Crude oil
Iran sets out mixed energy plan 2010/2011
Iran’s national budget for 2010/2011 will be less reliant on oil revenues but will still reveal "good news" on oil production of 20% enriched fuel in February this year, says Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a move aimed at making the state less…
Eni, Oxy & Kogas seal Iraq deal
Three major oil and gas companies have sealed a deal with Iraq’s South Oil Company and Missan Oil Company that is set to increase production by 1 million barrels per day (bbl/d) over the next six years.
Sonatrach CEO probe not affecting exports
Market fears about an Algerian oil and gas export shutdown are unfounded, say analysts, following confirmation that the chief executive of state-owned energy company Sonatrach is now under judicial review.
EIA: World will be more dependent on Opec oil
The world will become more dependent on Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) oil by the start of 2011, following sustained surplus production capacity and a forecasted decline in growth from countries outside the producer group, says…
Saudi Aramco switches to Argus Sour Crude Index
Saudi Arabia’s national oil company Saudi Aramco is to use the Argus Sour Crude Index (ASCI) published by Argus Media as the benchmark price for all grades of crude oil sold to US customers from January 2010.
Playing Russia’s game
Rachel Morison examines the current investor appetite for Russian oil E&P
The Last Contango
Oil prices have remained in the doldrums so far this year, but the market took a surprising turn as it slipped into a contango at the end of 2008 that has so far remained in place. Pauline McCallion examines its causes and speaks to analysts about their…
Oil Storage Data - Taking Stock
Volatile prices and perceived problems with WTI as a benchmark have triggered renewed calls for weekly European stock data to supplement US data. An EC directive is currently being discussed, but not everyone is in favour of this, finds Rachel Morison
Expropriation - A very real risk
Expropriation or forced government renegotiation is a big risk for oil companies that is likely to increase in times of lower oil prices. Randel Young and Richard Devine look at how to safeguard against the worst effects
Refiners feel the squeeze
While crude oil prices have undergone a 70% decline since July, gasoline has dropped by 75%, taking the crack spread into negative territory. Eric Fishhaut of GlobalView Software looks at this unusual phenomenon
Crude oil volatility shocks and stock market returns
Research Papers
Flight plan
British Airways' Group treasurer, George Stinnes, talks to Alexander Campbell
Petrochemicals firms take a stand against oil price volatility
Many petrochemicals firms are seeking to reduce price volatility through hedging, given that the cost of crude oil is strongly influencing the price of petrochemical products. GlobalView Software looks at the figures behind the trend
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
After the swashbucklers
PETROLEUM
Mean-reverting smiles
Commodity markets such as crude oil exhibit mean reversion as well as option smiles. The authors construct a model suitable for pricing exotic options in these markets