(Wed, 04 Jan 2017) Crude oil prices ended the year above $50 per barrel (b). Although the annual average West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil price in 2016 was $43/bâdown $5/b from 2015âthe WTI price ended 2016 at $53/b, $16/b higher than at the end of 2015. Similarly, Brent ended the year up $17 from the end of 2015, at $54/b, but the 2016 annual average of $44/b was $8 below the 2015 average.
The US CFTC acted unanimously to re-propose regulations setting position limits, meant to head off excessive speculation in 25 physical commodity futures and swaps markets.
Former FERC enforcement officials are not expecting the change in administration to greatly impact the commission's watchdog role, but new commissioners could bring nuanced views of what constitutes market manipulation.
The administration of President-elect Donald Trump will be “much more positive than negative” for the nuclear industry, Nuclear Energy Institute President and CEO Marvin Fertel said in an interview.
(Tue, 03 Jan 2017) The spot energy index in the S&P Goldman Sachs Commodity Index (GSCI) rose 48% since the start of 2016, more than any other commodity group in the S&P GSCI. The spot S&P GSCI industrial metals, precious metals, and agriculture indices increased less, rising 22%, 8%, and 5%, respectively, while the spot S&P GSCI livestock index declined 10%.
The outgoing Obama administration filed a new trade enforcement action with the World Trade Organization against China earlier this month.
Rather than just serving to fill out a year-end list, the biggest policy events of this year are likely to shape the policy path of the next, perhaps more than ever before.
(Wed, 28 Dec 2016) Norway is the largest holder of crude oil and natural gas reserves in Europe, and it provides much of the petroleum liquids and natural gas consumed on the continent. Norway was the third-largest exporter of natural gas in the world after Russia and Qatar in 2015.
Holiday lights add a significant additional level of electricity demand during the start of winter when cold weather is already driving up load.
2016 was marked by two distinct halves for gold. The year started off on a rip for the price. Now the spot price isn't far off from where it started.
