The Oil Man: Oil price, SDX Energy

WTI $44.32 +54c, Brent $45.01 +39c, Diff $0.69 -15c, NG $2.08 -6c

Mixed pressures on oil in the last 24 hours: Canada features, obviously, as do the Non Farm Payrolls (NFP) number later, the strong dollar and the Energy Information Administration (EIA) release; this morning, prices have lost most of yesterday's gains.

So, the fires raging around Fort McMurray have led to further shut-ins, Connacher and Athabasca Oil joined others in taking workers off site and closing down production.

As I said yesterday, the amount of oil exported from Canada might become reasonable, depending on how long this goes on for. Looking at TV pictures, it seems pretty dramatic and seems to have come as a surprise - which seems odd.

Later we get the 10th anniversary Non-farm-payroll number, with the whisper being 202/- jobs created. More than usual hangs on this number; as the shilly-shallying from the Fed testifies, the dollar will likely follow the trend after the number is out.

Finally, the EIA release shows that US crude output is off 410/- barrels per day (b/d) this year, making 800/- b/d down since the mid 2015 peak, roughly in-line with expectations but worth bearing in mind.

Sundry

Very little news around on the company front this morning…

SDX Energy has announced that it has raised $11 million (£7.6 million) in a private placement as it adds the AIM market to its Canada listing.

Harkand, the Aberdeen- and London-based oilfield services company specialising in inspection, repair and maintenance, has apparently gone into administration after running short of cash and defaulting on debt repayments; Deloitte has been called in to handle the closure of parts of the group.

Primeline Energy has said it intends to enter into the second phase of its exploration commitments with CNOOC for block 33/07 in the East China Sea.

And finally…

With the Foxes winning the Prem on Monday night without kicking a ball, attention turns to the relegation battle in the league.

The Canaries host the Red Devils, the Magpies go to Villa and the Maccams host Chelski - I know which match I would rather play to avoid relegation…

But Leicester will get their title after their game against the Toffees, Spurs host the Saints and the Gooners are at the Noisy Neighbours, who actually need the points, as the happy Hammers are snapping at their heels and host the Swans.

Boxing puts on an interesting bout in Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday morning, as Amir Khan takes on Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, AKA the Cinnamon kid.

In a fight which even his trainer didn't want him to take, Khan stakes all against the "wrecking ball" of Mexican boxing, two full weights above the Brit's normal level. Few expect success in this one.

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