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On the 'evil' oil speculators
Chicago Tribune ^ | 6/23/08 | Neil Gaffney

Posted on 06/28/2008 11:18:13 AM PDT by HawaiianGecko

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To: metmom

Ping


21 posted on 06/28/2008 2:19:10 PM PDT by indcons
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To: tatown
Nonsense. The future expectation of the supply of oil explains it perfectly. So long as the western world is more worried about atmospheric CO2 than they are about cheap energy the price will continue to rise.

Speculation has nothing to do with it.

22 posted on 06/28/2008 2:19:59 PM PDT by tcostell (MOLON LABE - http://freenj.blogspot.com - RadioFree NJ)
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To: businessprofessor

You teach business, and you think a speach means nothing?

Dang. What school? I want to make sure my kids go elsewhere.


23 posted on 06/28/2008 2:21:33 PM PDT by patton (cuiquam in sua arte credendum)
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA
There is no shortage of supply of oil. What there is a shortage of is oil contracts.

This is caused by new phenomena in the futures markets in which large institutional, long-only, investors are entering, and using some tricks like swaps to get around margin requirements by being classified as "commercial" traders.

You can deny that there is currently a structural problem in the futures markets until you're blue in the face, but the fact is that CALPERS and other large pension funds, combined with big Wall Street firms which have discovered "swaps" and need somewhere to park their money after pulling it out of subprime mortgages and real estate are having an effect.

Oil should be $40-70/bbl., when you take into account actual supply and demand.

24 posted on 06/28/2008 2:28:17 PM PDT by B Knotts (Calvin Coolidge Republican)
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To: patton
You teach business, and you think a speach means nothing? Dang. What school? I want to make sure my kids go elsewhere.

Please do not insult me with your non sensical comments. You might disagree and say that Bush should give speeches every day, every hour, and every minute to beg Congress for new legislation. I doubt that any speech Bush makes will make any difference.

Many of Bush's speeches call for more energy development. Until Congress takes action consistent with his speeches, energy markets will not improve. At this time, the prospects look poor for legislation consistent with Bush's speeches. For some reasons I do not understand, the voting public seems resigned to high energy prices. The Democrats have convinced a large part of the voting public that scapegoats are to blame and that there are no solutions except for the highly uncertain prospects of alternative fuels. Even though polls have shown that the public favors more energy development, the polls do not reflect a lack of support for Democrat candidates.

25 posted on 06/28/2008 2:38:06 PM PDT by businessprofessor
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To: businessprofessor

“You teach business, and you think a speach means nothing? Dang. What school? I want to make sure my kids go elsewhere. “

++++++

“Please do not insult me with your non sensical comments. “

++++

Yep - I REALLY want to make sure my kids go elsewhere.

Your understanding of business is trivial, Sir - you are a neophite, unable to plan strategically, or to see the impacts.


26 posted on 06/28/2008 2:41:55 PM PDT by patton (cuiquam in sua arte credendum)
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To: B Knotts

If everyone at a race track bets on the same nag, would that cause that horse to win?


27 posted on 06/28/2008 2:44:53 PM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: tcostell

People need an easy scapegoat.


28 posted on 06/28/2008 3:03:33 PM PDT by arthurus
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To: patton

speech


29 posted on 06/28/2008 3:07:35 PM PDT by arthurus
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To: B Knotts
CALPERS and other large pension funds, combined with big Wall Street firms which have discovered "swaps" and need somewhere to park their money after pulling it out of subprime mortgages and real estate are having an effect.

Prove it.

No never mind...I don't want to string you along. You won't be able to prove it because it isn't true. What you're saying makes no sense.

30 posted on 06/28/2008 3:07:42 PM PDT by tcostell (MOLON LABE - http://freenj.blogspot.com - RadioFree NJ)
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To: arthurus

Yeah, ther is another language I can’t spell in.

In fact, I can’t spell in any of them.


31 posted on 06/28/2008 3:13:34 PM PDT by patton (cuiquam in sua arte credendum)
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA

It sure would change the price (odds) of a bet on the horse.

But you knew that, didn’t you?


32 posted on 06/28/2008 3:16:46 PM PDT by patton (cuiquam in sua arte credendum)
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To: patton
Of course, in a parimutuel system, the payoff would approach zero, if everyone bet on the same bobtail nag.

I expected someone to point out that, if it were the Mafia betting; they would fix the outcome. But, if everyone else were betting on the bobtail nag; the Mafia would be betting on the bay.

33 posted on 06/28/2008 3:22:11 PM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: patton; Robert A. Cook, PE

If there is a need to fix anything, I would recommend requiring a 20% up-front investment in the oil futures. This would be similar to a prudent home lender requiring a 20% down payment on the house.

The 5% margin (some say it’s 7%) reminded me of how all those people in the roaring ‘20s bought stocks on a 10% margin, only to be left holding the bag when the market crashed. If we ever started drilling all-out and crashing oil prices, the speculators would be in a similar position. And when they are in hock, they won’t have money to spend in other areas of the economy, just like those unfortunate stockholders of the 1920s.


34 posted on 06/28/2008 3:25:43 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Drill Here! Drill Now! Pay Less! Sign the petition at http://www.americansolutions.com/)
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To: tcostell

Forget switching! I would rather have high prices and speculation in liberty than low (controlled) prices and shortages in Democrat Hell.


35 posted on 06/28/2008 3:27:39 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Drill Here! Drill Now! Pay Less! Sign the petition at http://www.americansolutions.com/)
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To: patton
Your understanding of business is trivial, Sir - you are a neophite, unable to plan strategically, or to see the impacts.

When logic fails, the uninformed make personal attacks. If you want credibility on this forum, you should focus on the issues not unfounded personal attacks. The issue I raised is the relevance of speeches by Bush on the energy situation. Of course, Bush should continue to make speeches. There is some evidence that his speeches have had marginal impact. The speeches have not had enough impact to move the Democrats however. Until the Democrats feel the heat at the polls, the idiotic policies of the Democrats will prevail.

Please indicate your thoughts on the issue or other issues, not ridiculous and unfounded personal attacks.

36 posted on 06/28/2008 3:29:26 PM PDT by businessprofessor
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Now that is an interesting thought.

What if CALPERS can’t cover its long position?


37 posted on 06/28/2008 3:30:23 PM PDT by patton (cuiquam in sua arte credendum)
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To: JBR34; USFRIENDINVICTORIA

As I’ve read it, oil production is around 85 million bpd, while demand is currently around 86.5 million bpd (some say 87 million). With that difference between supply and demand, look for continued price hikes in the future.


38 posted on 06/28/2008 3:33:13 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Drill Here! Drill Now! Pay Less! Sign the petition at http://www.americansolutions.com/)
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To: businessprofessor

My first thought, is that along with his speech, he should recind his executive order banning drilling.

But a business sophomore would know that.


39 posted on 06/28/2008 3:35:54 PM PDT by patton (cuiquam in sua arte credendum)
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To: patton; bray

I thought that George “Wonder Weenie” Bush the Elder or XXXlinton signed that exec order. And Bush the Younger apparently would prefer to let it stand until the legislative moratorium is repealed.


40 posted on 06/28/2008 3:36:15 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Drill Here! Drill Now! Pay Less! Sign the petition at http://www.americansolutions.com/)
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