Oil Market Developments and Developing Countries

The World Trade Organization issued its World Trade Report 2005 - Exploring the Links between Trade, Standards and the WTO. The link below is the chapter that discusses the current oil market situation.

Schroeder Says Call for Oil Market Transparency Gaining Support

``The need to provide more transparency in oil markets to stem speculation is more pressing than ever''

Hardliner in Iran has oil market spooked

Alarming language by the new hardline leader of Iran can lead the price of oil soon to $100 a barrel.

China's Costly Quest for Energy Control

China is seeking to loosen the grip of the United States on world energy resources and secure the fuel it needs to keep its economy in overdrive.

Puts & Calls: Would revaluing the yuan destabilize China's economy?

Thanks to China's huge trade surplus and inward foreign investment, the demand for yuan well exceeds the supply in foreign exchange markets. To maintain the yuan peg at 8.28 per dollar, Chinese monetary authorities purchase dollars and has encouraged overinvestment in its export industries and excessive urban development -- creating great stress in international oil markets.

China projects its power with a takeover drive

The attempted acquisition of Unocal by China’s National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)worried American politicians.

Forecast of high oil prices for years to come

What goes up may not come down. In the oil markets, that is a new discovery that is changing behavior as well as expectations

Asia oil stocks lower, markets flat

U.S. government data showing an increase in fuel stockpiles knocked 95 cents off U.S. light sweet crude to $58.09 a barrel.Talk of interest rate cuts in Europe, which is driving U.S. Treasury yields lower and reigniting speculation the U.S. Federal Reserve may be near the end of its interest rate hike cycle is also seen as supportive for stocks.

Oil surges again

Companies and commuters alike are longing for those days, as oil prices have surged recently and are now closer to hitting $60 a barrel than falling back to the $40 range.

World Oil Market and Oil Price Chronologies:1970 - 2004

Time series data in Excel files and chronological information about every relevant event related to the oil market are presented in this webpage of the Energy Information Administration (statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Energy).

Strategists not Worried over High Oil Prices

"Oil prices on a real basis are not as expensive. The economy is more energy efficient. Volatile is more problematic than just high oil prices"...

Supply Woes Drive Oil Markets into Renewed Frenzy

"What is occurring now is probably the final frenzy" ... oil market's recent surge "could correct in the most speculative fashion - it could collapse."

Crude Oil Soars to US$59 a Barrel

Traders were concerned about the US' ability to deal with an increase in demand, while security concerns also weighed heavily on markets

Oil Surge Moderates Losses in U.S. Treasury Debt

Traders reasoned that no matter how confident consumers might be, a spike in gasoline prices could prevent them from making those key purchases that keep the U.S. economy going... so U.S. Treasury debt prices ticked lower.

Crude oil shocks will be felt when retail prices are freed

Oil price increase is not yet being felt by some developing economies (India) due to inelasticity of GDP to crude oil prices...

Drilling into High Oil Prices

BusinessWeek Q&A: Will crude's cost ever come down? What can OPEC do to help? Will it take a bite out of economic growth? ...

OPEC increase will not answer global oil worries

OPEC agreed to increase its daily production quota by half a million barrels in an effort to cool high crude costs and head off a further dampening of the global economy.

OPEC adopts 2-pronged plan to stifle oil prices

OPEC adopted a two-pronged plan to tackle high oil prices and supply problems, raising the cartel's oil production ceiling next month and promising another increase later if prices do not fall.

Morgan Stanley economist sees oil crash

Analist predicts weakening demand and ample supply: "As energy producers step up production from alternative energy sources...oil prices could stay depressed for many years when the current economic cycle turns down,"

Oil Markets Ignore OPEC Output Increase

Despite Opec decision to increase production, oil markets keep their pessimism and boosted prices...

OPEC agrees to raise output to cool prices

OPEC agreed to increase its production quota cooling high crude costs that have dampened the global economy...

Oil Markets Explained

In this BBC On Line article, oil market financial mechanisms are explained: futures, options, supply, demand and speculation with this volatile commodity...