NGAS Inventories Strong, Cotton Futures, Gold Futures Decline For 5th Straight Session
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Summary:
- US NGAS futures trading low for the past 10 sessions.
- Golds price decline fueled by a strengthening USD and rising Treasury yields.
- Cotton crops are in danger due to unfavorable weather and pest infestations.
NGAS trading close to 3-month lows
For the tenth session running, US natural gas futures have traded below $7/MMBtu, close to the 3-month low of $6.3/MMBtu reached on October 3, and far below the 14-year high of $9.65/MMBtu reached on August 22. This is because production is still at record highs and utilities are able to add more gas to storage due to milder than usual weather. The US utilities added 129 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas to storage in the week ending September 30th, exceeding market forecasts of a 113 bcf build, according to the EIA, which recorded the highest weekly gains in domestic inventories ever. According to Refinitiv, average gas production in the Lower 48 US states increased to a record 100.1 bcfd so far in October from a previous high of 99.4 bcfd in September. Reduced LNG shipments and a decline in demand brought on by Hurricane Ian's power outages also had an impact on gas prices.
NGAS Nov ‘22 Futures Price Chart
Gold declining amidst predictions of aggressive Fed
Tuesday's decline in gold prices, which was the fifth straight session, was fueled by a strengthening dollar and rising Treasury yields amid predictions that the US Federal Reserve will continue with its aggressive tightening policies. Such a notion was reinforced by a better-than-expected US jobs report on Friday, and markets now anticipate US inflation data on Thursday, FOMC minutes on Wednesday, and other Fed officials' appearances this week for additional cues. On the other hand, Fed Vice Chair Lael Brainard stated on Monday that the Fed will be guided by incoming data as the full impact of prior rate rises become clear. She also emphasized the necessity for tight monetary policy to lower inflation. The IMF and World Bank warned of a rising possibility of a worldwide recession, as advanced economies stagnate and persistent inflation increases pressure on major central banks to hike interest rates further. This warning left markets on edge.
Gold Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart
Cotton trading low
As traders assessed the possibilities of larger supplies and lower demand due to quicker rate hikes and economic uncertainties, cotton futures traded below, a level not seen since July 2021. Regarding the supply, the USDA's most recent report showed that the crop of US cotton increased from 12.48 million acres in August to 13.79 million acres in September, or over 19% more than the 11.22 million acres planted in 2021. 375 lakh bales are anticipated to be produced in India, another major producer, during the season 2022–23, assuming that the weather is cooperative through October. Crops are still in danger because of unfavorable weather and pest infestations in the main growing regions.
Cotton Dec ‘22 Futures Price Chart
Sources: finance.yahoo.com, tradingeconomics.com
