Natural Gas Price Forecast Archives - Page 18 of 21

By Dean Rogers

November natural gas closed below major support at $2.63 Tuesday and then settled below $2.55, the 0.618 projection of the wave $2.859 – 2.592 – 2.72 Wednesday. Most waves that meet the 0.618 projection extend to at least the 1.00, in this case $2.45. Therefore, odds favor $2.45. This is a highly confluent target that is in line with this year’s $2.443 perpetual swing low. Many factors make $2.45 a potential stalling point. At minimum, we expect a pullback once $2.45 is met.

First resistance for tomorrow is $2.55. Resistance at $2.59 should hold. The key level for the near term is $2.64. This is the 62 percent retracement of the decline from $2.742 and the 38 percent retracement from $2.859.

This is a brief natural gas forecast ahead of tomorrow’s EIA report. Our weekly Natural Gas Commentary is a much more detailed and thorough analysis. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four week trial.

By Dean Rogers

Natural gas had oscillated in an expanding triangle since August 24. Monday’s break higher out of the pattern was positive, but stalled at $2.794, the 50 percent retracement from $2.959 to $2.632.

The move to $2.794 was healthy because the decline had become stale. The rally gave bears a new opportunity to short the market.

Tuesday’s close below Monday’s $2.73 midpoint formed a daily dark cloud cover (bearish), and Wednesday’s close below $2.70 confirmed the pattern. This is also in line with the 62 percent retracement from $2.632 to $2.794.

Caution is warranted and trading will likely remain choppy, but the bearish technical factors indicate another test of $2.63 is expected. A close below this would open the way for the decline to $2.55 and lower have expected for several weeks.

By Dean Rogers

It is a glorious time of year. The evenings are cooler, the air is a bit crisper, and the seven month void in my soul has been filled. Football season is upon us, and all is right with the world.

I grew up playing football and my father and uncles coached youth football for over 30 years. Being a coach’s son I have always had an appreciation for the tactical side of the game, especially low scoring (some might say boring) defensive struggles. These games are won not only by raw talent, but strategy, patience, and perseverance.

A defensive battle on the gridiron reminds me of the natural gas market right now. From the outside looking in most see a stale and boring game being played. It is a bit like watching grass grow and they have already switched channels to watch a more exciting game. However, there is a battle taking place between bulls and bears and natural gas’s game is nearing the end of the fourth quarter.

My money is still on the bears (hopefully Cutler has been benched).

Natural gas has oscillated in a range that is widening ever so slightly since August 24. The pattern it forms is called an expanding triangle, which is negative because the market entered the formation after falling from $2.959 to $2.641. Expanding triangles form when there is mounting indecision and typically has bearish ramifications.

The bulls may attempt one last Hail Mary before all is said and done. Another test of the upper end of the wedge near $2.75 might take place over the next few days, but odds continue to favor a decline to $2.54 and lower once prices break out of the triangle and close below $2.62.

The natural gas game may go into overtime, and it may be another week or more before prices finally break lower. For now though, stick to your strategy, be patient, and persevere.

By Dean Rogers

Unseasonably warm weather for early September has supported prices in the prompt month and prices were trading in a tight range between $2.64 and $2.725.

Late Wednesday afternoon October natural gas finally broke lower and a new contract low was made. In addition, the winter strip also fell to new lows again confirming the negative outlook.

Look for at least $2.59 ahead of tomorrow’s EIA storage report and possibly $2.53 before the end of the week.

Trading will remain choppy, so another test of $2.72 and possibly $2.77 is not out of the question. We expect $2.77 to hold. A close over this would call for an extended upward correction.

By Dean Rogers

Natural gas continues to hold the lower end of the trading range between $2.65 and $2.95 on a closing basis. October natural gas futures stalled at $2.641 and subsequently formed a bearish flag (blue trend lines). Flags are generally a reliable type of continuation pattern, which means the flag should break lower soon. The next targets are $2.62 and $2.55.

A daily morning star setup (not shown) indicates the upward correction may extend. Resistance at $2.75 should hold. This is the 38 percent retracement from $2.959, the 62 percent retracement from $2.816, and the 1.382 projection of the wave up from $2.641. A close over $2.75 would confirm the morning star and call for an extended correction $2.80 and possibly $2.85.

Overall, our bias remains negative. Therefore, even if prices rose to test resistance we expect $2.75 to hold and for natural gas to continue its decline.

By Dean Rogers

For most of 2015 natural gas has traded within a range between $2.65 and $2.95, and within the past week prices have tested both the upper and lower boundaries of the range. After failing to overcome $2.95 and stalling at $2.934 on August 12, prices declined to $2.68 on August 18, a confluent target for the waves down from $2.957 and $2.934.

Technical and fundamental factors favor a continued decline below the $2.65 boundary of the range to at least $2.60. This is another confluent target and a close below $2.60 would confirm the break lower out of the trading range.

