GLOBAL ECONOMICS AND POLITICS

Leo Haviland provides clients with original, provocative, cutting-edge fundamental supply/demand and technical research on major financial marketplaces and trends. He also offers independent consulting and risk management advice.

Haviland’s expertise is macro. He focuses on the intertwining of equity, debt, currency, and commodity arenas, including the political players, regulatory approaches, social factors, and rhetoric that affect them. In a changing and dynamic global economy, Haviland’s mission remains constant – to give timely, value-added marketplace insights and foresights.

Leo Haviland has three decades of experience in the Wall Street trading environment. He has worked for Goldman Sachs, Sempra Energy Trading, and other institutions. In his research and sales career in stock, interest rate, foreign exchange, and commodity battlefields, he has dealt with numerous and diverse financial institutions and individuals. Haviland is a graduate of the University of Chicago (Phi Beta Kappa) and the Cornell Law School.

 

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DANGEROUS TIMES IN US NATURAL GAS © Leo Haviland November 2, 2015

The probable range for the United States natural gas marketplace (NYMEX nearest futures continuation basis) for the next several months is a relatively broad avenue between major support at 1.65/1.90 and significant resistance at 3.10/3.45. For prices to sustain voyages over 3.00, it probably will require a significantly colder than normal winter or noteworthy cuts in natural gas production. A containment risk (supplies too high relative to available storage), although currently not probable, nevertheless lurks for the end of calendar 2016 build season, especially if 2015-16’s winter is warmer than usual. If significant containment problems develop, and perhaps even if the potential for significant containment difficulties significantly increases, the 1.65 to 1.90 floor could be broken.

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The NYMEX natural gas major bear trend that followed 2/24/14’s major peak at 6.493 smashed through 4/27/15’s 2.443 low, tumbling to 1.948 on 10/27/15 (near NYMEX contract expiration; many key troughs have occurred around contract expiration). The late October 2015 depth borders the last prior major bottom, 1.902 on 4/19/12. Historical analysis indicates the bear trend from February 2014 to October 2015 travelled sufficiently far in price and duration terms to look for a trend shift from bearish to neutral or bullish. In addition, the most recent Commitments of Traders reports for key natural gas contracts reveal a massive net noncommercial short position. Many significant marketplace trend changes in natural gas roughly coincide with very elevated net long or short noncommercial positions. Current and (assuming normal weather) anticipated upcoming natural gas days coverage through winter 2015-16 and the 2016 build season appear fairly close to historical averages, particularly in the context of NYMEX natural gas prices well under 3.00.

However, the dramatic February 2014 to October 2015 price tumble is not the greatest or longest on record. So a further descent in NYMEX natural gas would not be unprecedented. Moreover, the days coverage perspective of course does not provide a complete viewpoint on the natural gas inventory situation and related price risks. After all, arithmetic quantities (bcf) of gas must be put in arithmetic storage places. And currently, the containment risks for the end of build season 2016 are not insubstantial; this bearish potentiality weighs on prices.

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Natural gas prices often travel substantially independently of both petroleum (and commodities “in general”) and so-called “international” or “financial” factors. Trend changes in NYMEX natural gas need not coincide with one in the petroleum complex or in commodities in general.

However, especially since mid-to-late June 2014 (NYMEX natural gas nearest futures interim high 6/16/14 at 4.886) and into calendar 2015 (gas interim top 5/19/15 at 3.105), bearish natural gas price movements have intertwined with those in the petroleum complex (and commodities in general) and the bull move in the broad real trade-weighted US dollar. Such natural gas retreats to some extent have paralleled slumps in emerging marketplace stocks. Note also the timing coincidence between May 2015’s natural gas top and the S+P 500’s 5/20/15 high at 2135. See “Commodities: Captivating Audiences” (10/12/15) and other recent essays.

Worldwide OECD industry and United States petroleum stocks are very elevated. OPEC next meets 12/4/15. It remains determined to capture market share and induce output cutbacks by high-cost oil producers around the world (including some American and Canadian ones). Thus even if petroleum manages to rally further from its recent lows, it likely will remain relatively weak. The broad real trade-weighted United States dollar edged slightly lower (about one percent) to 97.0 in October 2015 from its September 2015 bull move high at 98.0 (Federal Reserve, H.10; monthly average), but it probably will remain relatively strong for the near term. Weak oil and a strong dollar, all else equal, are bearish factors for American natural gas prices.

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Dangerous Times in US Natural Gas (November 2, 2015)

ROLLIN’ AND TUMBLIN’ IN US NATURAL GAS © Leo Haviland April 20, 2015

In all marketplace battlefields, a wide variety of storytellers select between (and emphasize differently) an array of variables. They thereby generate diverse bullish and bearish arguments that heatedly compete for allegiance and action. And analysis and trading always are difficult enterprises. However, in the United States natural gas universe nowadays, the noise, smoke, and uncertainty produced by these diverse variables and conflicting perspectives and recommendations make it especially challenging to boldly swear unquestioning loyalty to a particular marketplace viewpoint.

