Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : Booms, Busts, and Recoveries -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: oconnellc who wrote (16084)	3/4/2002 1:47:59 PM
From: Raymond Duray	Respond to of 74559

Hi Chris, Looking at the spot price of gasoline in Chicago is akin to being one of the three blind men trying to describe the elephant. Chicago spot is impacted by a lot of factors. Barge traffic, refinery fires, boutique blends, shoulder season, mildest winter in decades, etc., etc. all have an impact of what you pay at the pump. The big change between today and one year ago (down 40-50%) can be attributed to two factors. In the year ago period, refinery profits were at an all-time high, nationally, and you also were experiencing a highly localized problem due to EPA "boutique" oxygenating formula requirements. Due to refinery profits slipping to more normal levels, some political pressure applied and the supply squeeze easing, the Chicago spot gasoline price has returned to more normal levels. Others may be able to "color" this a bit more. But with crude oil supplies being in surplus worldwide, reasonably stable gas prices seem to be in the offfing. Not to say that you won't experience normal seasonal price increases just in time for the Memorial Day holiday demand. As to the Bush mafia's game, you need to go farther afield than the local filling station. The news that we are sending troops to Georgia is part of a continuing pattern of U.S. involvement in the capture of the expected $4 Trillion prize in Caspian oil and gas that is to be exploited for the next couple of decades. That's where to concentrate your research into the future of gas prices at your pump. An excellent discussion of the area is available here: Message 17074570 Another terrific overview of the battle for resource dominance in the 21st Century is Michael Klare's "Resource Wars". amazon.com This book, written before the Bush team came on board, is eerily prescient about what is happening now in Southwest Asia. It is indeed true, the "Great Game" is still on. And the prize is just as it always was. -R.