Small Contract Losses and Gains Start Thanksgiving Week 2019

Market TalkMon, Nov 25, 2019
Small Contract Losses and Gains Start Thanksgiving Week 2019

It’s a mixed start to the week for energy contracts, with WTI and RBOB showing small losses, while Brent and ULSD cling to small gains. Prices remain within striking distance of the high-end of the November trading range, but so far seem unwilling to make the next move with uncertainty over trade talks and the upcoming OPEC meeting both looming.

Money managers made very small additions to their net long holdings of Brent, ULSD and RBOB contracts as of last Tuesday (when the COT data is compiled) and made a slight reduction in their long bets on WTI.

Baker Hughes reported a 5th straight weekly decline in the US oil rig count, to a total of 671 active rigs. Drilling activity according to this measure is approaching a 3 year low, with 206 rigs taken out of service so far in 2019.

Here’s a decent (if biased) read on the state of the renewable fuel standard, that also helps to partially explain why biodiesel RINs are holding near multi-year highs while ethanol RINs are holding near multi-year lows (chart below).

Thanksgiving Holiday Trading Schedule: The CME’s NYMEX contracts will trade in abbreviated sessions both Thursday and Friday this week, with settlements published only for Friday. The major spot market publications will be closed both days so expect the NYMEX volumes to be low most rack prices to carry through the long weekend, although most suppliers will reserve the right to change prices should something exciting happen.

Click here to download a PDF of today's TACenergy Market Talk.

Small Contract Losses and Gains Start Thanksgiving Week 2019