Crude Technical Alert April 10th:  WTI dropped below $101 today and looks like it will test $100 either tomorrow or the next day.  Do you think it will break below $100?  Personally, I think we get a bounce.  Whether we hold above $100 in the long run depends on the strength of the coming bounce. 

Also note... very important global meeting with Iran this weekend.  Fireworks will fly if the meeting doesn't go well...

UPDATE April 12:  Crude bouncing ahead of weekend meeting with Iran.  Pivotal time for oil prices...

UPDATE April 17th: WTI has rallied back over $104 on the bounce...

UPDATE April 18th:  WTI dropped on a larger than expected inventory build...

Have any thoughts on the direction of oil prices? Post them below!

Popular question concerning natural gas prices:  Prices are so low ($2.03 today).  How much lower can they go?

Answer: the US is expected to run out of storage space for nat gas this summer.  Once that happens, I think we will see a capitulation in nat gas.  But that capitulation could come at much lower prices.  It's not out of the question for nat gas to trade at $1.25-$1.50 this summer.

UPDATE April 17th:  Nat gas broke below $2.00 today...

What are your thoughts?--- post in the comments section below...

Watchlist Addition April 10th:  Northern Oil and Gas (NOG): Here's a great Bakken producer with an efficient non-operator model.  Shorts have taken control of this name over the past few weeks, but its starting to show signs of life at the $20 support area.  Notice the falling wedge, and also notice the ADX rising above the -DI line (red circle).   This is a classic v-bottom setup.  No entry yet, but I am keeping a very close eye on it.

UPDATE April 12th:  Added to my NOG position at $20.50 this morning.

UPDATE April 17th:  NOG took a dive yesterday along with other oil and gas names.  I lightened up my position at a small loss, but I am still holding a core position from $20.90.  Patience on this one... 

disclosure: I am long NOG from the $21 area.

Energy stocks are getting smoked over the past few days.  However, the receent sell off is creating some very good buying opportunities.  Best to keep cash levels high for now and stalk low-risk/ high-reward trades.  I will post them as I see them....