"Oil Rises to Six Month High as U.S. Consumer Confidence Gains"
Crude oil rose to a six month high after a report showed that U.S. consumer confidence jumped to the highest level since September, signaling demand may rebound. Oil followed gains in the stock market after the Conference Board’s sentiment index surged to 54.9, more than forecast and the biggest increase since 2003, the New York based research group said today. Oil futures declined earlier on speculation OPEC will maintain production quotas at a meeting this week. “History shows that a jump in consumer confidence signals an economic rebound,” said Bill O’Grady, chief markets strategist at Confluence Investment.....Complete Story
"Switching Horses On Oil Strategy"
Thunder Horse turns 10 next month. BP's billion barrel oil field, discovered in 1999 in the Gulf of Mexico, is a source of pride. It also is a reminder of what ails the oil majors. Thunder Horse, which started up in 2008, will provide 42% of BP's incremental upstream production over the next three years, according to analysts at J.P. Morgan Chase. Unfortunately, it is also one of BP's few discoveries of such scale in recent memory. Neil McMahon of Sanford C. Bernstein calculates that less than half of BP's additions to reserves over the past five years have come through its exploration efforts.....Complete Story
"Hottest Oil Options Show 18% Drop as Demand Falls"
After oil passed $60 a barrel for the first time in six months, the New York Mercantile Exchange’s fastest growing options trade in July is for a 18 percent drop.The number of options to sell oil at $50 a barrel for July settlement rose 22 percent last week to 24,948. Traders expect prices to fall because U.S. crude inventories are 1.8 percent below the highest level in two decades, the International Energy Agency says demand is falling the most since 1981, and there’s enough unsold crude stored in offshore tankers to supply the U.S. for a week. Oil traded as high as $62.16 today.....Complete Story
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