Finance / Investing & Trading Reports

• Finding Bargains in North America’s Hottest Shale Plays

  Not all the shale plays are created equal, and one in particular is bucking the trend with robust economics and company share prices that show it. But is it too late to buy in? Fund Manager Josh Young doesn't think so, and he sat down with The Energy Report to discuss the hottest (and coldest) North American shale plays. Read on to find out where he's finding bargains that could pay off handsomely. The Energy Report: Last week in The Energy Report, Bill Powers, author of "Cold, Hungry and in the Dark," argued that energy reserves from U.S. shale deposits…

• Commodity Update: Open Interest Analysis for May 15th, 2013

  Crude oil:June WTI crude oil gained 9 cents on volume of 743,320 contracts. Open interest increased by a minor 4,653 contracts, which is dramatically below average. The low of $92.13 made on May 15 likely represents the low-end of the trading range and 97.00 is probably the high. Until Brent crude and gasoline generate a short-term buy signals, we advise a stand aside posture.Brent crude oil:July Brent crude advanced 99 cents on volume of 815,055 contracts. Open interest declined by a sizable 23,743 contracts, which relative to volume is approximately 20% above average, but this is due to the expiration…

• Technical Review of the Energy Markets - 16th May 2013

  Brent Crude did break lower & we did see a test of 101.30 but just held on here & suddenly shot higher to resistance at 103.80/104.25 for a selling opportunity. We could head lower again today towards 102.50/30 with a break below 102.00 then signalling further losses towards yesterday’s low at 101.50/20. A break lower could then target 100.30/20.  (Click to enlarge.)103.80/104.25 offers a selling opportunity again today but use stops above 104.80 for a retest of 105.95/106.05 highs. This should hold again this week so we could exit longs & try shorts with stops above 106.50 for a test…

• Commodity Update: Open Interest Analysis for May 14th, 2013

  On May 15, the dollar index has broken out to new highs, which is the highest level since July 2012. This is affecting the performance of physical commodities, especially the precious metals. For more information, see commentary on the euro.Soybeans:July soybeans lost 4.50 cents on volume of 128,548 contracts. Open interest increased by 8,089 contracts, which relative to volume is approximately 145% above average, meaning that new shorts were entering the market aggressively and driving soybeans lower, although the decline was a minor. The May contract accounted for loss of 1,329 of open interest. We would have much preferred for…

• How to Spot the Big Oil & Gas M&A Deals of the Future

  Let's make one thing clear: There is no magic formula to determine which company will be the next big buyout story. But if there were a formula, it would include variables like asset value, management skill level, risk profile and location, location, location. Today, C. K. Cooper & Co. Analyst Daren Oddenino joins The Energy Report to discuss M&A trends and help us solve for X. One caveat—a company that tempts an international player might leave domestic majors cold.The Energy Report: Interest in merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in the oil and gas space seems to be picking up. Pioneer…

• Commodity Update: Open Interest Analysis for May 13th, 2013

  Soybeans:July soybeans gained 20.25 cents on volume of 123,933 contracts. Open interest increased by 1,084 contracts, which relative to volume is approximately 50% below average. The May contract accounted for loss of 1,435 of open interest. On May 9, July soybeans generated a short-term buy signal, but remains on an intermediate term sell signal. We have seen positive open interest action on 3 occasions when soybean prices rose (May 8, May 9 May 13). In our view, soybeans should be traded from the long side and as we said in the May 10 report, soybeans have a seasonal tendency to…

• As the Dollar Rises, Gold Prices are Set to Fall Even Further

  Gold prices have started the week weaker in the southern hemisphere, dropping around $18.00 to trade at $1429.00/oz, despite the amount of physical buying that is taking place the paper market still calls the shots, for now at least. After what looks like a capitulation gold prices did bounce back, however, they have failed to break through $1500 and challenge the 50dma and now look set to test recent lows.The Gold Chart: As we can see from the chart above the $1475.00/oz level has become a resistance level that gold has been unable to break. One possible reason for gold not…

• Technical Review of the Energy Markets - 9th May 2013

  Gasoil beat 863/866 again but failed to make it our next target of 875.25/876.25. If we reach here today this is tough resistance & may be worth trying shorts with a stop above 878 as a break higher should fill the gap at 883/884. Failure to break this week’s high at 872 could see a drift back to support at 861/859.60. However below here look for 852 then better support at 846/844 could see a bounce today. Longs here need a stop below 840.Natural Gas broke 3.940/935 but bounced above excellent support at 3.844 & 200 week moving average just…

• Why Ben Bernanke Hates Me

  I don't just think he hates me. He truly despises me. In fact, he does everything he can to put me out of business.Take last Wednesday, for example, when the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee gave me and my views a complete thrashing. Additional quantitative easing was the last thing in the world I was expecting because it was not justified by the current fundamentals. Most other independent analysts agreed with me, including several Fed governors.He could have let me off easy by announcing some minor back door easing, like ceasing interest rate payments on deposits from private banks. But,…

• Shale Gas is not the Saviour you Think – Bill Powers Interview

  Energy pundits sing natural gas' praises, but Bill Powers, author of "Cold, Hungry and in the Dark: Exploding the Natural Gas Supply Myth," isn't buying it. He sees serious flaws in how reserves are reported, and his own research shows steep, across-the-board production declines in the near future. Nonetheless, he expects a multiyear bull run for the resource, and recommends investors get positioned before scarcity hits—just five to seven years from now. Find out who Powers is betting on in this interview with The Energy Report.The Energy Report: Numerous experts, including T. Boone Pickens and Porter Stansberry, have said that,…