“This week the oil markets have been dominated by the course of negotiations in Washington over the fiscal cliff. Prices surged on Wednesday following news that President Obama was returning from vacation in an attempt to revive the stalled negotiations. By Friday’s close NY oil prices were up about 2.4 percent for the week to settle at $90.80 with London oil settling at $110.62…”
“The gradual price increases which took oil up some $4-5 a barrel in the last two weeks ended on Friday when budget negotiations in Washington broke down. This news sent prices down $1.20-$1.40 a barrel to settle at $88.66 in NY and $108.97 in London…”
“Oil traded in a narrow range last week with NY hovering around $86 a barrel and London $21 higher around $108 for most of the week. Prices climbed 84 cents in NY on Friday and $1.78 in London where Brent closed at $109.15 on the news of increased manufacturing in the US and China. NY oil has now fallen about 12 percent during 2012 due to the glut in the Midwest, while London oil has now climbed 1.6 percent this year…”
“Oil prices fell last week on bad economic news from the EU and US, the uncertainty in Washington over the “fiscal cliff” negotiations, slumping gasoline and heating oil prices, and by a weaker euro. Brent crude which on Monday was trading above $112 a barrel closed Friday at $107.02. New York crude fell about $3 a barrel during the week to close at $85.93…”
“Oil prices were little changed last week, but managed to close out November a few dollars higher than the October closing thereby registering the first monthly increase since August. New York futures ended the week at $88.91 and London at $111.23. Better economic news, including higher US GDP numbers, offset concerns about the coming “fiscal cliff” and bad economic news from the EU…”
