The expiration of October trading certainly played a disproportionate role in the record one-day gain, as it exercised a huge pressure on short positions. The meteoric rise also illuminates how much the vacillation is due to speculative activity.
Barrel prices were pushed gently northward in early trading on Monday, as a confluence of factors threatened supply and made it an attractive alternative investment. The dollar’s decline relative to the euro increased anti-inflation hedging activities in commodities.
Crude oil futures traded near $119 a barrel in New York as U.S. supplies unexpectedly gained amid slowing demand and dollar climbed. For full news, click here
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