Obama vows crackdown on energy speculators

Discussion in 'Economics' started by walter4, Jun 22, 2008.

  1. no my friend. Even after you adjust for the decline of the dollar, Do you really think that the current price of whatever energy product reflects the current fundamental factors of supply & demand? C'mon oil went from $30 to 135!

    Isn't it interesting once they went to dereg, prices have soared. This in Enron in California all over again. Why do they call it... The ENRON loophole. The loophole is that ICE is not regulated.

    This is exactly what the thread is about, Obama wants to reinstate regulation to prevent this from happening. Big institutional especially morgan stanley are HUGE owners in the commodities they are the speculators!

    This is the whole point about it not being regulated. THE BIG INSTITUTIONS TAKE DELIVERY!
     
    #21     Jun 22, 2008
  2. sg20

    sg20

    Obama knows nothing about the market; back then he didn’t even know the economy was in trouble or why the white working population didn’t vote for him, and I’m not sure if he knows it by now either. With his big mouth proclaiming to know everything and a fix it all kind of guy he’s still doesn’t know what lays ahead, otherwise will you ever be hearing the end of it I wondered.

    sg20
     
    #22     Jun 22, 2008
  3. But havent they been saying the reason partially for high oil prices and commodities is the weak $US . If the govt wanted to do something to prop up the $US everyone would understand and wouldnt blame them for intervention . It all comes down to that govt cant get anything done because democrats and republicans have to agree ( senate or congress ) and that aint going to happen .
     
    #23     Jun 22, 2008
  4. Why don't these jokers just left the market alone? They just say whatever they get they elected. The reason for the high oil price is because of the depreciation of the dollar. Now there is an answer and please do something about it.
     
    #24     Jun 22, 2008
  5. Take a look and how much the dollar has fallen and then take a look at how much oil has risen. Even after you adjust for the falling US dollar you still see oil is on a tear
     
    #25     Jun 23, 2008
  6. Really is that the reason... Do the math!
     
    #26     Jun 23, 2008
  7. Total market capitalization of crude oil futures is less than half of the size of Exxon Mobil (XOM). Crude speculators have caused a large increase in the price of oil because hoards of new money has moved into a relatively small market.

    The market capitalization of crude oil futures is around $177 billion, while the market cap of Exxon Mobil is around $480 billion. In addition, new investments in energy from institutional investors has reached a new high.

    Supply and demand has played a role in kick starting the boom in energy prices, but speculation is the major cause for the outrageous prices today. While no new oil fields (above 300,000 barrels per day) have come online since the 1980s, plenty of capped and untapped resources remain dormant.
     
    #27     Jun 23, 2008
  8. Obama is correct. Stock margin requirement is 50%, but for oil futures the margin requirement is only 5%. Why should speculators be allowed to use 10 times more leverage on oil futures than for stocks? Excessive margin and easy credit contributed to the 1929 stock market crash, so why repeat history with oil? Personally, I think conservatives lose credibility on pushing for "free markets" when what we really get are "free casinos." I think we need to regulate futures markets to take out the excessive speculation and put the focus back on futures as a responsible hedging tool for producers and industrial buyers/consumers.
     
    #28     Jun 23, 2008
  9. Arnie

    Arnie

    Based on that logic, lets get rid of the NYSE and NASDAQ while were at it. :D
     
    #29     Jun 23, 2008
  10. Impose a 1% tax on every financial transaction. That should clean up the mess and pay off the debts the republicans have saddled usa with.
     
    #30     Jun 23, 2008