The Numbers Don’t Add Up: OPEC Sows More Confusion With Production Increase
OPEC fudges the details. Oil prices rose on Friday in reaction to OPEC's decision to increase output during the second half of the year. Analysts argue that the cartel's actions will not be sufficient to meet the markets' needs.
With or Without You: OPEC+ to Increase Supply Even if Iran Fails to Compromise
Market watchers are not sure Iran’s participation in an OPEC agreement is necessary. The Saudis are determined to increase supply, with or without Iran’s agreement.
OPEC Congratulates Itself as Members Clash Over Competing Interests
Given the group’s discord, it’s unclear if OPEC+ will sufficiently handle the current complex market situation, which is experiencing a number of fast-moving events, such as lost supply in Venezuela, Libya, and other producer nations.
Another Factor Behind OPEC’s ‘Success’ Story: Support from Hedge Funds
By manipulating sentiment through both verbal intervention and physical supply cuts, OPEC members have effectively used speculative money in the futures markets to their advantage.
Saudi Arabia Confidently Shifts Its Price Target as U.S. Enters Summer Driving Season
The Saudis continue shifting its goals for where oil prices should be. The Kingdom is now signaling that it wants to increase prices to $80-$100 per barrel in order to enhance the valuation for its planned initial public offering.
Expect OPEC to Game Expectations
More and more market watchers are making the case that OPEC should just leave well enough alone and let the free market set the price. While trying to influence sentiment and fundamentals, on nearly a daily basis, OPEC has already destabilized the market and guarantees more uncertainty ahead.
CERAWeek: A Short List of Contradictions
Although the world is still in the midst of a seemingly perpetual glut, does a supply gap loom? Is peak oil demand imminent? Why is OPEC praising shale and meeting with hedge funds?
OPEC’s Decision to Lead to More Volatility: IEA’s Birol
The intense levels of collusion on a global scale between politicians of producer states, OPEC representatives, and even traders are a clear reminder that the cartel's operations undermine a fair, free, and transparent oil market. OPEC argues that its decision last week was in the interests of price stability, but others see the exact opposite.
OPEC, Far from Dead, Agrees to Major Cut, Sparks Market Rally
OPEC agrees to its first production cut in eight years, reminding the market of its enormous power, but the ultimate impact of the cartel's action is far from certain.
Fresh Optimism Voiced on Morning of OPEC Ministerial Meeting
Oil markets and analysts have been skeptical that a deal would emerge from this week’s OPEC meeting, following stonewalling from ministers and signals of willingness to walk away without a deal from Saudi Arabia. But cartel members struck an optimistic tone that a deal will be achieved today in Vienna, sending oil prices up by 6 percent.
OPEC Announces First Cut Since 2008: Implications for Prices, Credibility, and U.S. Shale
Lack of details announced alongside the new production cap reveals that many internal fissures persist. Those fissures didn't stop oil prices from rallying nearly 6 percent after the announcement.
New Efficiency Rules for Trucks to Save $170 million, 2 Billion Barrels of Oil
In a rare increase in stringency over the proposed rules, certain large trucks are required to be up to 25 percent more fuel efficient.
ClipperData’s Matt Smith on Market Transparency and Oil Trade Flows
Matt Smith is Director of Commodity Research at ClipperData, a company that tracks global cargo flows of crude and products. He speaks to The Fuse about data transparency, trade flows, and recent price trends.
The Organization of Oil Trading Tweeters #OOTT Merges Powerful Data With a Culture of Openness
A number of traders have come together under the hashtag #OOTT, the Organization of Oil Trading Tweeters, to share oil news, events, and a public data set of tanker traffic and global oil trade flows that rivals some of the best proprietary market analytics.
OPEC Outcome: No Production Target, Mohammed Barkindo Is New Secretary General
In an expected outcome, the latest OPEC meeting did not result in a new official production target.
18 Months In, Saudi Arabia Says Oil Market No Longer Oversupplied
“The market is doing quite well by itself and we will be very gentle in our approach so we do not shock the market. Our concern is for the long-term stability of the market,” said Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih. “We don’t want oil shocks in any way. In the long term, we want to encourage investment.”
Panel: Market Sentiment to Make or Break Future of Shale Producers
Cheap debt—the instrument that enabled the tight oil boom to take place to begin with—is now its greatest vulnerability. An expert panel discussed the various financial instruments being used to manage and restructure the long shadow of debt over the industry.
For Stable Independent Producers, Quality of Shale Assets for Acquisition Is Improving
At the Independent Petroleum Association of America's investment symposium, a small number of well-positioned companies are explain how they have survived the price downturn, and express significant optimism for what's to come.
IHS Analysts: "Small Mountain" of Cash Looking for the Bottom of the Cycle
As "invisible barrels" come offline, there will be a lag between when oil production is shuttered and the market reacts to the removal of those barrels.
Saudi Oil Minister Naimi Rules out Possibility of Coordinated Production Cut
Saudi Oil Minister Ali Naimi said that there is no use in taking coordinated action with other OPEC producers to cut output, citing trust issues in the cartel.
Obama Proposes $10/bbl Oil Tax, Expected Dead on Arrival
Given the gridlock in Congress, the state of the economy, and the challenges faced by the domestic oil industry, the proposal fails to meaningfully advance solutions to move the country away from oil.
