Over the long term, how does speculation affect the price of oil?
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008
BizAnswers asked:
In the short term, I think it is clear that speculation affects oil prices, but over the long term, I am less than convinced. Specifically, with all derivatives, there is someone on the other side of the deal; it is a zero-sum game unless someone takes delivery. If speculation drove the long-term price of oil, it seems to me that the speculators would be required to take delivery of the oil at some point in hopes of selling it at a higher price. If the speculators are not taking delivery, supply and demand must dictate the price of oil as the long-derivative speculator simply offsets the position of the short-derivative speculator until the contracts settle or expire. Since speculators who do not take delivery are not affecting supply and demand, how could speculation cause a long term increase in the price? News commentators continue to bang the drum of speculation causing the price rises, but I remain unconvinced. Now is your chance to convince me where my analysis falls short.
Susan
In the short term, I think it is clear that speculation affects oil prices, but over the long term, I am less than convinced. Specifically, with all derivatives, there is someone on the other side of the deal; it is a zero-sum game unless someone takes delivery. If speculation drove the long-term price of oil, it seems to me that the speculators would be required to take delivery of the oil at some point in hopes of selling it at a higher price. If the speculators are not taking delivery, supply and demand must dictate the price of oil as the long-derivative speculator simply offsets the position of the short-derivative speculator until the contracts settle or expire. Since speculators who do not take delivery are not affecting supply and demand, how could speculation cause a long term increase in the price? News commentators continue to bang the drum of speculation causing the price rises, but I remain unconvinced. Now is your chance to convince me where my analysis falls short.
Susan
