Caroline Ashford
Caroline Ashford writes for Futra Digest and other Independent Journal publications, covering futures, options and derivatives and stocks and equity markets. Reporting under this byline is prepared by the Independent Journal editorial desk from primary sources, with AI assistance, and reviewed under our editorial policy.
8 articles
Heating oil spending to jump 21% this winter, EIA forecasts
EIA's winter outlook sees heating oil spending up 21% and electricity bills up 4%, while natural gas and propane households spend less, with stocks thin.
Crude Oil Futures Slide a Third Day; Gold Near $4,100
Crude oil futures fell a third session as Gulf exports recovered and the G7 planned a 100M-barrel release, while gold hit a two-month low near $4,100.
Propane exports hit record 2.1M b/d in April, EIA says
US propane exports averaged 2 million b/d in the first half of 2026, up 11%, with a record 2.1 million b/d in April as India demand grew and China's fell.
Crude oil output: public firms produce 68% of Lower 48 supply
EIA data show publicly traded companies were 2% of about 12,000 US oil and gas producers in 2025 but produced 68% of Lower 48 crude oil and natural gas.
Gold futures lead metals growth as CME July volume hits record
CME Group's July 2026 ADV hit a record 27 million contracts, up 23%, with Micro Gold futures up 41%, 1-Ounce Gold up 417% and WTI crude oil futures up 17%.
CME news: Q2 2026 ADV of 29.8 million, market data hits record
CME Group reported second-quarter revenue of $1.7 billion, average daily volume of 29.8 million contracts and record market data revenue of $238 million.
CME May record: crude oil futures, Treasuries drive 33.2M ADV
CME Group's May 2026 ADV hit a record 33.2 million contracts, up 15%, with record Treasury futures volume and WTI crude oil futures averaging 932,000 a day.
CFTC opens first COT review since 2006, eyeing futures market data
The CFTC sought public comment on publishing Commitments of Traders reports more often and changing their content, its first full review of them since 2006.