Energy Watch How much will lower oil prices drag on other fuel costs? The fall in oil prices is likely to have significant implications for all commodity producers and consumers, not just those in the oil industry. We have explored the impact of falling oil prices on... 19th December 2014 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Can OPEC keep prices from falling further? The next meeting of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), on 27 th November, should be the most interesting since the change from individual quotas to a group target in early... 18th November 2014 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Rising Indian demand not enough to boost coal prices Slower economic growth in China and the EU, combined with active efforts by these regions and the US to move away from coal power, have caused coal prices to slump dramatically over the last few... 10th October 2014 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Geopolitical tensions no barrier to lower oil prices Recent headlines have focused on the latest escalation in the conflict in Ukraine or with the Islamic State. However, these conflicts have had little impact on oil output in key producers. In this... 29th August 2014 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Reduction in fuel subsidies to curb oil demand Subsidies in developing nations allow manyconsumers access to fuel at a fraction of itsmarket cost. However, rather than helping thepoor, most of the benefits of these subsidiesaccrue to richer people... 30th July 2014 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Is LNG the route to a global natural gas price? Global LNG supply is set to soar over the next five years as a number of large projects in Australia come on stream and the US starts to export. The greater availability of more flexible gas supply... 22nd April 2014 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Price of coal to drift gradually lower It is often taken as given that demand for coal will continue to rise inexorably as developing countries use it to power their growing economies. However, coal’s poor environmental credentials are... 27th March 2014 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Political risk and bad weather keep prices high After calming down towards the end of last year, political protests and disruption in key producer countries have re-emerged as a key factor driving oil prices higher. What’s more, the extreme cold in... 24th February 2014 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Energy efficiency gains to constrain EM demand It is often taken as given that oil demand in the developing world will increase exponentially, driven by buoyant economic activity, leading to ever higher oil prices. However, there is huge scope for... 30th January 2014 · 1 min read
Energy Watch How much control does OPEC still have over oil prices? The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has of course had a significant influence on oil prices since its creation in 1960. However, a combination of internal division and growing... 13th December 2013 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Oil prices to end the decade much lower The price of a barrel of Brent has remained well above $100 for most of the last three years, due in part to uncertainties created by the “Arab Spring”. However, over the next five to ten years, a... 19th November 2013 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Constrained supply keeping oil prices high Oil prices have been lifted again by hopes of stronger demand and by disruption to supply in the Middle East, but we do not expect these supports to be sustained. The return of supply, currently being... 17th October 2013 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Will US energy exports be a game-changer? The surge in US oil and gas production in recent years has fuelled expectations that the country could eventually become a major energy exporter. Indeed, the US already runs trade surpluses in coal... 21st August 2013 · 1 min read
Energy Watch What could be the long term impacts of the shale boom? Shale oil and gas has transformed the energy outlook in the US. However, the impact on the rest of the world has been negligible so far. Other countries are finding it difficult to replicate the... 7th August 2013 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Ample supply to weigh again on oil prices Oil prices have been lifted again by hopes of stronger demand and fears of disruption in the Middle East, but we do not expect these supports to be sustained. Ample supply against a backdrop of still... 10th July 2013 · 1 min read
Energy Watch Oil prices to resume declines despite policy "stimulus" The price of crude has recovered a little in the last few days, but hopes of a significant boost from a further loosening in global monetary policy are overdone. We are also sceptical of assertions... 30th April 2013 · 1 min read