exxon Mobil (XOM), British Petroleum (BP) and Chevron (CVX). Unfortunately, it has become harder and harder to find fields that really move the needle for corporate or national reserve totals. Nevertheless, just because it is difficult does not mean it is impossible, and investors can look back to some notable successes in the history of the oil industry [for more crude oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[Preparing For Economic Headwinds: Bill Gross’ Commodity Picks]]> In his most recent investment outlook, aptly titled “Strawberry Fields – Forever?”, legendary bond king Bill Gross warned that Americans should be prepared to face some “structural economic headwinds” in the next few years that will likely frustrate almost all of us. Besides the damages still felt by the financial crisis, diminished productivity gains and the looming fiscal cliff, Gross points out that are other glaring red flags that investors should keep their eyes on, as these critical factors will likely hamper economic growth in not only the United States, but also in other developed nations across the globe [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[10 Ways to Invest in Fracking]]> Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has become tremendously popular in the United States and Canada over the past couple of years. By pumping pressurized fluid into a wellbore  the process enables companies to extract previously inaccessible hydrocarbons. The result has been a natural gas bonanza in many parts of the U.S., particularly in shale regions like the Barnett Shale Basin in Texas and the Bakken Formation in North Dakota, as well as in parts of Canada [for more fracking news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]> <![CDATA[10 MLPs with Impressive Dividend Yields]]> In the current economic climate investors have sought any and all potential investment opportunities to see attractive yields and returns. One such asset class includes Master Limited Partnerships, otherwise known as MLPs, which have been provided attractive dividend yields throughout the years [for more MLP news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

  • No Related Posts
]]> <![CDATA[Petroleos Mexicanos Strikes Black Gold]]> The Mexican juggernaut Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) has discovered a major oil field that could yield an impressive amount of the fossil fuel. The company is already the fourth-largest producer of oil in the world, and will now look to further its position. As it stands, the well site is estimated to contain 500 million barrels with another 500 million expected to lie in the surrounding area. The site, now named Navegante 1, is an extremely significant find, especially compared to the overall output of Mexico [for more crude oil news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. See the full story here →

Related Posts:

]]>