The Energy Report for Tuesday, August 18, 2009
By Phil Flynn
18 August 2009 @ 08:50 am EDT
Oil moved with the market's massive mood swing as it tried to determine just where we are in the economic recovery. A weak stock market and a flight to quality helped shore up the dollar and in turn took its toll on the commodities. Across the board we saw metals, grains and petroleum give way as concerns are mounting that perhaps we have priced in too much good news too soon. Even the surprising jump in the Empire State Manufacturing number seemed to be ignored by a marketplace that seemed fixated on running for cover. The index rose to 12.1 from negative 0.6 in July the first positive reading since April 2008, and the highest since November 2007. Manufacturing expansion could be a sign that demand destruction for energy may be bottoming out but with option expiration and a sinking feeling in the stock-market, it was not enough to save the market.