What does historical analysis of major United States natural gas bear marketplace moves (NYMEX nearest futures continuation basis) in the context of days coverage reveal regarding the ending of the major bear trend that emerged in late February 2014? Perhaps 4/13/15’s 2.475 low was an important trough; however, several days of course remain in April and many key bottoms have occurred around contract expiration. If a noteworthy bottom is not established in calendar April 2015, the most probable time for a major low is in late August/calendar September 2015. NYMEX natural gas reached many important bottoms in late calendar August and September. However, a final low in late summer 2015 would stretch out the February 2014 bear marketplace trend substantially longer than the historical average.

In any case, if NYMEX natural gas prices pierce 4/13/15’s low (nearest futures continuation), that level probably will not be broken by much. Substantial support lurks around 2.40 and 2.20/2.15.
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End March 2015’s 20.0 days of coverage (1471bcf divided by about 73.5bcf/day of full calendar year 2014 consumption), though way up from March 2014’s 12.0 days coverage, dips slightly under the 21.8 days end March 1990-2014 average. It also falls a notable, though not extreme, 4.1 days beneath the nine year 2006-14 average. Thus despite the notable arithmetic stock increase during calendar 2014 build season, the national days coverage inventory picture at the end of winter 2014-15 draw season is slightly bullish.

What’s the bottom line in regard to the natural gas bear trend that began in February 2014 if one concentrates on the natural gas inventory variable? With the NYMEX nearest futures natural gas price currently well under 4.00, this end winter 2014-15 inventory factor “taken by itself”, looks neutral to supportive for gas prices. This fundamental consideration should be interpreted alongside the marketplace history relating to price and time factors.

End October 2015’s 49.5 days coverage level slides 6.3 days beneath the 2006-14 end October average of 55.8 days and 4.1 days under 1990-2014’s 53.6 days. This end October 2015 days coverage total therefore is bullish (even if not wildly so given prospects of increased natural gas production).

Look further out in the murky future to March and October 2016. Although much of course can happen between now and then, potential days coverage nevertheless does not suggest notable oversupply relative to historic averages.

The EIA forecasts end March 2016 inventory at 1704bcf and end October 2016 stocks at 3923bcf. Days cover at end March 2016 will be around 22.3 days (1704bcf/76.3bcf/d). Though this is slightly (.5 day) above the 21.8 day 1990-2014 average, it is 1.8 day less than 2006-14’s 24.1 day average. October 2016’s hypothetical days coverage is 51.7 days (3923bcf/75.8bcf/d. This is about 1.9 days under the 1990-2014 average for that calendar month and 4.1 days beneath 2006-14’s 55.8 day average.

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Rollin' and Tumblin' in US Natural Gas (4-20-15)

US NATURAL GAS- OFF IN THE DISTANTS © Leo Haviland, January 14, 2013

In commodity marketplaces, the price level and fluctuations of the spot (physical, cash) world and nearby (front) months generally attract and fascinate us more than periods (distant month contracts) out in the seemingly more misty future. In recent history, bull and bear moves in distant period NYMEX natural gas contracts to a substantial extent have mirrored those in the nearby months. Patterns in NYMEX natural gas strips, whether seasonal ones such as summer 2013 or calendar years such as 2014, 2015, and 2016, significantly resemble those of actual nearby months (and the nearest futures continuation contract perspective). For example, after marching upward and achieving peaks in spring 2011, they eventually fell off together, reaching dismal valleys in April 2012. The front months and distant spans then ascended dramatically, although not exactly the same distance. After this climb, they began to retreat together; recall the descent since late November 2012 (some trading periods started to fall off in price in October). The nearby and distant month trends thus have generally “confirmed” each other.

Nevertheless, any given natural gas near term situation is not always or necessarily the same as that of the more distant future (or ancient history) times. Because natural gas is not a cost of money commodity like gold, this similar directional relationship between spot (and front month) and forwards off in the distance is neither unchanging nor guaranteed. Some divergence may develop. Therefore marketplace players should monitor trends in NYMEX distant month natural gas contracts in addition to those of actual nearby months (and first futures continuation).

The long run major bull trend of the NYMEX natural gas complex that began in April 2012 (as represented by the nearest futures continuation bottom around 190 on 4/19/12) remains intact. However, at present the near term bearish retracement move for both nearby as well as distant month forwards such as the summer 2013 strip and the calendar strips of more faraway years also likely remains in place. See the nearest futures continuation high on 11/23/12 at 393.

The interim decline in natural gas that commenced during fourth quarter 2012 probably is near in time to at least an initial end. Assuming normal winter weather, the most likely time for this bearish NYMEX natural gas pattern to cease is in late calendar January or late calendar February 2013 (probably around nearest futures expiration). In any event, the price (nearest futures continuation basis) will not easily sustain falls beneath the 300 to 285 range (note recent lows on 1/2/13 at 305 and 1/9/13 at 309). Warmer than normal weather (as in last winter) could postpone the low (recall the late April 2012 depth). Given the likelihood of above normal US natural gas inventories in days coverage terms, there remains a significant chance of a final (second, double) bottom in late August or calendar September 2013.

As there are regional differences (basis relationships) between natural gas marketplaces, players should not restrict this comparative approach to NYMEX natural gas. Why not analyze near term relative to far out periods natural gas at a variety of different locations (and review related basis relationships over these vistas)? Also, given the links between natural gas and electricity fields, analysis of electricity marketplaces in more distant months in a given region offers insight into near term electricity trends as well as distant month (and even near term) natural gas battlegrounds.
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