Checking in on the energy investing framework as we approach year end 2020

First we revisit the rules. 1) Equities follow crude
2) Crude timespreads momentum dictates crude price momentum. Strengthening timespreads = strengthening crude price
3) Over the medium term, crude follows a) global inventories & b) Emerging Markets (BRICS) growth.

In a nutshell, as goes the global business cycle, so goes the energy cycle

#1 Crude vs OECD inventories #2 Crude vs BRICs GDP
The energy cycle consists of inventory build & draw periods

Draws=bullish
Builds=bearish

Energy equities (red, inverted) and crude inventories
A refresher on the behavior of energy equities within the phases of the energy cycle. History doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes across cycles.
OECD crude inventory peak/trough levels will mark the inception/terminus of the cycle. Timespreads define the four phases of the energy cycle.
'10-'16 is the template. After GFC, inventories peaked 2H10 and began ~3yr draw until late ’13 as global growth recovered. Inventories built gradually then aggressively following the 4Q14 OPEC collapse, finally peaking mid ‘16

We will examine the current cycle vs ‘10-’16
Using timespreads as the barometer of global crude market tightness or weakness, we break the cycle down into 4 phases
Below is progression of the crude curve throughout the phases of the 2010-2016 cycle. Starts in serious bearish contango, heads to flat, eventually bullishly backwardated, then fades to flat en route to contango again.
Equity performance across the cycle. In general, equities trend in the direction of timespreads, moving concurrently with a tightening or loosening crude market.
How is the 2020+ cycle faring vs the framework? Where are we now and where are/may we be going?
The last month has seen a sharp reversal in crude markets. 2-6 mo timespread has gone from soggy contango to backwardation in Brent and near backwardation in WTI. The shape of the curve has strengthened considerably
Equities have directionally followed crude and have closed much of the relative gap in the recent rally
Crude strip is following trajectory of global inventories
Crude market is looking ahead to ‘21 post-COVID growth. BRICs GDP growth to accelerate to >5% in ‘21 vs only 1% in ’20
History doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes. What is different with the ‘20 cycle vs priors?

First and foremost, refining margins
Refining margins are, in a word, terrible. Using Singapore Dubai FCC as a proxy for Asian refining, today’s refining margins ($0/bbl) are considerably worse than prior recovery periods where margins averaged $5.50/bbl. This raises questions about strength product demand today
Europe – same story. Current Urals HCC margins of $2/bbl pale in comparison to $8/bbl margins in prior recoveries
US again same story
In the midst of ramp in cases and lockdowns, it seems counterintuitive that energy demand would be aggressively increasing
It is worth considering whether China, epicenter of crude demand growth, is rebuilding crude inventories ahead of new refinery start ups & in response to recently increased import quotas - because China refineries are not running harder in response to demand
So maybe they're filling tanks. Product demand is not keeping up with fleeting crude demand uptick. Products are being dumped globally because demand is not materializing. US (among others) is the dumping ground for int'l product exports
Maybe a physical commodity that clears on prompt supply/demand looks stronger on paper than it actually is steady-state. Market has a tendency to bid Energy and Shorted Stocks in December. Ride the lightning.
Just in case tank filling isn't sustainable and short covering isn't the new norm, be wary of the period when the bid may stop.
Don’t forget that the US energy industry’s greatest enemy is the US energy industry
They grew when crude rose last time, maybe they'll grow again. US production was recently 13 mmbbld when the strip was $50. What will it do next year when the strip is ... $50?

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Fake chats claiming to be from the Irish African community are being disseminated by the far right in order to suggest that violence is imminent from #BLM supporters. This is straight out of the QAnon and Proud Boys playbook. Spread the word. Protest safely. #georgenkencho


There is co-ordination across the far right in Ireland now to stir both left and right in the hopes of creating a race war. Think critically! Fascists see the tragic killing of #georgenkencho, the grief of his community and pending investigation as a flashpoint for action.


Across Telegram, Twitter and Facebook disinformation is being peddled on the back of these tragic events. From false photographs to the tactics ofwhite supremacy, the far right is clumsily trying to drive hate against minority groups and figureheads.


Declan Ganley’s Burkean group and the incel wing of National Party (Gearóid Murphy, Mick O’Keeffe & Co.) as well as all the usuals are concerted in their efforts to demonstrate their white supremacist cred. The quiet parts are today being said out loud.


The best thing you can do is challenge disinformation and report posts where engagement isn’t appropriate. Many of these are blatantly racist posts designed to drive recruitment to NP and other Nationalist groups. By all means protest but stay safe.

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Trump is gonna let the Mueller investigation end all on it's own. It's obvious. All the hysteria of the past 2 weeks about his supposed impending firing of Mueller was a distraction. He was never going to fire Mueller and he's not going to


Mueller's officially end his investigation all on his own and he's gonna say he found no evidence of Trump campaign/Russian collusion during the 2016 election.

Democrats & DNC Media are going to LITERALLY have nothing coherent to say in response to that.

Mueller's team was 100% partisan.

That's why it's brilliant. NOBODY will be able to claim this team of partisan Democrats didn't go the EXTRA 20 MILES looking for ANY evidence they could find of Trump campaign/Russian collusion during the 2016 election

They looked high.

They looked low.

They looked underneath every rock, behind every tree, into every bush.

And they found...NOTHING.

Those saying Mueller will file obstruction charges against Trump: laughable.

What documents did Trump tell the Mueller team it couldn't have? What witnesses were withheld and never interviewed?

THERE WEREN'T ANY.

Mueller got full 100% cooperation as the record will show.
The chorus of this song uses the shlokas taken from Sundarkand of Ramayana.

It is a series of Sanskrit shlokas recited by Jambavant to Hanuman to remind Him of his true potential.

1. धीवर प्रसार शौर्य भरा: The brave persevering one, your bravery is taking you forward.


2. उतसारा स्थिरा घम्भीरा: The one who is leaping higher and higher, who is firm and stable and seriously determined.

3. ुग्रामा असामा शौर्या भावा: He is strong, and without an equal in the ability/mentality to fight

4. रौद्रमा नवा भीतिर्मा: His anger will cause new fears in his foes.

5.विजिटरीपुरु धीरधारा, कलोथरा शिखरा कठोरा: This is a complex expression seen only in Indic language poetry. The poet is stating that Shivudu is experiencing the intensity of climbing a tough peak, and likening

it to the feeling in a hard battle, when you see your enemy defeated, and blood flowing like a rivulet. This is classical Veera rasa.

6.कुलकु थारथिलीथा गम्भीरा, जाया विराट वीरा: His rough body itself is like a sharp weapon (because he is determined to win). Hail this complete

hero of the world.

7.विलयगागनथाला भिकारा, गरज्जद्धरा गारा: The hero is destructive in the air/sky as well (because he can leap at an enemy from a great height). He can defeat the enemy (simply) with his fearsome roar of war.