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Why Natural Gas Could Rally 40% From Here!

March 8, 2016

From the desk of Thomas Bruni @BruniCharting

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In early January I was pretty vocal about fading the rally in Natural Gas futures, but with my downside targets met last week, I think this market is setting up for another sharp rally to the upside.

Before getting into my price analysis, it's important to point out that Natural Gas just entered what is seasonally the best 3 month period of the year while public pessimism sits at multi-year highs. The combination of these conditions could provide prices with a serious tailwind if they begin to gain momentum to the upside.

With that being said, it's no secret that this market remains a mess from a structural perspective, trading below the 2012 lows and downtrend line from the November 2014 highs. My downside price target of the 2015 lows was met and exceeded last week which suggests we approach this market from a neutral perspective until prices can close above the previously mentioned 2012 lows and downtrend line. Only then would it be appropriate to approach this market from the long side, structurally.

Natural Gas Weekly Chart Image 1

Despite the bleak structural picture, recent developments on the daily chart suggest this market is going higher tactically. Last week prices broke below the 2015 lows while momentum positively diverged and quickly broke back above those lows and the downtrend line from the February 8th highs.

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Natural Gas Daily Chart Image 2

This failed breakdown suggests that we want to be aggressively long this market as long as we remain above the December lows on a closing basis. If this rally continues to develop, tactical longs can utilize the following as price targets and areas to reassess depending on their individual process:

  1. The October lows near 1.95
  2. The downtrend line from the August highs and 38.2% retracement of the August-March decline near 2.12
  3. Prior support / resistance, the 61.8% retracement of the August-March decline, and the downward sloping 200 day moving average near 2.43

The Bottom Line: Natural Gas has been absolutely crushed year-to-date, but this failed breakdown provides a tactical entry on the long side where the risk is well-defined and the risk/reward is elevated. With prices extended from their 200 day moving average and seasonality and sentiment providing a strong tailwind to prices, I think this failed breakdown is the start of some serious mean reversion.

We only want to be long this market above the December lows on a closing basis and should look to take profits or reassess the position at the resistance levels discussed above. I ultimately think this market tests the 200 day moving average near 2.43 which represents 40% upside from current levels, but we'll have to see how market conditions develop over the course of the days and weeks ahead.

As always, if you have any questions feel free to reach out and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. @BruniCharting

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JC here - I like where Bruni's head is on this one. He nailed the fade earlier this year and now he's looking for a mean reversion. If there's anyone we want to listen to in this market it's Bruni. Natural Gas has been destroyed, no doubt. All of the attention is on Crude Oil, and ignoring natural gas, which we love to see. Seasonals and sentiment are in favor of the bulls here. Momentum is diverging positively, potentially on multiple timeframes. Most importantly, the risk is very well-defined. That's not always the case. I would only own this if we're above the December lows. No reason to be long if we're below that. It's that simple. Well done Bruni.

This Wednesday 3/9/16 is our Monthly Members Only Conference Call. If you’ve been considering a 30-Day Risk-Free Trial, now is the time. We are offering a deep discount that only lasts until this Wednesday.

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Tags: $NG_F $UNG $BOIL $UGAZ $DGAZ

The author does not have a position in the mentioned securities at the time of publication. 

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