
The news that the US government is working on a plan to support homeowners in financial strife has pushed US oil futures to US$35 a barrel. This upturn followed a five-day drop in prices amidst doubts over the efficacy of the US bank rescue plan.
The news that the US government is working on a plan to support homeowners in financial strife has pushed US oil futures to US$35 a barrel. This upturn followed a five-day drop in prices amidst doubts over the efficacy of the US bank rescue plan.
There's nothing new about the sensitivity of oil prices to world events. But today this has risen to a level of hypersensitivity which makes it impossible to predict what the future holds for oil producers.
These are worrying times for the industry. The situation begs the question - should OPEC be doing more to keep oil prices in check thus protecting its member countries from such a volatile situation? It has announced repeatedly that it is cutting production to control prices. But Is this the right solution?