And NYMEX crude tops $100...
Oil prices are interesting.
at this time, supply is higher than it has been in years. Demand is lower than it has been in years. Yet prices have been rising. So much for supply and demand theory, eh.
So, why would that be. Simple. The gas and oil industry is an oligopoly. Very high monopoly power. If you read even adam smiths thoughts on monopoly power, you would understand what is going on.
With oil speculation, demand is effectively increased artificially. Then, since oil companies own production and refining capacity, supply is also owned by the oil companies.
So, prices do what they want them to do; Rise until the public squeals like stuck pigs, then lower part of the way back toward where they started. Repeat, repeat, and repeat.