The Oil Trading Manual (OTM) provides a unique and comprehensive reference source to the latest developments in the structure and conduct of the international oil markets including: - Physical characteristics and refining - Oil pricing arrangements - Physical oil markets - Forward and futures contracts - Options and swaps - Operations and logistics - Accounting and taxation - Controlling financial risk - Legal and regulatory controlOTM provides a unique and comprehensive reference source to the structure and conduct of the international oil markets. The manual covers all the major oil trading instruments and their applications; the trading centres, contracts, uses and users of both the physical and the terminal oil markets, and their administrative, management, tax, and accounting implications. It also includes vital information on changes to the international legal and regulatory structures. The manual is divided into three complementary parts; Characteristics An introduction to oil and oil trading, and includes material on the nature of oil as a commodity, refinery processes and the different ways in which oil is priced. Instruments and markets Deals with the oil market itself taking each segment in turn, explaining how the various trading instruments work and describing the markets that have evolved to trade them. It starts with the physical oil markets, moving on to forward and futures markets, followed by options and swaps. Administration Covers the essential 'back-room' activities without which oil trading could not continue. It includes practical material on operations and logistics, credit control, accounting, taxation, contracts and regulation, and controlling financial risk, providing a unique guide to the subject. Compiled from the contributions of a range of internationally respected professionals, it is the indispensable practical companion for all those involved with trading in this complex commodity. Revised and updated 2003

The sharp drop in oil prices is one of the most important global economic developments over the past year. The SDN finds that (i) supply factors have played a somewhat larger role than demand factors in driving the oil price drop, (ii) a substantial part of the price decline is expected to persist into the medium term, although there is large uncertainty, (iii) lower oil prices will support global growth, (iv) the sharp oil price drop could still trigger financial strains, and (v) policy responses should depend on the terms-of-trade impact, fiscal and external vulnerabilities, and domestic cyclical position.

This is a book about the international oil market. It takes a historical perspective on how the market emerged, developed, and became what it is today—the biggest commodity market in the world. It is mature and complex, but far from perfect. Throughout most of its 150-year history, the oil market has been monopolised by companies and governments. For only a fraction of that, oil traded in a relatively free market. As a result, we had to live with ‘big oil’, economic shocks, high oil prices, instability and wars. Using a simple concept of market power, this book will explain the meaning of ‘oil price’ and how it is established while offering a valuable lesson for other commodities. Market power is the key to understanding the ‘price of oil’. This book uses a simple concept of price-makers and price-takers to examine the evolution of oil markets, their structure, and prices. The early decades of the oil industry were competitive with low barriers to entry. Barely 25 years later, the Standard Oil company created a refining monopoly, buying oil at its own ‘posted’ price. In the following century, the cartel of major oil companies, helped by their governments, did the same at the international level. OPEC helped producing governments regain control of their own resources, but the organisation was never able to retain a similar level of control. After 1986 price collapse, OPEC abdicated the price-making function in favour of the market. While it never gave up attempts to influence prices, OPEC had to link their official prices to one of the global oil benchmarks. Modern international oil markets function because of oil benchmarks such as Brent, WTI and Dubai. This book showcases: • How oil traders played a prominent role in development of the industry • How policies of consuming nations helped oil cartels • Why and how the US price of oil was negative • How AI has changed the way markets operate and the way in which the markets are likely to change in future This book explores how oil markets grew, functioned, and have occasionally failed to do their job. The ecosystem of derivatives or ‘paper barrels’ trading in far greater volume than physical oil plays a very important role in mitigating risk. With this core tenant, setting the ‘price of oil’ is explained in detail.

Energy Analysis and Policy: Selected Works discusses the major aspect of electricity economics, including pricing, demand forecasting, investment analysis, and system reliability. This book provides a clear and comprehensive overview of the diversity of problems in analyzing energy markets and designing sound energy policies. Organized into 14 chapters, this book first discusses the energy economics in developing countries; integrated national energy planning (INEP) in developing countries; energy pricing; practical application of INEP using microcomputers; and energy strategies for oil-importing developing countries. Subsequent chapters describe the energy demand management and conservation; national energy policy implementation; energy demand analysis and forecasting; and energy project evaluation and planning. Other chapters explore non-conventional energy project analysis and national energy policy; rural energy issues and supply options; and bioenergy management policy. Rural-industrial energy and fossil fuel issues, as well as energy R&D decision-making in developing countries, are also presented. As the issues in this book are very important, this book will be helpful to a wide and appreciative audience.