Monday, July 29, 2013

Hot Commodities: Natural Gas Tumbles Near Six Month Lows

The US Natural Gas futures tumbled to near their six-month lows today as traders continued to sell the commodity amid a weak global economic backdrop. Prices have also been hit in the last few days on ideas that after predictions that most of the eastern U.S. will see seasonal temperatures, with lower readings in the Midwest. Today, the benchmark US contract slipped nearly 2% to quote at $3.497 per mmbtu as Asian stocks were pushed lower.

Natural Gas stockpiles rose by 41 billion cubic feet last week to 2.786 trillion, below the five-year average gain of 53 billion for the period, an EIA report yesterday showed. A deficit to the historic average widened to 1.6 percent from 1.2 percent the previous week. Inventories were 12.5 percent below year-earlier levels, compared with 13.1 percent in last week's report.

However, the commodity could turn up on updates regarding Tropical Storm Dorian. The storm is currency on the east of the northern Leeward Islands and is moving west-northwest and may be over the southern Bahamas early July 31. The storm has maximum winds of 50 miles per hour and is expected to weaken a bit in the next day or so, the center said.

For the time being though, bearish moves engulf the commodity quite vehemently. Asian stocks have tumbled heavily, down around 1-2% with Nikkei being slammed by nearly two and half percent. MCX Natural Gas is quoting at Rs 208.70, down 2% with a massive 8.8% increase in open interest.

A deficit to the historic average widened to 1.6 percent from 1.2 percent the previous week. Inventories were 12.5 percent below year-earlier levels, compared with 13.1 percent in last week's report.
Source by Commodity Insights

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