Oil levels were nearing levels that would likely prompt an increase in supply from the OPEC. Such an action would likely cause oil prices to drop. Furthermore, evidence of a bottoming out of the recession is still a bit patchy. The latest data on industrial production for some of the larger countries continues to remain negative.
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.
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