Wednesday’s bullish Harami land and star setup indicates that the upward correction from $2.68 might extend to $2.776 and possibly $2.834 first. These are the 38 and 62 percent retracement of the move down from $2.934. Resistance at $2.776 should hold, but $2.834 is the threshold for another attempt to overcome $2.95.

Overall, the bias is negative. The move down may be a grind lower for now, but time is running short for summer weather to continue to support prices above $2.65. Last week’s push to $2.934 may have been the last hurrah, and the move down is now poised to continue.

By Dean Rogers

For several weeks natural gas has been trading within a range bound between $2.65 and $2.95, and more recently between $2.71 and $2.88. On Wednesday natural gas prices closed at the highest level since May 21 at $2.931, and the first class KEES permissions (blue dots) confirm the positive tone. Natural gas futures are now poised to overcome $2.95 and challenge $3.00. This is a confluent projection for the waves up from $2.656 and $2.706.

A close over $3.00 will open the way for an extended upward correction, but keep in mind, this rally may be short lived as the end of summer and its warm weather are rapidly approaching. This upward correction may very well be the last hurrah before the end of summer, and it is going to be a lot easier for longer-term bears to short from $3.00 versus $2.70.

In addition, not only is the market is nearing a past failure point at $2.95, but both the KaseCD and KasePO momentum indicators are setup for bearish divergence. This is a signal that forms when higher price highs are accompanied by lower momentum highs. Bearish divergence is a signal that indicates the move up is exhausted.

Should price turn lower look for support at $2.85 and $2.70. These are the 38 and 62 percent retracements of the move up from $2.706 to $2.934.

By Dean Rogers

Patience is a virtue.

Natural gas has been trying the patience of traders as it continues to trade in a range between approximately $2.65 and $2.95. This week’s rise from $2.706 is very similar to last week’s move up from $2.735, and given today’s decline and close below $2.80, it looks like another failure to overcome key resistance at $2.89 is taking place…again!

September futures stalled at $2.863, the 62 percent retracement from $2.957 to $2.706. This is also just below $2.892, the 0.618 projection of the wave up from $2.656. The retracements and projections confirm that $2.89 is a key level. A close over this would call for an attempt to overcome $2.95 and break out of the trading range.

However, the bearish KaseCD divergence and close below $2.80, the 38 percent retracement from $2.706 to $2.863, indicates prices are now positioned to challenge support at $2.77, the 62 percent retracement. A close below $2.77 would then open the way for another attempt of $2.65 and lower.

The take away this week – be patient.

By Dean Rogers

Natural gas continues to oscillate in a range between $2.65 and $2.95 as weather forecasts change from week-to-week. “Sweltering” heat in the US Northeast is the latest reason reported for this week’s price rise.

However, it is important to keep in mind that the shifting weather forecasts and related events have kept the market range bound for the last few months, and even if prices do break higher the move is still corrective of the longer-term down trend.

If I sound skeptical of the move up, it is because I am, but as of Wednesday’s close most technical factors indicate $2.95 may be challenged again. These factors show that the key to testing $2.95 is a close over $2.87. This crucial resistance level was tested a few times on Wednesday. It is the 62 percent retracement of the decline from $2.957 to $2.735, near last Thursday’s midpoint, and a confluent projection for the small waves up from $2.735. A close over $2.87 would call for a test of $2.95, which is in line with the 0.618 projection of the wave $2.656 – 2.957 – 2.735.

KaseX’s buy signal (green diamond) is promising and the pullback from $2.87 held the 38 percent retracement of the move up from $2.735. Look for prices to push above $2.87 in early trading tomorrow and to possibly overcome $2.95 in the event that the EIA storage report is bullish.

Near term support is $2.79, the 62 percent retracement from $2.735 to $2.87. This level should hold provided the move up is going to challenge $2.95. A close below $2.79 would shift the near-term outlook to negative and call for $2.73.

Natural gas is idling in neutral again and is struggling to overcome key resistance levels. We are still negative for the longer-term, but the near term outlook is looking slightly positive.

The small move up is confirmed by long KaseX signals (green diamonds) on the $0.035 Kase Bar chart. In addition, Wednesday’s close over $2.895, the 1.00 projection for the wave up from $2.785, has opened the way for its 1.618 projection near $2.96. The $2.96 target is crucial because it is the 0.618 projection for the wave up from $2.644. A close over $2.96 would call for an extended correction to targets above $3.00.

Other than the quick move up from $2.644, the recent move up has lacked conviction. A daily evening star setup and hanging man indicates traders are still not quite sure if the market is ready to make the push higher. Tuesday’s $2.84 open is first support, and a close below this would call for another test of the $2.785 swing low.

Natural Gas Forecast: Poised to Test $2.45

Category: Natural Gas Price Forecast