Breaking News:

U.S. Hydrogen Developers Seek to Expand IRA Tax Credit Rules

Don't Expect OPEC Or Biden To Boost Oil Prices

Oil prices have sunk to levels that are leaving traders wondering two things: will OPEC implement further cuts to raise prices, and will the United States finally move to purchase some crude to refill its drained SPR.

Traders who have been brutalized by falling prices over the last couple of weeks were likely disappointed this week when they heard Jennifer Granholm's answer the second of those questions. It will be difficult to refill at WTI $70, Granholm said, adding that it would take years to replenish the SPR.

Some traders are still wondering whether OPEC+ will see the banking collapse-which led to falling oil prices-as a motive for cutting production beyond the 2 million bpd that the group is cutting now.

First, we should point out that Russia has already agreed to cut 500,000 bpd. This is a voluntary cut not arranged by the OPEC+ group, and was spurred on, Russia says, by Western sanctions. Some traders are looking for cuts beyond that, but we think it's unlikely at this point that OPEC+ will cut production this year unless the market fundamentals change.

It is routinely said that OPEC members have specific breakeven prices in mind, and they will defend those prices. The $80 price floor has been bandied about in the past. But also in the past, production changes from OPEC/OPEC+ have had another factor behind them: the reason behind the price moves. While most OPEC members rely heavily on oil revenues to support their fiscal budgets, they also look…

To read the full article

Please sign up and become a Global Energy Alert member to gain access to read the full article.

Register Login

Loading ...

« Previous: Oil Prices Crash 4% As European Banking Stocks Slump  

Next: Is It Time To Short This Soaring Solar Stock? »

Editorial Dept

More