Oil & refined products
Detecting market transitions: from backwardation to contango and back
Svetlana Borovkova looks at detecting market transitions between backwardation and contango states using the forward curve. In this first part of a two-part article, she introduces two change indicators, which she applies to oil futures prices. Next…
Seeking a boost for crude
Venezuela’s internal conflict and the intended removal of Saddam Hussein from Iraq have meant both countries are seeking deals with international investors to boost oil production. But are the potential legal problems worth the trouble? By Maria Kielmas
The return of Russian crude
Russia has reclaimed its position as the world’s biggest oil producer for the first time in a decade – but uncertainty is still preventing some foreign oil firms from making the investments the country needs to fulfil its potential. Kevin Foster reports
Pumping up prices
Gasoline prices in the US hit all-time highs in March, and the price is expected to remain high throughout the summer. Kevin Foster looks at the contributing factors
US energy prices: in line for a fall?
A combination of concerns in the second half of January 2003 has boosted US oil and natural gas prices to levels not seen since the winter of 2000/2001. Will the higher prices stick? Logical Information Machines examines cause and effect
Crude oil takes a double hit
Mark Powell of GlobalView Software looks at how crude prices are being affected by the impending war with Iraq and the general strike in Venezuela
Fighting oil volatility
Oil cartel Opec froze its production output level at its last meeting in September. With war in Iraq on the cards, Shifa Rahman reports on the future of oil volatility
Confusion over a barrel
The latest efforts to stem price manipulation have left crude oil market participants wondering which contracts they should be trading and who will lead the pricing? Joel Hanley reports
A towering success
There is more to the Malaysian oil and natural gas giant Petronas than its impressive headquarters. One of Asia’s biggest energy players is finding new ways of branching out, as Joel Hanley discovers
Brent changes promise stability
The recent change in Platts’ definition of Brent crude oil follows much debate about the price assessment of North Sea Brent crude. Software vendor Logical Information Machines takes a historic view in a search for the reasons behind the move
After the swashbucklers
Oil exploration today is about taking as few risks as possible, meaning the smaller independent firms are losing out to the energy majors, as Maria Kielmas discovers
Market mind games
The year has seen surprisingly high oil prices, which has caught many forecasters unaware given widespread predictions of slow growth. Maria Kielmas reports
Comeback in the old USSR
Russia is on the verge of becoming the world’s leading energy superpower, but a lack of investment looks set to hamper its development. Joel Hanley reports
Cleaning up in California
As oil majors embrace the use of ethanol in Californian gasoline, analysts are warning that it will cause a rise in prices at the pump, as Kevin Foster discovers
Getting technical with crude
Energy market specialist GlobalView Software takes a look at a range of technical trading indicators and what they reveal about the world oil market
Brent’s liquidity crisis
The decision by energy information provider Platts to alter the definition of its Brent benchmark price has forced the issue over the crude blend’s liquidity problems, reports Matt Horsbrugh