Each day we read a variety of predictions about the stock market, economy, and the world that are all over the place in terms of the opinions about the future. Lately, there seems to be more attempts to call a major market top by using an indicator that may have worked in the past, but this is no surety the same condition will produce the same result today. Each market cycle is different, and what affects the market today may not be the same as the facts that moved prices in the past. The market is much more complicated than any one indicator or even a set of conditions can accurately predict. We do note, however, that when there is a high preponderance of opinion in one direction or another, that something else is more likely to happen. More often, the reason for a market trend is not apparent until well after the move has occurred, which makes using the same kind of reasoning to predict the future difficult at best, but still fun to try. We think it is better to expect the unexpected when it comes to the stock market, and not just what the majority says will happen. Courtesy of Bob Dickey RBC.

Parties to an agreement to limit crude oil production starting in January were 86 percent in line with commitments, a joint OPEC, non-OPEC group said.Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed in November to sideline about what was expected in global demand so that total member state production would be at 32.5 million barrels per day in January "in order to accelerate the ongoing drawdown of the stock overhang and bring the oil market rebalancing forward." Non-member states, led by Russia, agreed to limit their production in solidarity.OPEC said a joint committee monitoring the terms of the agreement held its inaugural meeting in Vienna to verify compliance."According to the joint technical committee report for January 2017, the OPEC and non-OPEC producers achieved a conformity level of 86 percent," OPEC said in a statement. "The [monitoring committee] noted that there is still room for improvement to reach 100 percent conformity, and, in this regard, urged all parties to press on towards full and timely conformity."Speaking at an energy summit in London earlier this week, OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo said there was strong coordination around the agreement, comments that followed reports suggesting stronger action in the second half of the year.The agreement holds for six months and OPEC said it would consider an extension as appropriate.Libya and Nigeria are exempt from the agreement as they depend on revenue from their energy sectors to help ensure national stability. Iran, meanwhile, is the only member state allowed to increase its production as it looks to regain a market share lost to nuclear-related sanctions.Petromatrix, a sector consultant group based in Switzerland, reported the OPEC cuts are not enough to eat into the surplus of crude oil already on the market. Data this week from the United States, where shale oil is recovering along with crude oil prices, show total U.S. oil stockpiles rose last week for the seventh week in a row.The latest survey from S&P Global Platts found compliance from the 10 OPEC members obligated to cut production at 91 percent. Platts noted coordination from non-OPEC members, but did not include their contribution in its compliance figures.Crude oil prices were slightly lower in early Friday trading. Credit Dan Gruber UPI. 24th Feb 2017.

There are many indexes and securities that have been stuck in ranges for the past several weeks, in an unusually low volatility period during a time when worldly current events have been anything but stable. As far as the markets are concerned, we are waiting for some breakouts from those ranges to give us a better indication of which direction markets may take in the months ahead. The following are some of the more important items and levels we are monitoring: The Dow Industrials are trading in a 19,700–20,100 range for eight weeks, and a clear breakout could be good for another 1000points in the same direction as a breakout. Crude Oil has been stuck mostly in a $50–$55 range for the past 10 weeks. Breaking through either level would give a technical target for a move of at least another $5 in the direction of a breakout. Interest Rates have also been in a range for 10 weeks, with the 10-year Treasury note trading between 2.3% and 2.6% for the period, and once again with a projection of a 0.3%+ move expected in the direction of whichever way it breaks out.

A breakout of the ranges could be meaningful, and considering how they have all been in these ranges for similar time periods, the breakouts may also happen at about the same time. But for now, they continue to creep along within their recent boundaries,
waiting for a catalyst for change.

On e exception is Propylene, which broke the 40 cpp level in US for January, Feb we expect another increase of 5 cpp, March flat to Feb, then Q2 drifting downwards to hit 40 cpp in June July. European propylene is expected to once again increase in March by 25-30 Euro, and drift along with lower Q2 levels. In Asia a heavy turnaround season means propylene remains $950 into March and April when Asian crackers are off line.

Over 60 years, equities ( stocks ) and commodities have mostly ran in the opposite direction. Meaning, with high commodity pricing, we see low stock pricing and vica versa. Right now with low commodity pricing, is augurs well for high equity pricing.

6 Year Oil chart, break out from $55 could reach $80, however the trend is lower. Over the long term the commodity remains range bound for long periods of time.

2016 has been a tougher year for most service companies than 2015, and revenues have continued to fall as much as 27% when compared to 2015 on average. Companies exposed to onshore North American activity have seen their revenues diminish even more. While 2015 was the year that service companies built alliances, 2016 was the year that saw service companies starting to consolidate fully. We have seen many mergers and acquisitions happening, with TechnipFMC and GE-BHI as the frontrunners. Other service companies have started to unlock their own potential by completing the organizational and operational changes that were initiated last year. The overall workforce reductions in the service industry are looking likely to cease in the first half of 2017. 2016 has also seen several companies becoming insolvent or have been dissolved. In North America alone, more than 100 service companies have filed for bankruptcy. Service prices continued to fall, which forced service companies to think about new contractual set ups. Risk and profit sharing have been instruments used to improve these company’s margins. Two weeks ago, news that the oilfield service industry was hoping for was announced. The OPEC-members, supported by Russia and other non-OPEC members, agreed to a target production rate of 32.5 mb/d in order speed up the drawdown of stock overhang in the hopes of balancing the market. With revenues down 30-50%, these OPEC-cuts will deliver a lifeline for many. Since oil prices are expected to average at 60-65 USD/bbl for 2017, following the productioncuts, E&P spending will react accordingly. Within OPEC, the service market will only be marginally affected. Production cuts will be initiated at producing fields and the cost for brownfield services is expected to stay flat. The drawdown of purchases is related to the completion of the offshore development of Upper Zakum in the UAE. The largest reaction will be visible for non-OPEC shale exposed service suppliers. It is estimated that as much as 15 USD billion of additional spending will flow into the market for drilling contractors and well services, assuming 10,000 wells are drilled and completed. Though offshore suppliers should not expect to see their revenues increase next year, the volume of projects rolling over along with deflation in the industry, is still larger than the uptick of new FIDs and contract awards. The EPCI and subsea segments will therefore get reduced and in total, the offshore market will be reduced by 19 billion USD in 2017 compared to 2016. Next year will follow a lot of the trends seen in 2016, with more market consolidation and tighter collaboration between service companies and operators. OPEC production cuts will turn the needle on the FID for many projects in shale and offshore, which will generate more transparency on future activity and revenue.