What We're Reading

When it comes to energy, there is one matter everyone agrees on. For the near future, at least, the world will need more of it—and how it is produced and used will be a critical factor in the future of the global economy, geopolitics, and the environment. With that in mind, McKinsey took a hard look at the data, modeling energy demand from the bottom up, by country, sector, and fuel mix, with an analysis of current conditions, historical data, and country-level assessments. On this basis, McKinsey’s Global Energy Insights team has put together a description of the global energy landscape to 2050.

It is important to remember that this is a business-as-usual scenario. That is, it does not anticipate big disruptions in either the production or use of energy. And, of course, predicting the future of anything is perilous. With those caveats in mind, here are four of the most interesting insights from this research.

Global energy demand will continue to grow. But growth will be slower—an ave

I'm continually saving charts and data points which I find interesting but generally don't post enough to share the data.  That being said, I thought "wth" and decided to share some of my most recent.  Perhaps you can find a few of interest or maybe you can translate one into a trade.  It certainly can't hurt.  Your comments would be of interest and will be answered.  Happy trading.

Online shoppers by income group.  It certainly seems Amazon benefits by middle income buyers.  Possibly they just don't have the 'time' to shop in a store, working 60+ hours a week and balancing soccer games, football, cheerleading practice, dinner, laundry, etc.

Jet[dot]com is now selling some items at a loss to gain marketshare from Amazon

We've had numerous talks in Chat over coal usage (is clean coal an oxymoron or what?) and this certainly backs up the belief that natural gas continues to be embraced.

Then we have a look at Bear markets of 20% or more.The average # of months caught my eye. 

If the Old Farmers Almanac is even semi accurate, it looks as though it's going to be another nasty Winter - colder than last year (!) ahead thanks to the sun's activity.  According to this video (below) this forecast is nothing to shake a stick at as allegedly they have an 80% accuracy but only time will tell. 

Of course, the folks back home in Chicago will immediately roll their eyes and sigh in pure disgust and they have the right to after the "polar vortex" that rolled through the area last January.  Not only were schools shut and streets impassable but even expressways, covered with salt as fast as they could spread it, froze and brought commuters and semis to a stand still.  Supplies were cutoff across the nation and insurers definitely had to have felt the pain.

Seems I relocated to Texas just in the nick of time!  While we still get a few snow days down here below the 40th parallel North (even a inch of snow here paralyzes drivers and shuts down schools), the first thing that j

Seasonal demand is just what it sounds like.  What seasons certain things see higher demand such as natural gas for A/C and heating or gold for jewelry manufacturing and sales.  With that in mind I thought I'd flip through our Seasonal Charts for hints of possible trades here and in the months approaching.  My unscientific belief has been that larger players begin to buy long futures contracts before the season hits so I begin to watch for divergences and support in charts.  Click on the charts below for a better view.  Let's take a look:

Consumer Staples Which can be traded via $XLP or one of it's components are items which consumers feel they cannot do without.  They're considered non-cyclical, meaning that they are always in demand, no matter how well the economy is performing (or not performing).  Think diapers $KMB, personal hygiene $PG, discounters like $WMT, beverages such as $KO, cigarettes $MO and $PM, pharmacies such as $WAG and $CVS.  There are many other names, b

If so, blame Mother Nature.  I dread seeing my next heating bill and will most likely be selling a kidney on Ebay to cover the cost.  A 2011 research paper by James Hamilton highlighted how historically, recessions occurred after a spike in crude oil prices.  Well what do you think we're witnessing in nat gas here?  Sure, it's an enormous short squeeze but what will the record snowfall, cold temperatures AND a spike in natural gas do for revenues, earnings and consumer spending? 

I'm surprised MSM media isn't talking about this more.  Sure, they're mentioning the slow down in the retail sector (charts already showed that) but what about the "R" word?  Oh wait, their job is to prop up and distract "entertain".  I almost forgot.

[Edited October 15, 2012 to add Reuters link and Citicorp PDF ]

Natty outperform black gold?  Texas tea?  Yes it's happening and the intriguing part is it could continue.  It's unimaginable, unheard of, pure heresy but it at the same time, appears to be the Captain Obvious trade to these novice aging eyes.  While I'm no guru and don't begin to know it's intricacies, allow me to explain from a technical analysis and common sense point of view.  [CLICK ON ANY CHART TO ENLARGE]

#1  Falling crude oil demand in developed countries continues and this decline is expected to continue going forward......while increasing demand is expected in developing countries however I doubt quite a rapid increase given the status of global economies at this point in time.  Main point however, is that the U.S. itself is not expecting to increase its demand any time soon.

On a side note, the EIA expects more U.S. homes to use more heating fuels this Winter. [See report] BP, Shell and others are pushin