The Phil Flynn Energy Report

The CFTC is demanding an investigation and wants to learn what happened and why. While the Federal Reserve's promise of unlimited QE3D has put a floor under the oil market and there the bullish support of rising tension in the Middle East and North Africa there could be some developments that are actually bearish for oil.

Perhaps the most bearish story that is developing is the dispute between China and Japan over islands in the East China Sea. Pressures started to heat up when Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara said he would use public funds to buy the islands which are called the Diaoyu Island in Chinese and Senkaku in Japanese, from a private Japanese owner. When the Japanese cabinet approved the purchase of the islands China said it would not allow that to happen.

The concern for oil traders is the potential damage to Chinese Japanese trade and its impact on oil demand. RT News reported that China and Japan generated trade worth $345 billion last year. China was the largest market for Japanese exports in 2011, while Japan was the fourth-largest market for Chinese export goods. China's exports to Japan reached $148.3 billion last year while it imported $194.6 billion of Japanese goods, according to Chinese customs figures.

The worry is that an escalation could weaken the demand for oil. It could lead to safe haven buying in the dollar and bonds and cause a flight away from the Euro be very dollar bearish.

Speaking of the Euro and saving the Euro that mantra might be put to the test as it is rumored that Spain is getting ready to ask for a bailout. Word that they are negotiating the terms could put initially downward pressure on the Euro and also commodities across the board.

Of course if a Spanish bailout goes well that might create the blue print for other bailouts which if it works would then later be Euro bullish and commodity bullish. Of course that would be after a fearful deflationary like sell -off.

Other than that the other bullish forces lie underneath. QE 3d and tensions rising, in Libya the killing of an Islamic terrorist could lead to reprisals. The worries about Israel attacking Iran are still out there. And other anti-American protests in the Middle East and Africa. Make sure you stay tuned to the Fox Business Network to keep up with the latest! Also make sure you open your PRICE Futures Group account today. Just call me at 888-264-5665 or email me at pflynn@pricegroup.com     

Phil Flynn