Oil & refined products
Fuel oil prices seen remaining high
Prices for fuel oil, historically one of the least profitable parts of the crude barrel, are close to all-time highs.
Refiners step up hedging activity
Refineries in Europe have stepped up their hedging activity in recent months as they take advantage of a recovery in margins, market participants say
Africa leads the trend towards fuel subsidies removal
As more African countries remove fossil fuel subsides, an increase in downstream investment is expected. Jay Maroo lookes at whether other oil producers may now follow suit.
Analysts upbeat on outlook for Saudi Aramco’s new trading unit
Saudi Aramco’s new trading unit, Aramco Trading, could become a serious competitor in the refined product space and boost volumes at the Dubai Mercantile Exchange, say analysts
Keystone XL pipeline decision leaves Canada looking eastward
The US rejection of TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline will hinder the development of the Alberta oil sands, while making the option of exporting crude to Asia more attractive for Canada, analysts say
Commodity indexes rebalance in favour of Brent but WTI seen outperforming in 2012
Brent crude's representation in commodity indexes is set to increase as a result of the annual rebalancing of contracts that takes place during this week
Marginal oil gaining market share, setting higher floor price
Marginal oil, with its greater risks and higher cost of production, will exert more influence on oil prices as it moves to becoming 10% of global supply by 2035. Gillian Carr reports
Iran to remain biggest short-term risk to oil prices in 2012: analysts
The developing situation in Iran will continue to be the biggest short-term driver of oil prices, as the EU prepares to potentially join the US in sanctions on Iranian crude and the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains a threat, say oil…
Jet fuel demand seen picking up
Recent years have not been kind to aviation, but with a recovery in demand taking place in 2010 and bullish projections for this year and the next, the future for jet fuel demand appears to be looking brighter. By Samuel Fenwick
Energy Risk Europe: Oil up $4/bbl for every 1% hike in China, India oil imports: report
New research provides evidence that a relationship exists between the demand for oil from China and India and Brent crude prices
Oil price outlook
Oil prices are expected to remain well supported into next year, according to an Energy Risk survey of analysts, which would provide a good opportunity for consumers to begin to hedge their forward oil exposure but make producer hedging look less…
Non-bank commodity traders should adopt Fed letter commitments, says BP executive
BP's Alan Haywood says non-banks need to consider Fed letter commitments for the good of the industry
Are Canadian oil sands setting a new crude oil floor price?
Canadian oil sands are set to have a greater role in the global energy mix, but whether they will set the floor for world oil prices will depend on a variety of factors
Shifting towards specialism will provide integrated oil companies with best returns says AT Kearney
Optimum shareholder value in the oil and gas sector is likely to come from a specialist approach rather than the traditional integrated oil company model, according to a recent report by management consulting firm AT Kearney
Slow return for Libya oil seen after Gaddafi topple
The overthrow of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi may have sent oil prices falling in recent days, but a return to full oil production in Libya is not likely for some time to come due to on-going security issues, say analysts
US oil and gas M&A at $39 billion
Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the oil and gas sector registered a rise in average deal value, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report
Oil analysts count cost of recession on crude prices
Commodity analysts re-examine their oil price forecasts in light of current economic deterioration, as the long-term economic outlook remains unclear
Mexico driving put skew in Brent, say brokers
The put skew in Brent crude oil is close to its yearly high. This is being driven by the hedging programme of Mexico, as well as more general risk aversion on macroeconomic worries, according to brokers
The growing influence of Caspian crude
The growing importance of Caspian crude could bring about a similar dislocation of Urals/Brent as the recent dislocation in the Brent/WTI spread, argues Bruce Gaston
Russian oil at top of investment list: Franklin Templeton
Franklin Templeton’s Mark Mobius says Russia is his current emerging market of choice, in particular oil and resources companies, and suggests concerns over corporate governance are misplaced
Jean-Marc Bonnefous talks China and QE2
Jean-Marc Bonnefous, managing partner, Tellurian Capital Management, talks Chinese growth scenarios, quantitative easing, and their impact on commodity markets
Aramco Trading advances towards launch
More demand for trading systems from Middle East expected as Aramco Trading selects ETRM system
