Speculators Under Scrutiny
The price of crude oil has been exceptionally volatile in the last year. It has nearly doubled since January, topping $70 per barrel in June, even though the global economy and demand for oil remains sluggish. The United States and Europe have signaled possible crackdowns on oil speculators - the investors who trade daily in the fuel. They argue that the sharp price changes are not borne out by the small shifts in supply or demand for oil.
