LNG shipping stocks: Negative figures, positive impression

The UP World LNG Shipping Index declined for the third consecutive week, closing at 228.04 points, a 2.08% drop from the previous period. While the headline paints a negative picture, a closer look reveals a more nuanced story. The index's breadth was almost even, with 10 gains and 11 losses, and the median move was a slight decline of -0.81%.

The weighted index (wUPI) even rose by around 2%, suggesting the decline was concentrated in a few heavily weighted companies rather than across the entire sector. This concentrated decline was largely driven by a handful of heavily weighted names, including K-Line, MISC, and COSCO, which fell by 5.4%, 4.08%, and 3.93% respectively.

On the upside, Pan Ocean and Korea Line led the gainers, with Pan Ocean breaking through a long-term resistance level and Korea Line rising by 8.26%. Other companies such as Tsakos Energy Navigation, Dynagas LNG Partners, BP, Flex LNG, and Chevron also posted positive gains, with BP even edging closer to its yearly high. Despite the overall decline, the index's current position suggests a potential correction in the broader uptrend, rather than a shift in the trend itself.

This narrative is further supported by the broader market context, where gas prices have stabilized around $25/MMBtu due to rising Qatari exports, and European storage facilities are nearly 71% full as of October.