Money managers in the WTI crude futures and options markets maintained their net long positions in the week ended July 28, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's latest Commitments of Traders report released on Friday.
The data showed that money managers reported 195,035 long positions, up 5,550 from July 21, while short positions were down 15,852 to 86,728. Producers, merchants, processors, and users held 685,092 long positions and 321,341 short positions.
Ameren (AEE) reported Q2 earnings Thursday, showing total electric sales of 16.210 terrawatt-hours for the quarter ended June 30, up from 15.672 TWh a year earlier.Total natural gas sales were 33 million dekatherms, unchanged from a year earlier. Ameren Illinois Natural Gas sold 29 million, down from 30 million, while Ameren Missouri sold 4 million dekatherms, up from 3 million.Ameren Missouri's total electricity sales increased to 8.549 TWh in Q2, up from 7.873 TWh a year earlier, as retail load rose to 7.358 TWh from 7.211 TWh and off-system sales climbed to 1.191 TWh from 0.662 TWh.Ameren Missouri residential electricity sales rose to 2.816 TWh from 2.812 TWh a year earlier, while commercial sales increased to 3.456 TWh from 3.349 TWh.Ameren Missouri industrial electricity sales increased to 1.074 TWh from 1.037 TWh in the corresponding quarter last year.Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution sold 7.661 TWh in the quarter, compared with 7.799 TWh a year earlier.Ameren Illinois residential electricity sales eased to 2.399 TWh from 2.435 TWh, while commercial sales slipped to 2.741 TWh from 2.758 TWh.Industrial electricity sales at Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution declined to 2.429 TWh for the quarter, down from 2.511 TWh in the year-ago period.
Edison International (EIX) reported Q2 earnings Thursday, highlighting continued progress on wildfire mitigation, grid hardening and its capital investment program.Southern California Edison has completed over 14,760 circuit miles of grid hardening, representing about 90% of its distribution system in high fire risk areas.The utility plans to complete roughly 970 additional circuit miles through 2028.The company expects to invest $38 billion to $41 billion between 2026 and 2030 to strengthen its regulated electric transmission and distribution system.The forecast through 2030 includes California Independent System Operator-awarded Federal Energy Regulatory Commission transmission projects with an additional $2 billion of such projects identified beyond 2030.The forecast also includes investments approved under Southern California Edison's 2025 General Rate Case, about half of its planned $3.1 billion advanced metering infrastructure program and its planned 2029 General Rate Case request.Beyond 2030, Edison International sees additional investment opportunities through its planned 2029 General Rate Case and the remaining half of its planned $3.1 billion advanced metering infrastructure program in 2031-2033.
US natural gas prices pared earlier gains in after-hours trading Thursday after government data showed a smaller-than-expected weekly storage increase, reinforcing expectations that the market balance is tightening.Both the front-month futures contract and the continuous contract rose 0.92% to settle at $2.747 per million British thermal units.The US Energy Information Administration reported that working gas in underground storage increased by 28 billion cubic feet in the week ended July 24, below analyst expectations for a build of roughly 37 Bcf. Total inventories climbed to 3,084 Bcf, leaving stocks 32 Bcf below year-ago levels but 185 Bcf above the five-year average of 2,899 Bcf.As of July 24, natural gas inventories were down 1.2% from a year earlier and 6.4% above the five-year seasonal average, indicating that supplies remain adequate despite recent market tightening.The Energy Buyers' Guide noted that Thursday's 28-Bcf storage build was the smallest injection of the season, reflecting a tighter market balance driven by persistent heat and elevated power-sector demand. However, the market has largely shrugged off the supportive weather backdrop, as robust production and lower LNG feedgas demand, caused by continued maintenance at Freeport LNG, continue to weigh on prices.Barchart, citing BNEF data, said US natural gas output rose by 0.3 Bcf on Thursday to 112.4 Bcf per day, and remained 2.9% above year-ago levels.Lower-48 natural gas demand stood at 81.6 Bcf/d on Thursday, down 0.6 Bcf from the previous day and 4.3% below year-ago levels. Celsius Energy estimated power burn at 48.3 Bcf on July 29, down 1.2 Bcf from the prior day and 5.6 Bcf below the same day last year.Looking ahead, the Commodity Weather Group said Thursday that above-normal temperatures are expected across the western half of the US through Aug. 13, potentially supporting regional cooling demand.Meanwhile, estimated LNG net flows to US LNG export terminals remained steady above 18 Bcf/d on Thursday. Aegis Hedging said Corpus Christi LNG received authorization to flow feedgas to Midscale Train 7. The train is expected to add roughly 186 million cubic feet per day of feedgas demand once fully operational. Commissioning began in late June, and nominations to Corpus Christi have increased by roughly 100 MMcf/d this week.