Startling Response to the Break Above

Daily Continuous

The trade got they were seeking as prices jumped over $9.00 and got the short covering in the option expiration market. The market could not hold all of those gains during the trade as once the shorts were out — not a lot of buyers remained. Expiration is upon us and who has a clue as to what will happen as fundamentals haven’t changed in 3 weeks and the technical targets just seem to get run over.

Major Support:$7.663, $7.50., $7.00-$6.855, $6.411-$6.392, $6.247-$6.278, $5.27-$5.199, $5.001, $4.40-$4.26, $4.187
Minor Support: $7.722- $7.69, $6.00, $5.063, $5.04, $4.88, $4.60-$4.557
Major Resistance: $8.996, $9.60

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Keeps Trying

Daily Continuous

Per the commentary yesterday — traders tried hard with the classic (now days) early morning rally up to $8.93 only to retrace when the rest of the trade got into the office. Not giving up on the concept that the trade is going to utilize the history of expiration’s to break above the resistance levels just below $9.00.

Major Support:$7.663, $7.50., $7.00-$6.855, $6.411-$6.392, $6.247-$6.278, $5.27-$5.199, $5.001, $4.40-$4.26, $4.187
Minor Support: $7.722- $7.69, $6.00, $5.063, $5.04, $4.88, $4.60-$4.557
Major Resistance: $8.996, $9.60

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Is Market Setting Up For Breakout

Daily Continuation

Spoke about the trends in the expiration process in both the Daily and Weekly sections– had no clue that the market would further the trend another month (in the first day)– but it seems like that is the idea. Cannot jump on the July or August contract at these levels currently, though. Not enough volume, the ATR (discussed in the Weekly) is in an historical danger area, and the trade around Memorial Day Holiday, has shown weakness either side of the Holiday, historically. That does not prevent aggressive folk from taking a position during the day only to leave at resistance. That said, the move yesterday does provide the question of whether the trade is setting itself up for a break out above the calendar May high, either during expiration or just after as the July contract is trading at an $.08 premium to June. Should a break above occur– let the short covering occur — don’t chase– wait for the Holiday weakness to provide better opportunities (if it does). If it breaks down chose the level you are comfortable with to initiate length.

Major Support:$7.663, $7.50., $7.00-$6.855, $6.411-$6.392, $6.247-$6.278, $5.27-$5.199, $5.001, $4.40-$4.26, $4.187
Minor Support: $7.722- $7.69, $6.00, $5.063, $5.04, $4.88, $4.60-$4.557
Major Resistance: $8.996, $9.60

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Expiration — You Know the History

Daily Continuation

The Sunday night trade was subtle and quiet — what gives. We are headed into expiration of the June contract and we all know what the trend of expiration’s over the last 15 months, perhaps the contract will have a brief extension of the declines from last week, but read the Weekly for more details, as the declines may be limited.

Major Support:$7.663, $7.50., $7.00-$6.855, $6.411-$6.392, $6.247-$6.278, $5.27-$5.199, $5.001, $4.40-$4.26, $4.187
Minor Support: $7.722- $7.69, $6.00, $5.063, $5.04, $4.88, $4.60-$4.557
Major Resistance: $8.197, $8.287, $8.52 $9.60

EOM We All Know the History

Weekly Continuous

June closed with a new contract high weekly close at $8.083 it was also a new high weekly close on continuation basis and was above the April high. While the soon to expire prompt posted a weekly gain ($.420) being the third higher weekly close of the four Fridays during its tenure, the week experienced three straight lower daily closes on (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for the first time since early March.

While volatility remains extreme, this week the 15 – week ATR (average true range) calculation was $.986 (down from $1.107 on May 6 which was the highest since November ’06 (see Weekly chart below). Regardless of the volatility, June has made little sustainable upside progress over the last month. June closed at $7.958 on April 18th, at $8.043 on May 6th, $7.956 on 05/16 and Friday at $8.083.

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What’s Happening

Daily Continuous

Was resting during most of the trade day so consider my astonishment when I looked at the screen in the evening when prices are down $.20. Not sure what has changed in the trader’s eyes, but the movements look like they want to test some of the support zones from $7.90-$7.51.

Major Support:$7.50., $7.00-$6.855, $6.411-$6.392, $6.247-$6.278, $5.27-$5.199, $5.001, $4.40-$4.26, $4.187
Minor Support: $6.00, $5.063, $5.04, $4.88, $4.60-$4.557
Major Resistance: $8.47-$9.60

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Enjoy

Daily Continuous

Under the weather tonight– can’t even stay awake to watch hockey. Nothing to add no real solid support zones until prices decline into the low $7.00’s.

Major Support:, $7.00-$6.855, $6.411-$6.392, $6.247-$6.278, $5.27-$5.199, $5.001, $4.40-$4.26, $4.187
Minor Support: $6.00, $5.063, $5.04, $4.88, $4.60-$4.557
Major Resistance:
$8.47-$9.60

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Grinding Higher

Daily Continuous

Regardless of lack of interest (volume) prices just grind higher. As mentioned yesterday, the movements are not a general consensus of rising expectations prices this summer, but seem to be rather oriented towards a bias from trading funds seeking an outcome. The suggestion remains keep trades on a daily time frame- not leaving position on over the night.

Major Support:, $7.00-$6.855, $6.411-$6.392, $6.247-$6.278, $5.27-$5.199, $5.001, $4.40-$4.26, $4.187
Minor Support: $6.00, $5.063, $5.04, $4.88, $4.60-$4.557
Major Resistance:
$8.47-$9.60

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Silliness Turns Serious

Daily Continuous

What a day of trade– prices took the cue from the Sunday Silliness and rocketed prices up to the highs of $8.183 only to find significant selling that took prices back below where they started on Sunday. From there– prices rallied back up above the $8.00 level but on lighter volume. Don’t usually show the 5 minute chart that shows price movement in 5 minuted increment but felt it told the story I wanted to provide today–

Intra Day 5 Minute chart

On the top of chart is the price and on the bottom is the volume associated with the 5 minute price action. Notice the strong volume in the 8-9 am time frame (CDT) only to collapse on good volume for the rest of the morning. Then on lighter volume prices gradually rallied back up to the close just above $7.95. Why is this important– you need to know that this volatility is being caused by light trade not “general consensus”– that is why the divergences were discussed in the Weekly section. Be very careful buying in or selling early directional movements.

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Divergence Developing and History

Weekly Continuation
Spot June Contract

From the previous week’s reversal, prices gaped lower at the open last week (though quickly filled) continued a decline that extended down to the lows $2.566 below previous last Friday’s reversal high, and testing support presented by the April low ($6.345 last higher low), and into a zone between the September and October ’21 highs ($6.280 – $6.466. From the December low ($3.536) to the May 6th high ($8.996) prompt gas has rallied $5.43 or 153.6%. The second largest in terms of price increase; the largest in terms of percentage increase in the history of natural gas trading (more history below).

Market internals continued to show divergence two weeks ago. This last week volume accelerated as the market fell (Monday and Tues), then declined as it recovered. Open interest declined for five straight days while price fell (from Thursday to Thursday losing nearly 31,000 contracts), bringing the total decline to more than 80,000 since mid – April. Lower level of open interest can create more volatility (less positions to be defended). A more significant technical issue is that neither volume nor open interest has confirmed the April OR May highs. Higher price highs without higher volume or open interest is a significant price negative divergence. The weekly RSI has formed the classic divergence as the higher Weekly high during the week of May 2nd (Friday the 6th) did not confirm with a higher high level.

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