Earlier today, Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (SXL) -- a master limited partnership (MLP) -- announced weaker-than-expected third quarter results, hurt by a 50% fall in sales on the back of lower crude oil prices. The partnership reported earnings per unit (EPU) of $1.13, well below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.44. In the year-ago period, Sunoco Logistics earned $1.41 per unit. Distribution Raised However, the partnership raised its quarterly distribution by 2.4% sequentially and 10.4% year-over-year to $1.065 per unit or $4.26 per unit annualized, representing the 25th distribution increase in the past 26 quarters. Distributable cash flow increased approximately 4% year-over-year to $54.4 million. Refined Products Pipeline System Operating income in the Refined Products Pipeline System segment increased more than 40% year-over-year to $13.3 million, primarily resulting from a $6.3 million increase in sales and other revenue. The revenue gains reflected contributions from ...

Sunoco Logistics Partners, L.P. (SXL) announced its second quarter results after yesterday’s market close. The partnership reported second quarter earnings per unit (EPU) of $1.74 per limited partner diluted units, well above our expectations of $1.20 and market expectations of $1.47.  The partnership’s better-than-expected performance was primarily driven by significantly higher lease acquisition results, higher fees, and positive results from the November 2008 acquired MagTex refined products pipeline system. However, total revenue for the quarter decreased more than 61% year-over-year to $1.3 billion.  Importantly, the partnership raised its quarterly distribution by 2.5% sequentially and 11.2% year-over-year to $1.04 per unit or $4.16 per unit annualized, representing the 24th distribution increase in the past 25 quarters. Distributable cash flow increased approximately 25% year-over-year to $71.8 million.  Operating income in the Refined Products Pipeline System segment increased more than 23% year-over-year to $10.6 million, primarily resulting from ...

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Here is a transcript of a recent video on INO TV. The CME Group’s Managing Director of Energy & Metals

Products & Services, Joseph Raia talks about crude oil, natural gas and the world every markets. See more from Raia and more CME analysts by signing up at INO TV.

“Crude Oil & Energy Update” - Interview with the CME Group’s Joseph Ria

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“When you hear the news reporters talk about

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In the energy market, crude oil for August delivery rose 27 cents from Wednesday to close at $60.41/barrel. August reformulated gasoline gained more than 3 cents to finish at $1.6638/gallon.

As evidence of how screwed up things are out there, crude apparently got a boost from the Labor Department’s report mentioned above. So more than half a million new people filing for unemployment in a week is good news?

“The jobs data and the dollar are helping oil today,” said Phil Flynn, vice president at futures trading and research firm PFG BEST Research. “But weak demand concerns are rising.”

Meanwhile, crude inventories at Cushing, Okla. – the delivery point for crude futures traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange – jumped to 30.2 million barrels last week, up 5.6% and adding pressure to futures prices.

Also on the energy front, U.S. natural gas inventories rose 75 billion cubic feet in the week ended

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In the energy market on Wednesday, crude for August delivery accelerated its slide, closing at $60.14/barrel, down $2.79. August reformulated gasoline lost 9.95 cents, to $1.6333/gallon. In its weekly inventory report, the Energy Information Administration said that crude stocks fell by 2.9 million barrels in the week ended July 3, slightly less than anticipated. gasoline supplies rose 1.9 million barrels, and distillates were up 3.7 million barrels. Refineries were operating at 86.8% of capacity last week, vs. the previous week’s 87%.

There were no great surprises in the report. However, there was an uptick in crude inventories at Cushing, Okla. — the delivery point for crude futures traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange. They jumped to 30.2 million barrels last week, up 5.6%, which added a bit of pressure to futures prices.

Summing up, “The market is adjusting itself,” said Michael Fitzpatrick, of MF Global. “In the past few weeks,

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Last year, oil prices went crazy. In a matter of weeks, oil shot up as high as $147 and came right back down. Today, oil is sneaking back up. The obvious temptation is to try and time it again. The smart money, however, is looking elsewhere to take advantage. We found the perfect penny play to do just that…

Spreading Your Bet Without Losing Any Profits

Instead of outright betting on oil’s price, let’s use the spread between oil and gas. After all, some of the largest companies in the world do this. All the large oil companies (ExxonMobil -NYSE:XOM-, BP, Shell -NYSE:RDS.A-, etc.) do it by owning refineries.

Now, to be fair, most of their profits don’t come from the refinery process. But big money is still out there for the taking. Just take a look at industry leader Valero (NYSE:VLO). Last year, while it may not have

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Highlights include Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), Chevron Corp. (CVX), Transocean Ltd. (RIG), Pride International, Inc. (PDE) and Schlumberger Ltd. (SLB).Oil Inventories Close to Multi-Year HighsIn its weekly status report today, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported another build in inventories of crude oil and refined products. But the increase in inventories was less than expected, strengthening oil prices that had weakened in anticipation of a substantial build.Despite the relatively favorable report, the fact remains that crude oil stockpiles remain significantly above seasonal and historical levels. In fact, at 361.1 million barrels, current crude oil inventories are just one million barrels shy of their highest point since 1990.The agency reported that total commercial crude oil stocks increased by 1.7 million barrels from the preceding week, modestly below expectations. Current stocks are 14.3% above the year-earlier level and ...

Highlights include Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), Chevron Corp. (CVX), Transocean Ltd. (RIG), Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (DO) and Pride, Inc. (PDE).Inventory Build Weighs on Oil PricesIn its weekly status report today, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported another build in inventories of crude oil and refined products, which is expected to weigh on oil prices in the coming days.The agency reported that total commercial crude oil stocks increased by 2.8 million barrels from the preceding week, significantly above expectations. This is the fourth consecutive week of inventory build, seriously denting growing optimism about the commodity's supply-demand picture.Current stocks are 12.6% above the comparable period last year. The supply cover continues inching up, with current stock levels sufficient for 25.4 days of supply -- significantly above the year-earlier level of 22.2 days....

In the energy market on Wednesday, crude for April delivery jumped $3.73 to close at $45.38/barrel. April reformulated gasoline finished at $1.3816/gallon.

Part of the gain in crude is being attributed to newly released data that showed a surprising decline in U.S. crude inventories and investors’ anticipation of a new stimulus plan from China, the world’s second-biggest oil consumer.

U.S. crude inventories, excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, fell by 700,000 barrels in the week ended Feb. 27, the Energy Information Administration reported. Analysts surveyed by Platts had expected an increase of 2.2 million barrels.

Inventories at Cushing, Okla., the delivery point for Nymex crude futures, fell for a third straight week from their record high, down 500,000 barrels to 34 million.

The unexpected reduction in crude inventories “is supportive” to oil prices, wrote Hussein Allidina, an analyst at Morgan Stanley, in a note to clients. He also noted that despite the …

In the energy market on Wednesday, crude for April delivery jumped $3.73 to close at $45.38/barrel. April reformulated gasoline finished at $1.3816/gallon.

Part of the gain in crude is being attributed to newly released data that showed a surprising decline in U.S. crude inventories and investors’ anticipation of a new stimulus plan from China, the world’s second-biggest oil consumer.

U.S. crude inventories, excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, fell by 700,000 barrels in the week ended Feb. 27, the Energy Information Administration reported. Analysts surveyed by Platts had expected an increase of 2.2 million barrels.

Inventories at Cushing, Okla., the delivery point for Nymex crude futures, fell for a third straight week from their record high, down 500,000 barrels to 34 million.

The unexpected reduction in crude inventories “is supportive” to oil prices, wrote Hussein Allidina, an analyst at Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), in a note to clients. He also noted that despite

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