By Jeffrey P. Snider The front end of the oil price complex continues to get all the attention because it seems to further the more optimistic narrative. It is the back end, however, that is most significant. The nearer maturities of the futures curve reflect more the funding environment than the fundamental view of oil and … Continue reading
By David Smith, Money Metals Exchange As we move through 2016, the Horsemen of the geopolitical, economic, and social apocalypse are on the march. China burns through its currency reserves as billions in yuan flee the mainland for safe harbor. Japan prints mountains of yen debt in an effort to create inflation – and thereby … Continue reading
By Michael Lelyveld China’s biggest oilfield is suffering huge losses as the government seeks to avoid layoffs despite prices that have dropped below production costs. On April 8, the official Xinhua news agency reported that the Daqing oilfield in northern Heilongjiang province lost over 5 billion yuan (U.S. $769 million) in the first two months … Continue reading
By Eric Parrado A young Augustine, before becoming a Saint, lived a hedonistic lifestyle. But one day he received a message from God – asking him to convert from that type of life. So he prayed to God: “Lord, grant me chastity and continence …but not yet.” Many times governments behave like St. Augustine as they … Continue reading
By Paul Craig Roberts The Third World War is currently being fought. How long before it moves into its hot stage? Washington is currently conducting economic and propaganda warfare against four members of the five bloc group of countries known as BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Brazil and South Africa are being … Continue reading
By Jeffrey P. Snider, Alhambra Investment Partners The mainstream view of the unemployment statistics suggest that any weakness in the US economy, manufacturing or beyond, will be temporary and shallow because employment growth remains robust. The question is not whether the statistics suggest such a trend but rather if those accounts correspond with anything real. As … Continue reading
By David Haggith, The Great Recession Blog As predicted relentlessly here, the scuttled meeting in Doha to limit oil production broke up with no agreement at all. The meeting foundered like a tanker snagged in the dessert sands because of the singular obvious factor that should have sunken all hope weeks ago but did not: Saudi Arabia said, “No deal without Iran.” Doha Disaster Predictable … Continue reading
Rising oil prices ahead of the production freeze talks in Doha added $3.7 billion to the value of Russian output, according to Bloomberg based on data from the International Energy Agency. Saudi Arabia got a $3.3 billion boost. Even the countries not involved in the talks have benefited from the freeze fuss. The US got … Continue reading
U.S. President’s low-key arrival and meeting with King Salman underscores tension that has deepened over US policy towards Iran and the war in Syria . Barack Obama arrived to a noticeably low-key reception in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday against a background of mutual irritation in a relationship tested by a turbulent Middle East, plummeting oil … Continue reading
By Ante Batovic The recent Doha meeting of major oil producers failed to agree oil output freeze deal and confirmed the existence of deep disagreements within Opec. The oil prices agony continues as major oil producers failed to reach an agreement on production freeze at the long-expected meeting in Doha on April 17. The expectations … Continue reading