Natural Gas Catches a Bid as the U.S. Drowns in Supply

ETF Database submits: U.S. equity markets rose higher in Thursday trading as speculation over solid earnings reports in the coming days helped to boost investor sentiment. The Dow rose by 85 points while the S&P 500 gained 0.9% in the session, but both gains paled in comparison to the tech-heavy Nasdaq, which added 1.4% on the day due to another strong day out of the semiconductor segment and a solid performance out of the software industry as well.

Irfan Chaudhry submits: Crude oil has always been an important portfolio diversifier. This historical diversification benefit increased even more in 2009 / 2010. With Federal Reserve Bank of US pumping more money into the system, the crude oil price is likely to head higher which may provide the investors return enhancement besides portfolio volatility reduction in 2011.

Trader Mark submits:Wheat, sugar, coffee, cocoa, corn, gold, silver - whatever speculators can get their hands on with fiat money (ex natural gas which is in a personal nightmare), it's time to bid it up to the moon.

ETF Database submits: After a disappointing GDP growth number sent the markets lower to start the day, equities surged back in afternoon trading to finish the day at breakeven, with only the Nasdaq registering a measurable gain posting an increase of 0.1%. This came as a result of the U.S. reporting Q2 GDP growth of just 2.4%, slightly less than the expected reading of 2.5%.

Eamon Keane submits:Natural gas is the fossil fuel du jour. At Davos, BP CEO Tony Hayward described unconventional natural gas as a 'complete game changer'. The rest of the panel agreed.

ETF Database submits: Jefferies (JEF), an up-and-coming player in the commodity ETF space, has applied for SEC approval on two new commodity ETFs.

Michael Johnston submits:The rapid rise of the ETF industry has caused the expanded the investment arsenal of millions significantly, bringing asset classes previously reserved for only the largest and most sophisticated investors within reach. This development is perhaps best demonstrated by the surge in popularity of exchange-traded commodity products.

Andrew Wilkinson submits: Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (SWHC) – Firearms and ammunition manufacturer Smith & Wesson hasn’t had a real nice time of it lately with shares missing out largely on the broader rally. Are guns the first thing to go in a recessionary environment?