The future of natural gas – an interview with Raymond Learsy – On Line Opinion

Raymond Learsy: Let me show you this. It is from a study that MIT made ….. it goes into a great deal of detail that natural gas will result in demand reduction and displacement of coal-fired power by a gas-fired generation. And because of its more limited CO2 emissions further de-carbonization of the energy sector will be required and natural gas provides a cost effective bridge to such a low carbon future. In other words, natural gas, the way it’s structured, it’s enormous availability (we are finding more and more of it since these articles have been written), and it’s extraordinary low cost, present a very real danger to other forms of hydrocarbons…..At $2.50 an MMBtu, the amount of energy that is delivered by that quotient of natural gas, the price of oil would have to be around fifteen dollars a barrel.

via The future of natural gas – an interview with Raymond Learsy – On Line Opinion – 13/6/2012.

Dollar, gold, crude oil and commodities

The Dollar Index is retracing to test support at 81.50. Respect would confirm the primary up-trend, offering a long-term target of the 2010 high at 89. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum oscillating above zero indicates a healthy up-trend.

Dollar Index

Spot Gold is rallying to test resistance around $1650/ounce — at the descending trendline on the monthly chart. Breakout from the long-term trend channel suggests that a top has formed in response to the stronger dollar. Reversal below $1600 would indicate another test of primary support at $1500, while upward breakout would test $1800. A second dip of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero strengthens the warning of a primary down-trend.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1550 – ( 1800 – 1550 ) = 1300

CRB Commodities Index is consolidating above support at its target of 265. Expect a rally to test resistance at 295, but failure of support would test the 2010 low at 250. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum oscillating below zero indicates a healthy down-trend. Commodities are falling (and the dollar rising) in anticipation of a global economic down-turn. Expect stocks (as indicated by the S&P 500 index) to follow commodities lower.

CRB Commodities Index

Nymex WTI Light Crude is headed for support at its 2011 low of 76, though we may see medium-term retracement to test resistance. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum below zero signals a primary down-trend.

Nymex WTI Light Crude

Stronger dollar, weaker commodities: gold, copper and crude

The US Dollar is in a primary up-trend, the Dollar Index having broken resistance between 81 and 82. Retracement is likely to test the new support level; respect of 81 would confirm a healthy up-trend. Respect of the zero line by 63-day Twiggs Money Flow would likewise strengthen the signal.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 82 + ( 82 – 78 ) = 86

Spot gold is also testing a new support level — this time on the daily chart — after breaking resistance at $1600/ounce. Penetration of the declining trendline suggests that the down-trend is weakening, but 63-day Twiggs Momentum remains firmly below zero. Follow-through above $1640 would strengthen the bull signal — as would recovery of Momentum above zero — but failure of $1600 would re-test $1540.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1550 – ( 1800 – 1550 ) = 1300

Other commodities have reacted negatively to the stronger dollar, suggesting that gold will continue its downward path. Copper is in a clear down-trend, headed for a test of the 2011 low at 6800.

Copper Grade A

Brent crude broke its mid-2011 low at $100/barrel, offering a long-term target of $75*.

ICE Brent Afternoon Markers

* Target calculation: 100 – ( 125 – 100 ) = 75

Nymex WTI Light Crude is similarly headed for a test of long-term support at $75/barrel.

Nymex WTI Light Crude

CRB Commodities Index is similarly headed for a test of support at 250. The peak below zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum warns of a strong primary down-trend. First, expect retracement to test resistance at 295; respect would confirm the down-trend.

CRB Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 290 – ( 330 – 290 ) = 250

Gold rallies

Spot gold rallied late Friday, breaking the first line of resistance at $1600/ounce. Penetration of the declining trendline suggests that the down-trend is weakening, but 63-day Twiggs Momentum remains firmly below zero. Retracement that respects new support at $1600 would strengthen the bull signal, however, as would recovery of Momentum above zero.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1500 – ( 1800 – 1500 ) = 1200

Commodities lead stocks lower

The CRB Commodities index is headed for a test of the 2010 low of 250. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak below zero warns of a strong primary down-trend. Divergence from the S&P 500 index warns that stocks are likely to fall, following commodities down — at least to their 2011 lows.

CRB Commodities Index

* Target calculation: 290 – ( 330 – 290 ) = 250

Crude: Brent and WTI Light

Brent Crude is headed for a test of primary support at $100/barrel. Failure would indicate a long-term decline to $75/barrel*. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum below zero already warns of a primary down-trend.

ICE Brent Afternoon Markers

* Target calculation: 100 – ( 125 – 100 ) = 75

Nymex WTI Crude below $90/barrel, signals a primary down-trend. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum below zero strengthens the signal. Expect a test of the 2011 low at $75/barrel — similar to Brent Crude.

Nymex WTI Light Crude

* Target calculation: 92 – ( 110 – 92 ) = 76

Spot gold tests $1530

The Dollar Index followed through after last week’s breakout above resistance at 81.50/82.00, confirming the fresh advance signaled by a 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough above zero. Target for the advance is 86.00*.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 82 + ( 82 – 78 ) = 86

On the daily chart, spot gold tests medium-term support at $1530/ounce. Long tails indicate buying support but the rising dollar continues to apply downward pressure. Breach of support and follow-through below $1500 would signal a long-term decline to $1200/ounce*. Declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum (below zero) already indicates a primary down-trend. Recovery above $1600 is less likely but would indicate that the down-trend is weakening.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1500 – ( 1800 – 1500 ) = 1200

Gold suffers from strong dollar

The US Dollar Index broke resistance at 81.80, signaling the start of a primary advance to 86.00*. The 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough above zero indicates a strong up-trend. Expect retracement to test the new support level at 81.50/81.80. Respect would confirm the bull signal.

Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 82 + ( 82 – 78 ) = 86

Spot Gold is testing the band of support between $1500 and $1550/ounce. Wednesday’s long tail is evidence of buying support, but declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum (below zero) warns of a primary down-trend. Another rally that respects resistance at $1600 would strengthen the bear signal. Breakout below $1500 would confirm, offering a target of $1200*. Recovery above $1600, while unlikely, would suggest another test of $1800.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1500 – ( 1800 – 1500 ) = 1200

Crude: Brent and WTI Light

Brent Crude is broke medium-term support at $110/barrel and is headed for a test of the band of primary support between $100 and $103/barrel. Failure would indicate a long-term decline to $75/barrel*. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero already warns of a primary down-trend.

ICE Brent Afternoon Markers

* Target calculation: 100 – ( 125 – 100 ) = 75

Nymex WTI Light Crude followed through below $90/barrel, signaling a primary down-trend. Reversal of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero strengthens the signal. Expect a test of the 2011 low at $75/barrel (similar to Brent Crude).

Nymex WTI Light Crude

* Target calculation: 92 – ( 110 – 92 ) = 76

Commodities fall, stocks follow

The CRB Commodities Index is headed for a test of the 2010 low of 250 after breaking primary support at 295. The trough below zero on 63-day Twiggs Momentum indicates a strong primary down-trend. Divergence between the S&P 500 Index and commodities warns that stocks are over-priced and likely to follow.

CRB Commodities Index and S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 295 – ( 325 – 295 ) = 265