Energy & Commodities

Natural Gas Set To Fall Even Further

Posted by Irina Slav

on Thursday, 5 December 2019 9:37

Slowing gas demand in China is set to pressure international gas prices further, adding to the burden of producers, some of whom already have to deal with excess supply.

Bloomberg quoted a researcher from China’s economic planning authority, who said at a BloombergNEF event in Shanghai that over the next five years, China’s demand for gas will slow down, especially in the liquefied natural gas department. The reasons for the slowdown will be economic: forecasters expect slower GDP growth in the world’s second-largest economy. Not last because of the continued trade war with the United States.

The Power of Siberia launched officially on Monday, with China’s and Russia’s presidents hailing the infrastructure as a cornerstone in bilateral relations. The two have a 30-year contract for gas supplies and these are bound to undermine Chinese LNG demand.

Domestic production will also take a chunk out of that particular gas demand segment as Beijing seeks to reduce its overwhelming reliance on imports. Tariffs on U.S. LNG imports will not help producers either….CLICK for complete article

Trade Deal Not Likely Before Christmas 2020

Posted by Fred Dunkley

on Wednesday, 4 December 2019 8:56

So much for that trade war deal for Christmas. It’s not happening, and the DOW has shed nearly 400 points since this morning on that holiday sentiment alone.  By 12:28pm EST, the DOW had shed over 440 points.

Earlier today in London, Trump dropped a trade war bombshell, saying that a deal isn’t like until 2020, and worse–not until after presidential elections, adding that “In some ways I think it’s better to wait for after the election if you want to know the truth”.

That likely means that Trump has been less than forthcoming about the success of negotiations about a trade deal, and publicly aiming for a deal after elections would suggest that it wasn’t a failure, officially, so might resonate less at the polls.

And “after the elections” is a vague notion, and Trump concedes that he has “no deadline”.

The DOW just took a plunge because the markets had already priced in a trade deal after a verbal agreement between China and the U.S. over a month ago.

And it’s not just the China element that’s dragging down the markets…CLICK for complete article

Tesla’s Largest Competitor Is Hidden In Plain Sight

Posted by Jon LeSage

on Tuesday, 3 December 2019 9:45

The Tesla Cybertruck is getting the enthusiasm CEO Elon Musk had hoped for, bragging that 200,000 pre-orders have already been placed for the futuristic electric pickup launched Thursday night. But he’s yet to respond to Nikola Motors CEO Trevor Milton’s offer to share his company’s even cooler fuel cell pickup design to reach a “broader market.”

Nikola Motors is at the center of a surge in support for hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles that had been missing. Musk for years has dismissed and ridiculed hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, but the truck segment is grabbing hold of it — along with cleantech and green power advocates — who had previously always chosen electric vehicles over fuel cell. Consulting firm Cleantech Group calls it a new path to “decarbonize transportation.”

Nikola, Toyota, and Hyundai are being given credit for opening up the “hydrogen highway” through what they’re bringing out in hydrogen-powered commercial trucks. Daimler Trucks, Kenworth, and truck engine maker Cummins are also entering the race. Fuel cell buses are another segment gaining support….CLICK for complete article

Canadian Households And Businesses Are Going Broke Faster Than Last Year

Posted by BetterDwelling

on Monday, 2 December 2019 10:09

Canadians have been on a debt binge, and some cracks are starting to appear. The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada (OSB) saw an increased number of filings in October. Insolvency filings have been moving higher for the past year, especially in the consumer segment.

Canadians Filed Over 139,000 Insolvencies

Canadian insolvencies are rising very quickly from last year’s numbers. There were 13,512 insolvency filings in October, up 11% from a month before. The monthly number is up 13% when compared to the same month last year. In the past 12-months there were 139,194 filings ending in October, which is up 8.8% when compared to the same timeframe a year before. This implies growth could be accelerating even faster….CLICK for complete article

Mike’s Editorial – Governments Can’t Help Themselves

Posted by Michael Campbell

on Saturday, 30 November 2019 10:49

The EcoFiscal Commission is the latest to recommend a carbon tax BUT with a big caveat – in order to offset the impact – the money must be returned to the individuals and businesses who paid it. In other words, revenue neutral – sadly governments disagree.