Sunday, 4 April 2021

Saudi Arabia raises oil price for Asia, reduces for Europe and the US - big blow to India

Saudi Arabia raises oil price for Asia, reduces for Europe and the US -  big blow to India
The disagreement between Saudi Arabia and India over the production cuts of crude oil took yet another twist today when the former increased the price of oil, known as OSP, the official selling price, for Asia while bringing it down for the US and Western Europe. The main customer block for Saudi Ar…

Saturday, 3 April 2021

Oil Price: can India weaponize its significant market position?

Oil Price: can India weaponize its significant market position?
With the decision by the OPEC+ to increase the crude oil production for three months – May, June and July – the concerns about the supply side of the oil equations seem to be subsiding faster than the markets thought they would; the geo-political fallout, however, is far from over. Up until the end …

Thursday, 1 April 2021

Easing Oil Output-cut by the OPEC+: did pressure from India and the US determine the outcome?

Easing Oil Output-cut by the OPEC+: did pressure from India and the US determine the outcome?
The OPEC+ defied the expectations of the analysts on Thursday, April 1, by agreeing to increase production for May, June and July. The rise in output will be 350,000 bpd for May and June; for July, the output will be increased further by 100,000 bpd. In addition, Saudi Arabia will roll back its vol…

Wednesday, 31 March 2021

OPEC+ Meeting on Oil Production: only a miracle will change the status quo

OPEC+ Meeting on Oil Production: only a miracle will change the status quo
The next meeting of the OPEC+, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries plus Russia, on April 1, does not seem to be boosting the market enthusiasm unlike on the previous occasions. The muted response stems from the fact that Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of the organization, is stubbo…

Tuesday, 30 March 2021

Crude Oil Price after Suez Saga: price fluctuates, but market sentiment remains positive

Crude Oil Price after Suez Saga: price fluctuates, but market sentiment remains positive
As the Suez Effect has died down, the oil price seems to be heading towards its equilibrium – the position it generally held before the maritime incident; it’s premature to call it a crash, though. It is true there is a serious risk of some European nations going back into lockdown; there are relati…

Monday, 29 March 2021

The Suez Factor: oil price drops; the rate of fall slows down

The Suez Factor: oil price drops; the rate of fall slows down
As the news spread about the partial success of refloating the megaship, Ever Given, the oil price went down in the early hours of Monday; the rate of drop, however, has slowed down in proportion to the angle of rotation of the vessel as if there was a mathematical correlation between the two. On S…

Sunday, 28 March 2021

Oil Price and Lingering Suez Factor

Oil Price and Lingering Suez Factor
The container ship that has been stranded in the Suez Canal since Wednesday has moved about 100ft into the middle of the canal from where it was, according to the latest report. When it’s going to be at the centre of the canal, however, is anybody’s guess at present; it appears to be much complicat…

Friday, 26 March 2021

Oil Price: the effect of triple whammy pushes the price up

Oil Price: the effect of triple whammy pushes the price up
The price of crude oil, which went down yesterday, rose again today, perhaps due to the fact that the yesterday’s optimism about a quick solution for getting the stricken tanker on track in the Suez Canal was grossly misplaced. That means the global oil supply are going to be affected in the short …

Thursday, 25 March 2021

Oil price: the Suez Canal factor and the role of sentiment

Oil price: the Suez Canal factor and the role of sentiment
The oil price that had been going down at an alarming rate in the last two weeks, got a catalyst on Wednesday morning out of the blue, when a massive cargo ship ran aground in the Suez Canal in the middle of a storm. With a gigantic obstacle blocking the path in the busy waterway, tankers have been …

Tuesday, 23 March 2021

Oil Price: the fear of a third wave takes its toll on the markets

Oil Price: the fear of a third wave takes its toll on the markets
The oil price went down substantially today despite the encouraging news from airline industry about a slow, but steady recovery. The hopes, unfortunately, were dashed when the new data emerges from India shows there is a steep rise in Covid-19 in India, especially in Maharashtra state where the com…

Monday, 22 March 2021

Airline Industy: a ray of hope - at last

Airline Industy: a ray of hope - at last
The optimism in the airline industry about gradual return to normalcy is, after all, not just wishful thinking of those who have been severely hit by the pandemic; it is realistic, indeed. The number of planes in the Skies in the US and UK speaks volumes; in the UK, around Heathrow, there are plenty…

Sunday, 21 March 2021

Airlines back in the skies: will the demand of jet fuel recover fast?

Airlines back in the skies: will the demand of jet fuel recover fast?
The airline industry, which was dealt a severe blow by the pandemic, shows the signs of recovery in America and Asia, judging by the number of planes in the skies over major airports in the two continents. If the latest trend continues in the face of accelerated vaccine drives, the analysts estimat…

Saturday, 20 March 2021

Oil Markets: the US responds to Saudi concerns about the global oil supply in the wake of drone attacks

Oil Markets: the US responds to Saudi concerns about the global oil supply in the wake of drone attacks
Oil price that showed a downward trend up until Thursday, this week, stated going up at a modest pace on Friday with a brief dip during the day, when the Saudi oil facility near capital Riyadh were attacked by Houthi rebels of Yemen. Saudi Arabia admitted it came under attack and the situation was u…

Friday, 19 March 2021

Oil Price: drone attack on Saudi oil facility reversed today's oil gains

Oil Price: drone attack on Saudi oil facility reversed today's oil gains
Oil price was in the green territory for most of the day before dipping considerably in response to the latest drone attack on Saudi oil facilities by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The price recovered when the Kingdom said there was no serious damage to the facility in question. Saudis admitted one of its o…

Thursday, 18 March 2021

Oil Price: US crude oil inventories are back at play in the price equation

Oil Price: US crude oil inventories are back at play in the price equation
The oil price has been in decline for the last few days, losing the momentum it used to have up until the latest OPEC+ meeting on March 4. On some days, the prices of both WTI and Brent were high in the early hours on Asian markets; they, however, quickly died down, falling in line with the current …