VOL. XLIII

No. 48

27-November-2000

OPEC

Continuing High Crude Prices Prompt OPEC To Consider New Benchmark To Curb Speculation

Fears of Iraqi crude supply disruptions, low US heating oil stocks and escalating violence between Palestinians and Israelis kept crude prices high last week, prompting OPEC President and Venezuelan Oil Minister Ali Rodriguez to suggest that OPEC should create a new global pricing benchmark to dampen market speculation. To make matters worse, US gas prices reached new...