An alliance of US and Canadian chemical companies oppose increased natural gas exports and are lobbying against export permitting. Fitch Ratings believes operating margins for these companies might see compression from current robust levels if significant gas exports materialize.

On Apr. 1, the first trading day of the second quarter, front-month crude declined 0.2% in the New York futures market after the Institute for Supply Management reported a dip in its manufacturing index for March. Natural gas also was down 0.2% on forecasts for milder weather.

Energy prices were mixed Mar. 28, with front-month crude still climbing but petroleum products and natural gas prices down on the New York market.

Markets were down in early trading Mar. 27, but front-month crude managed a 0.2% increase by the time floor transactions ended in New York. Natural gas continued its cold weather rally, up 2.5% in the session.

Oil prices increased Mar. 26 with crude up 1.4% to its highest close in a month on the New York market, buoyed by improved US economic data and near-resolution of the Cyprus crisis. Natural gas climbed 2.8% with cooler weather.

Changing global natural gas markets may compel Russia’s state gas company Gazprom to dramatically change, two Washington observers suggested, but the changes won’t be easy, and will take time, they said during a seminar at the Atlantic Council.

Energy prices generally were up Mar. 25 with front-month crude up 1.2% in the New York market after European leaders reached a bailout agreement with Cyprus, but other economic indicators remain mixed.

Crude prices were up Mar. 22 in mixed markets, but US natural gas prices in New York were down prior to a last-minute decision Mar. 25 in Cyprus to tap bank deposits that exceed the €100,000 insured level in order to secure a €10 billion bailout of its economy.

US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Ronald L. Wyden (D-Ore.) asked the Environmental Protection Agency for data to explain unprecedented volatility in the market for Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN). RINs are designed to help refiners meet alternative fuel volume requirements under the federal Renewable Fuels Standard.

Energy prices generally were down in mixed markets Mar. 21 with crude losing 0.6%. in New York while the United Nations’ International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank, the European Union, and Russia “squabbled” over the possible economy bailout for Cyprus.

Efforts to boost the use of natural gas in the US should begin with the industry producing the fuel, according an executive of a large independent gas producer.

US Sens. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alas.) said they will introduce an expanded version of federal energy revenue sharing legislation they have offered previously.

Oil prices rebounded Mar. 20 with front-month crude up 1% in the New York futures market as a bullish inventory report and no change in the Federal Reserve’s economic stimulus program apparently overwhelmed concerns of economic woes in Cyprus.

The front-month crude contract fell 1.8% Mar. 19 in the New York futures market as the Cyprus government’s rejected an unpopular proposal for a 10% tax on individual bank deposits above €20,000 to bail out its economy.