A popular view is that the surge in the price of oil during 2003-08 cannot be explained by economic fundamentals, but was caused by the increased financialization of oil futures markets, which in turn allowed speculation to become a major determinant of the spot price of oil. This interpretation...

Can the boom in oil prices be explained in terms of tightened market fundamentals? Or has the oil market been distorted by the entry of financial players? This article will try to shed light on the marked increase in volatility during the latest 2008-2009 price cycle and on the role of...

Can the boom in oil prices be explained in terms of tightened market fundamentals? Or has the oil market been distorted by the entry of financial players? This article will try to shed light on the marked increase in volatility during the latest 2008-2009 price cycle and on the role of...