Pricing oil calendar spread

I am looking at the oil futures calendar spread market. What is my best way to infer information about it from the markets on the outright futures? Consider the fact that the outright markets are much thinner, more volatile and often gapped(the back future outright market is gapped several tens of ticks). Thanks

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Best Response

Are you talking about the contangos and backwardations a few months out?

Typically, the direction of the contango/backwardation defines the trend. A widening contango or a narrowing backwardation indicates a bearish market. A narrowing contango or widening backwardation indicates a bullish market. Some commodities will have funky curves sometimes but overall the oil markets are pretty liquid and the far-dated futures usually do provide some insightful market information.

looking for that pick-me-up to power through an all-nighter?
 

Really depends how far out your looking. If your looking at calendar strips on WTI you can compare this to Brent and see where the mkt currently views this spread converging(2016 last i checked). You can infer when structure is coming to WTI. Right now most spreads are trading as if the mkt is not incentivizing storing WTI.

In terms of liquidity one month crude spreads (CLZ1CLF2) are very liquid. Even spreads within a year are pretty liquid(compared to other energy prods). Crude also has a significant calendar spread option mkt. Depending how far your going out might be benefical looking for a CSO mkt.

 

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