The slippery slide of oil prices
Post by Mearns & Company in News
The fall in the price of oil is having some curious side effects
A (Brent) Crude Fall
Source: DigitalLook.com
Petrol and diesel at the pumps fell to under a £1 a litre in January as the supermarkets battled for customers. The drop was due to the precipitous decline in the price of oil, which started in mid-2014, from over $100 a barrel, and took another step down in late 2015, to $30 territory. It might feel like good news, but the falling price has not been beneficial for everybody:
- Some of the major oil-producing countries, such as Saudi Arabia, have had to raid their sovereign wealth funds to make up for the loss of revenue. Sales of shares by these funds have been at least partially blamed for global stock market turbulence seen recently, and felt by investors of all types.
- UK government revenue from North Sea Oil taxation is fast disappearing as $30 is an uneconomic price for drilling in such hostile conditions. Mothballed rigs are reported to be accumulating in the Cromarty Firth.
- The wisdom of some renewable energy projects is being thrown into question. The share price of America’s most famous electric car manufacturer, Tesla, has been hit.
- Also in the US, high yield fixed-interest bond prices have been under pressure because of the doubtful financial viability of borrowers in the shale oil extraction sector. The resulting jitters have rippled across the bond market.
The deferral of new exploration and production prompted by the current depressed price could lead to a shortfall in supply – and corresponding price recovery – relatively quickly. Good news for oil, gas and energy companies, and those closely linked to these resources. On the other hand, cheap oil is giving a boost to consumers now, in much the same way as a tax cut. Good news for retailers and manufacturers.
Both views offer opportunities for active investment managers to exploit.
The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Investing in shares should be regarded as a long-term investment and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.
