Quote from misterno:
There is no way oil will surpass 150-200 a barrel
Even it does it will be short lived
Because people adjust accordingly
The only way it can happen is when USD devalues but other than that it is impossible
I'm long oil to the 180's.
Besides revolution and the specter of war in the middle east, devaluation is certain.
America's fiscal position is near collapse. The economy itself is running on borrowed and printed money. Government, banks and consumers need a low-rate environment to survive. The cost to roll-over debt at 5% interest rates would simply bankrupt most lenders, households and least of all, the Government. Future entitlements are stratospheric and totally beyond affordable, yet a huge voting demographic who never saved for retirement, healthcare or perks are ready to march on the capital if that check isn't in the mail. Or, more aptly, vote down any challenger promising much-needed austerity. We're hugely overweight in bullshit speculative activities (real estate, finance, insurance) while our productive capacity and manufacturing technology was sold overseas. With the Government's blessing, our creditors and US-led multi-lateral organizations are implementing a global reserve currency in direct competition to the US dollar. When the American consumer recovers, there is nothing Bernacke can do to stop asset inflation. The debt is simply too large, funded on too short a maturity, with too much influence from private Banks, that will prevent us from ever cleaning out the system. The devaluation comes when we get a recovery. That's when credit creation outstrips credit destruction. Until then, Bernacke holds up the market and bankers through reiterations of quantitative easing to stave off deflation. Oil, gold and the ES are at, or near, all time highs. And that's in the middle of a recession at >9% unemployment (U3), with U6 running above 18%!! Even under the rosiest scenario, the US Dollar is toast. Done. What happens when the economy recovers? What happens when the SDR bond market opens up? Anyone?
Bear in mind, when agricultural and energy commodities get back to, and go beyond their '08 highs, that Middle Eastern pressure cooker simmering at a good boil now, will absolutely explode. It's very likely we'll see a bunch emirates and OPEC members depeg from the dollar. Even large trade partners like China and Japan, will widen their bands. Possibly big, which will supercharge US inflation. Current instability is nothing. Wait until energy and grains double. Most of the third world will light itself up like that protester in Egypt. Then bloody revolution and violence will be the order of the day, which propels energy > food > misery index > revolution higher. This is nothing. Things will get a lot worse.