VOL. XLVI

No 4

27-January-2003

OPEC

Crude Prices Rise And Fall As Markets Follow Iraq And Supply News

Crude oil prices reached a recent peak early last week, with markets heightened by rising political tension over the likelihood of war inIraq and the prospect of the oil disruption continuing in Venezuela. Oil and other commodities, and gold in particular, have proved attractive recently to hedge funds and investors seeking potential returns greater than those offered by the stagnant stock...